| |
This week at 148Apps.com, we brought another amazing app into the Editor’s Choice fold. This is what Kalle MacDonald had to say about Horn: “As a fan of both the Legend of Zelda series on Nintendo consoles and the Infinity Blade franchise on iOS, I welcomed HORN with open arms. Believe it or not it delivers on both counts.
HORN is hard to explain. In essence it is an action-adventure game, but the details make it so much more than that. When inn the “adventuring” portions of the story, the game is played in a third-person perspective and the titular Horn is controlled by tapping where the player wants him to go. To go along with this, there are action portions of the game. These portions are played similarly to Infinity Blade, with a swipe to attack, and various ways to evade the enemies.”
Want to know more? Of course you do. Read the full review at 148Apps.
$6.99  + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-08-16 :: Category: Games Over at GiggleApps.com, Amy Solomon gave us an art lesson in her review of PlayArt: “PlayART by Tapook is an interesting art app allowing children and adults to create their own images using the details found within famous works of art. Five artists are covered, specifically Van Gogh, Monet, Klee, Cezanne and Rousseau allowing children to be exposed to different styles of art, also learning about these artists from watching short videos and exploring a museum of these artists’ original paintings.”
Read more at GiggleApps.com.
$3.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-06-27 :: Category: Education  And finally, 148Apps.biz writer Carter Dotson contributed a piece about elblabs: “German studio elblabs is launching a new ad network, GameAdTrading. What elblabs is claiming that their network can do better than other networks is simple: adaptability to many different platforms.
This adaptability is largely because GameAdTrading is currently available as a plugin for Unity, the engine that’s primarily designed for 3D games, but often finds use simply as a cross-platform engine. For example, Cthulhu Saves the World, a 16-bit-inspired RPG that has pretty much nothing three-dimensional about it at all, was ported from XNA to Unity for the mobile versions. The ability to publish to iOS, Android, and PC/Mac makes it an attractive option for even simulation games that aren’t as graphically-demanding. elblabs is also taking requests via email for other engines, including Flash.”
Read more about this move to cross-platform advertising on 148Apps.biz.
And…..we’re done for this week. But that’s the great thing – one week ends, and another’s just right around the corner. Join us on Facebook and Twitter to get the news, reviews and contests you want, right when you want them, from app experts. Until next weekend, go plunge the depths of Horn.
 Leap2 is the latest app that aims to make it easy to search through social media, as well as other web results.
Referred to as a ‘living search platform’, the app makes it simple to browse through all kinds of search results at once, covering both web results and real-time hits from people. It’s the kind of resource that should prove particularly useful in times of breaking news or sports results, as well as providing a great way of gauging public reaction to something.
This all sounds much like Twitter’s trending topics, but the bonus to Leap2 is that it incorporates more than just Twitter. Users create a ‘leap’ they’re interested in to receive continuing updates which stems from the likes of Bing, Yahoo! Local, Foursquare, Yelp and Twitter. It’s all very simple to browse yet potentially quite powerful.
Adaptable for everything from the latest news, hype about a new movie or the local weather report, Leap2 is an interesting and free way of checking out plenty of different viewpoints at once.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-11-28 :: Category: Reference
This week at 148Apps, a new video revolution began, as Amazon.com released its Amazon Instant Video app for the iPad. Carter Dotson writes, “Amazon Instant Video is now available on iPad, expanding out the Amazon’s vast library of video offerings to iOS users. This offers streaming of purchased movies and TV shows from Amazon, with the ability to sync up watch lists between devices. It also includes titles available from Amazon Prime, similar to Netflix, a service offering over 120,000 streaming movies and TV shows. It is only available as a yearly subscription from Amazon as part of the Prime service that also includes free 2-day shipping on Amazon items.”
Read more about this exciting development for iOS at 148Apps.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-31 :: Category: Entertainment Over at GiggleApps.com, writer Amy Solomon got us ready for mealtime wither her review of Bo’s Dinnertime. She writes, “Bo’s Dinnertime in a cute and fun interactive universal app that teaches the sequencing of events that lead up to dinnertime, such as food shopping, putting away groceries, cooking and setting the table, as well as eating dinner and cleaning up afterwards. A simple and sweet song is also included, as is a section dedicated to selecting and eating foods with the tap of a finger. Narration is included, leading children though varied food related exercises, complete with subtle highlighting of new objects to tap or interact with, keeping the flow of this app going nicely.”
Want more? Read the full review at GiggleApps.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-15 :: Category: Education  Last, but certainly not least, 148Apps.biz writer Carter Dotson explored the results of a recent study by KinderTown. He says, “KinderTown, developers of an app that helps collect the best kids apps on the App Store, have released a study based on searches within their app. Their “KinderSights” analytics study collected data from June 20th to July 10th, and they have released the results from the study, revealing some key insights into those that search for kids’ apps on the App Store.
The most-searched criterion was age, with 50.2% of searches looking for apps for a particular age. Second was price at 40.6%, followed by platform at 31.8%, and the type of app was last at 30.2%.”
Keep track of this and more mobile app news stories on 148Apps.biz.
This week may be done, but there’s no need to worry. More app reviews, news and contests are always on their way across the 148Apps network. Just follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to stay on top of all the happenings. See you next week, Gothamites!
 The Olympic flame was fanned to extreme levels at 148Apps.com this week, as Jennifer Allen explored PlayUp’s socialization of the London games. She writes, “We’ve covered PlayUp before, appreciating its ability to bring sports fans together in their love of their chosen sport. Just in time for the London 2012 Olympics, a major update has been released geared towards keeping users informed during the summer Olympics.
The app offers users all the latest information on their favorite teams and athletes, as well as the latest news on the medal tally. That’s 17 days worth of coverage, across 26 sports, 39 disciplines and 302 medal events. Content is geared towards the geographical location of the user, ensuring that the most regionally relevant content is brought to the forefront when first launched.”
Want to know more? Read the full article at 148Apps.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-10-02 :: Category: Sports Giggleapps.com got Disney-fied with a review of Minnie Bow Maker. Amy Solomon writes, “Minnie Bow Maker is a cute and enjoyable application for kids – part craft experience – as well as including story and fashion show elements. Having a son, I have not had to deal with a daughter who wants to dabble in the world of fashion at a young age. For this reason, I consider myself fortunate as I could easily be a killjoy when it comes to many action figure dolls geared to fashion-conscious girls that to me, send inappropriate messages.
For this reason, I think many parents, especially those of girls, will enjoy Minnie Bow Maker as this app touches upon fun accessories that may satisfy young children who have shown an interest in the world of fashion.”
Read Amy’s full review at GiggleApps.
$3.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-02 :: Category: Entertainment  Finally, 148Apps.biz featured a story about 6waves’ WaveX. Carter Dotson says, “Mobile publisher 6waves has announced WaveX, a new advertising tool for developers to drive traffic to their games. This serves essentially as a traffic exchange, where developers can display advertisements for other games, and get more opportunities for traffic by helping to drive new installations of other games. Developers can upload graphics for both portrait and landscape games, and the service is completely free to use.”
Read all about WaveX at 148Apps.biz.
The week is over, but there’s more ahead across the 148Apps network. Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to gain access to the latest news, reviews, and even a contest or two. Until next week, game on Olympians!
 OneTuner is a radio station app that not only features streaming music, but also features integration of user’s social accounts.
There are thousands of radio stations available from several dozen different genres. It’s possible to filter by country and language, though sadly there are no Afrikaans heavy metal stations. Stations can be starred and added to a favorites list. Of course, the app supports background audio for listening while using other apps. Have a streaming radio station that would be worthy of inclusion in the app? Use the “Add radio station” feature in the options to submit for inclusion.
What the app’s most intriguing feature might be is its ability to play a user’s Twitter timeline and Facebook news feed as audio. Just log in, and the iSpeech text-to-speech engine will automatically playback tweets as a news channel. It’s perfect for staying up to date while in the car, or if one wants to stay up to date while still playing whatever game they want. Someday, if Apple opens up some Siri APIs, the developers should add in the ability to say “Siri, Like!” “Siri, retweet!” Maybe someday.
The developers claim that the app does not and will not have subscriptions, and is supported through ads in the free version, and a paid ad-free version.
$1.99 $2.99
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-19 :: Category: Music FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-07-19 :: Category: Music
This week at 148Apps.com was all about the red, white, and blue as we celebrated the 4th of July. Writer Lisa Caplan contributed to the festivities with her list of Favorite Four apps for Independence Day. She writes, “It’s July 4th, so we hope most Americans are out celebrating and reading this on an iPhone or iPad or between activities. But if you are still looking for apps to help make the day even better, we’ve rounded up four of our favorties that commemorate everything from US History to the traditional BBQ for you here.”
See Lisa’s complete list at 148Apps.com.
$4.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-07-12 :: Category: $0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-22 :: Category: Education GiggleApps stayed on a vacation theme with its review of Miny Moe Car. Reviewer Amy Solomon says, “Miny Moe Car is a charming and fun simulated driving app that toddlers and children in preschool will enjoy. I have always been a fan of this type of toy, both as an arcade game as well as a simple children’s plaything. I remember when my son was just a year old, I bought him the most realistic driver I could find – a toy he still enjoys today. A search on iTunes will find a few applications of this type that mostly show a POV from the driver’s seat of a car or other vehicle. This is also the case for this application which does a really nice job of recreating the driving experience for toddlers.”
Read Amy’s complete review on GiggleApps.com.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Education  And finally at 148Apps.biz, Carter Dotson reported on a new study revealing the iPad as the number one gaming platform. Dotson writes, “Tablets and phones are vastly different devices. This seems obvious, but in reality, they really aren’t: the difference between the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 is basically different sized screens. However, the way that users, especially gamers, use the two devices is still dramatically different, according to PlayFirst, via Pocket Gamer. Tablet users are playing more games than phone users are, and they’re spending more on games.”
Read the full report at 148Apps.biz.
That’s the end of this week’s happenings, but there’s always more news, reviews and contests headed your way across the 148Apps network. Just follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to keep track of all the goings-on. Until next week, enjoy the fireworks!
 There is nothing more frustrating that having the plot of a show spoiled, thanks to some oversharing fan on twitter. That said, some people love to see the realtime reactions of social media during their favorite shows. The invention of DVR and video streaming services complicates matters even further, because now consumers can watch whatever they want, whenever they want.
For those that like the best of television on demand and social media, there is a new indispensable application that must be added to your arsenal: Sidecastr. This innovative tool allows you to follow what happened in the twitterverse, almost as if it were on taped delay. Using the internal iPad microphone to determine where the viewer is, Sidecastr syncs up the world’s reactions, like they were watching the program right along with you.
The best part is that this awesome new app is available at no charge. So what are you waiting for? Take it out for a test spin and let us know what you think.
FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-06-28 :: Category: Entertainment
 Taptu, the social news reader for the iPhone and iPad (also known as the service “DJ-ing the news”) has expanded its service to be usable on any browser. The new HTML5 Taptu app will let users create and share their personal Taptu streams just like they can on their iOS devices.
Even if a user has Taptu on both iOS devices and wants to view it on the web, all of those streams will be synced across every device. Taptu even has plans to update the service with a mobile web app so that nearly any mobile user can be in sync with the Taptu service on nearly any device.
In an update to both the iOS, Android, and new web platforms, Taptu has added the ability for users to create a stream based on a search term. So if a user wants to keep up on “Justin Beiber” news, they can make a stream for that.
Taptu is a social news reader app that aggregates all of a users important streams (like Facebook, Twitter, RSS feeds, and more) into one, visually focused app. Like most news readers, users can save articles to read for later on their favorite services (like Instapaper and Pocket).
Taptu is a free, universal app.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-11-09 :: Category: News
This week at 148Apps.com, writer Carter Dotson explored all things Zombie with his Favorite Four list. He writes, “May is Zombie Awareness Month. While pop culture seems intent on making us aware of zombies on a regular basis, this is the special month for zombies. May is almost over, but that doesn’t mean there’s not just enough time left to celebrate with some zombie-themed apps.”
Read Carter’s full list at 148Apps.com.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-27 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness $0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-27 :: Category: Games Meanwhile, everything over at GiggleApps got dotty, as Amy Solomon reviewed Dot Collector, saying, “Dot Collector is a very nice universal app for the youngest children with simple game play, wonderfully bright colors and soothing sounds that babies will enjoy. This app is utterly intuitive to use as players need to simply drag moving dots into a black dot, clearing the board. A new dot is added to each additional level, adding to the game play.”
Read Amy’s review at kid-centric GiggleApps.com.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-28 :: Category: Education  Finally, Kevin Stout on 148Apps.biz reported on the increasing numbers of young children using smartphones. Stout writes, “There’s no such thing as to young when it comes to smartphones and tablets. When keeping in mind the younger audiences when developing apps, even the youngest of children have a high percentage of exposure to mobile devices. An infographic released by Schools.com has reported that 38% of 0-8 year-olds have used tablets or smartphones.”
Read the complete report at 148Apps.biz.
That’t it for this Memorial Day week. Summer’s here, so keep your eyes on 148Apps.com, our Twitter and Facebook feeds to make sure you get the latest app news, reviews and contests. See you next week, tovarish!
 There’s a new social networking app vying for everyone’s attention. It’s called Manifest and it’s all about showing people what’s cool or not. Think of it as similar to the Facebook “like” button but with the potential to show what’s trending.
All the user has to do is take a photo of whatever they see and class it as either “cool” or “dumb.” They can then share it with their followers and friends either through the app or via Facebook and Twitter.
It sounds incredibly simple, mostly because it is, but it’s got some fun potential. Users can browse globally or locally meaning they can check out what’s trending near them. For tourists, it could prove a great way of checking out what’s cool near them. For everyone else, it’s still a fun way of seeing what’s going on nearby and what deserves giving a miss.
Manifest is out now and it’s free to use.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-05-15 :: Category: Social Networking
This week at 148Apps.com, Kevin Stout examined the question more than a few of us are asking: Why won’t Nintendo release any games for iOS? Stout writes, “Nintendo recently reported its first annual loss, showing that perhaps 3DS isn’t enough of a success. Nintendo hasn’t even released its legacy games on mobile platforms where others like Sega have (Sonic the Hedgehog). While current CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, is in charge, it’s unlikely that Nintendo will acknowledge its mistake. When asked about releasing Nintendo games for smartphones, Iwata replied, “This is absolutely not under consideration. If we did this, Nintendo would cease to be Nintendo….”’
Read Stout’s full commentary and analysis at 148Apps.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-05-21 :: Category: Games Meanwhile, Amy Solomon at GiggleApps took a look at a new Marvel Avengers app for kids: Avengers Origins: Assemble! is a very enjoyable universal interactive storybook that tells the tale of how The Avengers became a cohesive group after meeting Captain America. I really enjoy how these characters are introduced, making this a great primer for children new to Marvel comics. Interactive moments are included throughout that children will also enjoy such as dragging the tools used by each Avenger to their rightful owner.”
Read Amy’s full review at GiggleApps.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-12 :: Category: Books  Last, but certainly not least, 148Apps.biz writer Carter Dotson reported on results from a recent MocoSpace study: “MocoSpace has announced the results of their new “Y U Play?” study that tries to answer the question of just why people play mobile games, anyway? The answer for the majority of people appears to be just pure entertainment. 34% of people like to play mobile games because “the games are fun,” and 32% do it because they are bored, or want to kill time.”
Read more about the fascinating study at 148Apps.biz.
That’s the week that was. Keep up with all of the latest news, reviews, trends and contests by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook. Have a great weekend – and we’ll see you in seven days!
 Twitpic has provided many regular Twitter users the means by which they can share images alongside their text-based tweets. Now there’s a whole app devoted to the wonders of Twitpic.
The app, cleverly called Twitpic, is very similar to Instagram but more tightly integrated with Twitter. Users can easily share their photos and videos with other followers, while also applying filters if they so wish. Other editing options such as cropping, orientation and adjusting brightness are also included. Other sharing comes in the form of being able to view photo timelines from people the user follows, as well as checking out the most popular Twitpic users.
It is all very much like Instagram but with the huge amount of Twitter users out there, it should form a great new place to check out the latest images of the world.
Twitpic is out now and it’s free to download.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Photography
This week at 148Apps.com, two great new apps for kids were featured: AutisMate and Ruckus Reader. Writer Jennifer Allen had this to say about AutisMate: “AutisMate was designed by Jonathan Izak, someone whose younger brother and first cousin who have autism. It allows users to add their own pictures, videos and voice recordings to the app in order to create scenes that help promote positive interactions.”
Kevin Stout contributed the following about Ruckus Reader: “When a child is in possession of a device as versatile as an iPad, it could be just as distracting as it is productive. A new series of apps by Ruckus, Ruckus Reader, has been released that help parents keep track of their children’s progress through Ruckus Reader books.”
Read more about AutisMate here and about Ruckus Reader here.
$149.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-04-11 :: Category: Education FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-04-16 :: Category: Books Meanwhile, at GiggleApps.com, Amy Solomon was investigating the hidden joys of Smash Your Food HD, “Smash Your Food HD is a highly entertaining app for iPad dedicated to the better understanding of the amounts of sugar, salt and oil found within foods that are commonly eaten. With five levels included, players are asked to determine the amounts of these substances by reviewing the nutritional facts of each food in question and then watching as these foods get pulverized – much to the delight of children.”
Read more about Smash Your Food HD at GiggleApps.
$2.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-03-20 :: Category: Education And last, but certainly not least, 148Apps.biz writer Kevin Stout reported on Apple’s recent change in policy regarding iAd revenues: “Before April 1st, developers earned 60% of the iAd revenue they generated within iAd-supported apps. Now developers will receive 70% of iAd revenues, according to Apple’s Developer Center. Developers will now receive this higher percentage for both app download and iAd revenues. This is likely to be a rather large boost in income for developers that use iAd as their primary source of revenue for their free apps.”
Read more about this change at 148Apps.biz..
And, to paraphrase Cronkite, that’s the way it was. Keep track of all the latest happenings across the iOS and mobile universe by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook. You’ll be glad you did. Until next time, watch out for the hoary hosts of Hoggoth!
 Bubbly, a popular micro-blogging service in Asia, is now a global service and was released in the U.S. App Store on April 11th. Unlike Twitter and its 140 character limit, Bubbly users have the option of posting audio or text updates. The service includes “like” and commenting features similar to Facebook.
Voice posts are the driving feature of Bubbly. Users are encouraged to use the audio option when posting to convey the emotion and feeling behind what they’d like to say. I’ve grown particularly accustomed to the fact that sarcasm and irony aren’t always apparent in a text-only platform. Something like Bubbly remedies that confusion.
The service has a strange in-app purchase option. To unlock access to celebrity Bubbly-ers (Bubblers?…Bubbly users), users must pay $2.99 as an in-app purchase. I’m not sure any other service has ever done something like this. I’m trying to imagine Twitter being free, but needing to pay for popular users.
Bubbly has reached 16 million users (1 million just in the last month). On average, users post three times per day and 75% of that content are audio posts. Bubbly is a free service (except for the in-app purchase for premium user access) and the app is available to download for free.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-30 :: Category: Social Networking
This week at 148Apps.com, everything was hopping in celebration of Easter weekend. We started with Jennifer Allen’s Five for Friday feature, showcasing an array of Easter-themed apps. Allen writes, “Happy Easter folks. No matter how you may celebrate it, and whether you do or not, we’ve got some fun Easter themed apps and games to cover in this week’s Five For Friday. Much like the event itself, the apps are a little geared towards families but there’s still fun to be had for all.”
Read the overview of all five apps on 148Apps.com.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-04 :: Category: Games Jennifer Allen has also compiled a comprehensive list of apps on sale this Easter weekend. Grab ‘em while they are cheap! Read the full list at 148Apps.com.
Meanwhile, Amy Solomon from GiggleApps reviewed a new interactive children’s book – Nedi the Yeti. Solomon says, “Nedi the Yeti would make a great first app for babies and toddlers as the animals are friendly looking and engaging as well as not so well hidden that children of all ages could not find these creatures with ease, as a drag of a finger will coax these animals from their hiding places and a tap will trigger a speech bubble and a fun animal sound, be it either cartoony or realistic as is the case of the included bird or owl sounds found within.”
Read the rest of the review at GiggleApps.
$1.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-02-13 :: Category: Books Finally, 148Apps.biz writer Kevin Stout explored ways for developers to acquire new users for their apps. Stout says, “Getting recognition and acquiring new users for mobile apps has gotten harder and harder as the app ecosystem has grown. This week, at the VentureBeat Mobile Summit 2012, strategy was discussed about the rising cost of user acquisition by three people close to the issue: Gabriel Leydon, chief executive of Machine Zone (free MMO developer of iMob and Original Gangstaz), Maria Alegre, CEO of Chartboost (app promotion solution), and Chris Akhavan, VP and GM of Strategic Partnerships at Tapjoy (app discovery and sharing platform).”
Read more about the VentureBeat Mobile Summit at 148Apps.biz.
Thanks for another great week! If you want to keep track of the latest reviews, news and contests, there’s a great way to do it – just follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. It’s just that easy – promise! See you next week, law-abiding citizen!
 It is funny how once someone cracks midlife, suddenly their calendar becomes a constant companion. Thankfully the age of smartphone has made keeping track of life’s goings-on so much easier. But what if you were a person that wanted to share meetings, events and plans with others? Thankfully the tool UpTo can help bring the worlds of scheduling and social interaction together.
Integrating into your existing calendar software of choice, UpTo allows users to share events, view friends’ schedules, even seamlessly tie into Twitter and Facebook. All users need to do is fill their contact list with co-workers and friends to communicate, and suddenly the app becomes a social Swiss Army Knife that you can’t afford to go without. As an icing on the cake, the software is a completely free download in the App Store, so what are you waiting for? Be sure to share your hands-on impressions in the comments.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-07 :: Category: Social Networking
 With important news breaking all of the time across many different mediums, it seems like it is near impossible to stay on top of everything. The information age brought about new media services like Twitter, Flickr, and of course YouTube, which can further add to the congestion of every news cycle. But what if there were a way to tackle all of these information sources, plus many more, covering only content that was of interest to you?
Don’t pinch yourself, because this miracle app has finally been born: ChannelCaster. All users need to do is select a range of topics that are of interest, and the tool will do the rest, pulling in the breaking stories from numerous different information sources across the web. Heck, you can even choose to publicly share your channel if you see fit, so the entire world can see what you think is pertinent. This free app is well worth taking a look at. It could very well revolutionize the way you consume media.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-03-23 :: Category: News
 Tweetbot has been updated to version 2.1 on both the iPhone and iPad. These bring several new features and improvements to the app. Most importantly, the apps now support tweet streaming when connected to wifi. This means that when the app is open, there’s no need to refresh, new tweets will add themselves to the feed, and the unread count will automatically update. To make it easier to jump to where new tweets are coming in, double-tapping on the timeline button will jump to the beginning of unread tweets.
The iPad version of the app has been updated to support the new iPad’s Retina Display. The iPhone app supports the Camera+ 3.0 APIs for using that app to capture, edit, and share photos from. But these features pale to the single most important one: the new tweet sound only will sound when there’s a new mention, direct message, or the timeline is manually refreshed. No longer will we think someone replied to us while visiting a web page from within the app! Our long national nightmare is over!
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Social Networking $2.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Social Networking
It’s hardly a surprise that this week at 148Apps.com was dominated by all things related to Apple’s new iPad. Carter Dotson put together a great list of ten Retina Display-ready iPad games, saying, “Just bought a new iPad? Congratulations. Sure, tweets may come in clearer than ever, and videos at 1080p quality, but what’s the real way to show off that beautiful new 2048×1536 screen? With games, of course! And how about some online games to take advantage of the LTE option available? Yes, please! Here’s ten titles that show off just how crisp the new iPad’s Retina Display looks.”
Read more about Carter’s ten picks on 148Apps.
$6.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-01 :: Category: Games Meanwhile, GiggleApps.com writer Amy Solomon did a little pattern recognition in her review of Line Up. She writes, “Line Up is a wonderful interactive educational app that teaches about patterns in ways children and their adults will be smitten by.
I really enjoy this app – a great application to be aware of because parents have their choice of apps dedicated to pattern awareness within iTunes. I have enjoyed a few of these apps with my son, but a favorite of mine is definitely Line Up, from the developers at Busythings, a company that should not be overlooked.”
Read the full review at GiggleApps.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-01-31 :: Category: Education  Finally, intrepid 148Apps.biz writer Brad Hilderbrand reported on a recent study regarding smart phone screens. Hilderbrand writes, “A recent survey from Strategy Analytics claims that when it comes to smartphones, bigger really is better. According to the report 90 percent of smartphone owners wish their device had a bigger screen.”
Find out more on 148Apps.biz.
Thus ends another vibrant week in the life of all things iOS. But fret not! There’s always more right around the corner. Keep track of the latest news, reviews and contests by following us on Twitter and Liking us on Facebook. That is all. You may now return to your Retina Displays.
This week at 148Apps.com, we checked out the long-awaited release of Readability, via a quick overview and full review from Lisa Caplan. Caplan writes, “The app provides the same service and merges seamlessly with the web versions. Users open to a blank page with just a menu. Filling the app is the the reader’s job. Users can search the web or enter an URL manually. The app pulls the article, pretties it up, and places a lead-in on the home screen.
I found it faster to just surf on my Mac adding articles that appealed as I found them, but how one fills the app is a small matter. What Readability does with the content is the cool bit. I tested the universal build on an iPad and it works wonderfully in both orientations. In landscape the articles fill the main pane and a well-designed and unobtrusive sidebar has the menu. In portrait the sidebar is a tiny top bar.”
Read our full review on 148Apps.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-03-01 :: Category: News Meanwhile, our sister site Giggleapps.com dug deep into the garden of apps and came up with a review of The Giant Turnip: A Kidztory Classic Animated Interactive Storybook. Reviewer Amy Solomon says, “As always, the look of this app is delightful, with wonderful colors and textures and fun use of music incorporated into a style utterly recognizable as a Kidztory storybook. I appreciate the warm browns and green shades seen in the land where the turnip is planted, along with the noticeable brush strokes for a lovely effect. Possibly more so than other apps from this series, nothing is flat-looking within this app as every animal or other detail has its own imperfect texture that layered together on the page really brings a richness to this story that adults may enjoy even more than their children.”
Read the full review on Giggleapps.com.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-12 :: Category: Books  Finally, 148Apps.biz updated GameSpy’s progress on its GameSpy Open platform. Brad Hilderbrand writes, “Today GameSpy announced that there are over 600 titles in development for its year-old GameSpy Open platform. The stable of upcoming titles includes games like Warm Gun, Skullgirls and more, with a total of 1200 developers hard at work on new projects.”
Read more on 148Apps.biz.
The old week is done. Bring on the new week, with the promise of the iPad 3 just around the corner. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to keep abreast of the latest reviews, news items and contests right when they happen. See you next week!
 This week at 148Apps.com, we pined for the release of the newest version of Mac OSX, named Mountain Lion. Brad Hilderbrand writes, “Apple shocked the world today by announcing a brand-new operating system for desktop devices, less than a year after the launch of OS X Lion. Codenamed Mountain Lion, the latest update further blurs the line between home computers and tablets, bringing a host of features that make your MacBook or iMac run more like an iPad.
Read about all of the new features on 148Apps.
Our GiggleApps compatriots were busy this week as well, reviewing the latest apps for kids. Amy Solomon reviewed David and Goliath for the iPad (the MVP Edition), and had this to say about it: “The quality of this application is undeniable. Although I am not always a fan of computer-generated animations and the use of 3D effects, the look of this app is impressive, with vivid colors and a thoughtful use of pitch-perfect music that creates an incredibly rich experience. I love the details found throughout from the clouds in the sky and other details of nature as well as textures found within, seen in the tents used often-times as backdrops for these characters. There are also some interesting moments of silhouetting characters for a nice effect that I enjoy.”
Read the full review on GiggleApps.com.
$4.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-10-04 :: Category: Books  Finally, 148Apps.biz kept a brisk pace this week as well. Jack-of-all-trades Brad Hilderbrand reported on the success of Apple’s iPhone 4s, saying, “Anyone still wondering if the iPhone 4S was enough of an upgrade to help Apple maintain industry dominance can stop pondering, as a recent report from Gartner claims that Apple has officially surpassed Samsung as the maker of the world’s most-wanted phones. According to the numbers, Apple moved 35.5 million smartphones in Q4 (primarily driven by the iPhone 4S), while Samsung trailed with 34 million. Not only have these numbers allowed Apple to become the dominant force in smartphones, but the company has also surpassed LG to become the third biggest vendor of all mobile devices, period.”
Read the full report on 148Apps.biz.
Another week is in the bag, but that doesn’t mean we’re done. No, sir, it doesn’t! Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to get the latest updates on news, reviews and contests. It really is that simple. See you next week, web-heads!
 A new challenger has entered the news aggregation realm, as Streamglider+ has officially launched and is taking aim at the likes of Flipboard. The app seeks to aggregate everything that’s important to you, allowing you to mix in RSS feeds, YouTube channels, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and more into one centralized app.
Streamglider+ boasts three different modes; lean-forward scrolls news and headlines across the screen, lean-back presents photos or news stories in a slideshow format and magazine mode presents fully stories just as they’d be found in a periodical, with no need to jump in and out of a browser. It’s all very slick, and the pro version is currently free so there’s really no reason not to check it out.
Of course the big question is can Streamglider+ dethrone the likes of Flipboard? It’s a very cool app, but when you come late to the game into a space dominated by a rival what are your odds of success? We’ll be interested to see how this slugfest plays out over the coming months.
FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-02-10 :: Category: News
This week at 148Apps.com, we celebrated the release of Tweetbot, version 2.0. Blake Grundman and Jennifer Allen broke the news, then Carter Dotson wrote the full review. Dotson says, “There are very few apps that someone could say ‘this has been released!’ that I would buy immediately. Tweetbot for iPad was apparently on that list, because as soon as I saw on Twitter that the iPhone/iPod touch Twitter client was now available on iPad, I went out and bought it sight-unseen with an urgency unlike the way I approach many other things in my life.”
Read the full review on 148Apps.com.
$2.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Social Networking Meanwhile, on Giggleapps, reviewer Amy Solomon took a closer look at interactive storybook The Gnat and the Lion. She says, “My kids (ages 10 and 7) and I listened to the read-aloud story and watched the animated short film together before bedtime. We liked the animation, and watching African animals such as the lion and the rhino encouraged a discussion about African grasslands and the animals that live there. We liked the fact that the words are highlighted as the narrator reads them, which is very helpful for children who are learning to read. We also liked the narrator’s voice and accent and how it tied into the African-themed story.”
Read more at GiggleApps.com.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-02-03 :: Category: Books  Finally, at 148Apps.biz, writer Brad Hilderbrand reported on the explosion of app usage during last week’s Super Bowl. Hildebrand states, “Sunday night’s Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants was a classic, but according to a new report from Flurry most viewers were just as likely to be staring at their smartphone screen as they were the game. The company used analytics software built into many popular apps to surmise that of the 111 million people watching the Super Bowl, an estimated 98 million spent at least some time futzing with an app.”
Read the full report at 148Apps.biz.
Another week down, but don’t forget to stay on top of all things related to the app-nation through us. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest news, reviews and contests right out of the gate. In the immortal words of Garrison Keillor, be well, do good work, and keep in touch. See you next week.
Here at 148apps, we’re big fans of Tweetbot. Offering pretty much everything anyone could ever want from a Twitter client, it’s no wonder that we feel that way. I know I’m quietly hopeful that one day a desktop client as good as it will come along.
 Developers, Tapbot, aren’t ones to rest on their impressive laurels though and the release of 2.0 is upon us. It’s pretty substantial too with numerous new features to check out as well as some great tweaks and improvements.
Most noteably is the addition of inline image thumbnails. This means that users can now see a preview of an image before they tap on the link within the tweet, thus saving valuable time. It only works with supported services but that covers sufficient sites making it a feature that no doubt we’ll all be wondering how we lived without it.
Links are now colored and activated with one tap rather than the original system of having to tap on a tweet then select the link.
Direct Messages are more attractive to look at also, looking more like the Messages chat bubbles that iOS devices use for iMessage and SMS messaging.
For those viewing text heavy links, Readability integration has been included which ensures that text is formatted perfectly for the iOS screen and will save the user’s eyes immensely.
Taps are further saved with the addition of the timeline auto-refreshing every five minutes, saving users from dragging upwards for a refresh at regular intervals. Links within user profiles are also tappable, a minor but ideal fix. The “retweeted by” is also now tappable for extra speed.
As if that’s not enough, Tweetbot also promises to scroll much faster making it all the better for those who like to check in on their tweets in a speedy fashion.
The latest version of Tweetbot is out now and free for existing owners. For those yet to try it, it’s priced at $2.99 and very much the definitive Twitter client app for iOS devices.
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Social Networking
 Regardless of the location, there’s bound to be something interesting going on somewhere. AroundNow seeks to provide an easy way of seeing exactly what’s going on locally at any time.
Using Twitter as a notification system, AroundNow offers news of interest depending on the area the user happens to reside in at the time. That news can range from all manners of things from entertainment events such as concerts or celebrity spottings to parties or demonstrations. Traffic information such as road works or traffic jams can also be provided as well as something as regular as a good sale in a local store.
As it’s partly a social networking app, AroundNow relies upon user participation to truly be great but it’s an excellent idea. In a busy and bustling city, it’s easy to miss out on something exciting so this app could be the ideal way to get involved in local events.
AroundNow is out now and it’s a free download.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-01-14 :: Category: Lifestyle
 This week at 148Apps.com we closed out the month of January, and thus our month of focusing on health-related apps, with a special article on iOS and special needs by Lisa Caplan. She writes, “In keeping with January’s health & fitness theme I’m taking a stab at some self-disclosure. I have a spinal cord injury with a host of related 14-karat diagnoses. I don’t use apps for the disabled, though, like those to help remind me to take my meds, find handicapped parking, get medical information or find online support communities. I don’t think anything on my iPad – including pictures – would hint that I have “special needs.” Nonetheless, iOS devices and apps have improved my health, both physical and mental.”
Read all of Lisa’s commentary at 148Apps.com.
Amy Solomon at GiggleApps.com reviewed Thumbnail Theater: Macbeth this week, and she had some very positive things to say about it: “Thumbnail Theater: Macbeth is an app that I greatly enjoyed, both on its own merits and also because apps for older children are not as common as I would like in iTunes. I highly recommend this app to any student who is reading Shakespeare as well as to adults who would like to know more about this time period in general.”
Read more about this iOS adaptation of the “Scottish Play” at GiggleApps.com.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-09 :: Category: Education  Finally, 148Apps.biz site editor Rob LeFebvre reported on recent trends in app costs. He writes, “Fiksu, Inc. released their latest report today on the mobile app economy, and found all time highs for marketing costs as well as iOS downloads in December. They attribute this data to advertising bidding wars to lock in top rankings before the App Store froze during the 3 day holiday.”
Read the full report at 148Apps.biz.
That’s another week down for the record books. Thanks for reading, and remember that you can keep track of all the latest reviews, news and contests by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook. See you next time!
| |
:: ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
]
