Apple’s death-grip like control of the App Store has became quite legendary since it was launched in 2008. Some of you may remember in 2009 when Apple rejected the official Google Voice app, which was eventually admitted, but not without a probe first being launched by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Or perhaps you remember in 2010, when Apple took its sweet time (25 days) to finally approve the Opera Mini browser app, which, at the time, seemed as if it would never happen.
Well, 25 days is nothing in comparison to what SkyDrive — Microsoft’s cloud based storage service — users have had to endure. Having not received an update since June 1st last year, version 3.0 of SkyDrive for iOS was finally given the okay from Apple on April 3rd (the delay was caused by a disagreement regarding the 30 percent cut from revenue Apple would receive from in-app purchases). Now that the bickering has stopped, it’s time to take a look at what the newest version of SkyDrive has to offer. (more…)
For many people, the iPad has become their everyday computer. Browsing the web, checking email and watching videos are all tasks that the iPad is incredibly suited for. However, one of the features missing from iOS that is readily available on Android is a file management system. Though, with the introduction of iCloud and Versions in OS X, it’s obvious that Apple doesn’t think too highly of deep folder systems, and doesn’t wish to include any form of file system in iOS.
However, there are times when it would be nice to access all of your files in one convenient place, and developers Sonico Mobile felt strongly enough about this concept that they created Files App. Hit to jump to see if Files App can make file management work in iOS. (more…)
When I take a moment to think about the number of devices my iPad and iPhone have replaced, it’s quite impressive. With these two devices I no longer need an MP3 player, camera, camcorder, GPS device, voice recorder, flashlight, calendar, calculator, dictionary, notepad, address book or guitar tuner. Another device that my iPad has replaced is nearly everyone’s least favorite device — the alarm clock.
I’ve tried third-party alarm clock apps like Alarm Clock HD and iHome+Sleep, but found the first-party Clock app provided a better overall experience. With that said, Rise Alarm Clock by Simplebots recently caught my eye with its gorgeous design and intuitive interface, and I wondered if it could be my go to alarm clock app. Find out the answer to that question after the jump. (more…)
One of the merits of mobile technology is its ability to be used as a source of information, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. In the era of mobile technology we currently find ourselves in, there’s so much information to digest that it becomes rather overwhelming. Lucky for us then, that there are some very intelligent app developers that create methods in which to control the information overflow.
Between Reeder, Instapaper and Flipboard, it’s easy to find an content delivery app that’s best suited to your personality. Another option to consider is Google Currents, which was introduced in September 2011. The app has been a somewhat popular choice amongst iPad users (currently the 81st most popular free News app in the App Store), but a recent update to version 2.0 aims to bring Google Currents on par with the aforementioned apps. Hit to jump to learn if Google Currents is now in fact one of the best news consumption apps for the iPad. (more…)
If you’ve ever used the Internet and like movies, I’m sure you’ve heard of IMDb. Since it’s launch in 1990, IMDb has been the de facto place to go when you’re trying to figure out where you’ve seen that one actor before (tip, it’s always Spaceballs). When smartphones became a thing, IMDb was a must have bookmark so you could also settle debates with your friends on the go. In short, IMDb is simply part of the small percentage of websites that’s ingrained into society.
One of the few shortcomings of IMDb’s iPad app in the past is a lack of user friendliness. When you launch the app, there’s simply a lot of noise to overcome and it takes more than a few seconds to figure out the navigation setup. But the developers behind IMDb’s iPad app looked to rectify this issue with the release of version 3.0, which offers up a complete redesign. So, does this mean that IMDb now offers up a great service in an easy-to-use package? Hit to jump to find this answer and more! (more…)
When it comes to buying things online, there are definitely a lot of options. One of the most popular websites to purchase new swag, without a doubt, is eBay. There are people that spend most of their day combing the online auction website (even when they’re supposed to be working), trying to place the winning bid, while trying to avoid those pesky snipers. With the popularity of the iPad, it comes as no surprise that an online seller of goods would want to provide their service in the form of an app.
EBay for iPad has been around since August 2010, and since it’s release the app has been able to maintain a four star rating (out of five) with over 35,000 ratings, which is no small feat when it comes to App Store reviews. With such high praise from users, it’s high time that eBay for iPad received the AppStorm treatment. All you need to do is hit the jump. (more…)
Passwords are a giant pain in the behind (pardon my language). First and foremost, passwords need need to be secure, and in order for them to be secure they have to be a long string of letters (random mix of uppercase and lowercase), numbers and symbols (for good measure). When you create a strong password they’re nearly impossible to remember, the theory being that if you can’t remember it how will anyone trying to hack your account crack the barrage of characters you created.
So, when you create these 15+ character passwords, how are you to keep track of them? There are certainly a number of options available (I know some opt for a good old-fashioned spreadsheet), but if you want a secure, user friendly experience 1Password has been to the go-to choice for quite some time. In December 2012, AgileBit released version 4 of 1Password, which includes an impressive list of new features. Hit the jump to take a peek at what the new 1Password has to offer. (more…)
There are many cloud storage services available these days (SkyDrive, Google Drive, SugarSync, Box and even Apple’s iCloud), but in my mind, Dropbox reigns supreme. I love the file management system, the ease of syncing content between devices, and the manner in which I can share files with others. Simply put, I’m a Dropbox fanboy.
Just before the holidays version 2.0 of Dropbox was released, bringing with it a brand spanking new design and new features geared towards uploading and managing photos. Having put away my ugly sweaters and wiping the eggnog from my chin, I’m ready to let you know if version 2.0 is a winner. All you have to do is hit the jump. (more…)
This past December, our own Jacob Penderworth discussed why he felt the iPad App Store has fallen into ruin. Penderworth stated that “instead of fixing the problems the old App Store had … Apple decided to create a hat of its own which you must draw from each day to download something.” Essentially, Penderworth felt that Apple shouldn’t have changed the App Store as drastically as they did, as it was already functioning fine. Instead, he suggests Apple should have tweaked the user interface and the left the rest as it was.
Being a fellow writer, I guarantee both Penderworth and I spend an exuberant amount of time browsing the App Store, however, I hold almost an entirely different opinion of the iPad App Store since the release of iOS 6. Hit the jump to learn how the App Store has been changed for the better. (more…)
The app store is full of a lot of great apps in many different categories, but in my experience it’s really been lacking a really good sports scores and statistics app. I tried using ScoreCenter and CBS Sports, but found both to be lacking a quality experience.
Luckily, I had ScoreMobile available on my iPhone, which I found overall to be a good app. But when it comes to looking up scores, standings and statistics, you simply can’t beat the screen real estate you get from the iPad versus the iPhone. Fortunately, ScoreMobile was recently updated, bringing with it iPad optimization and a brand new moniker — theScore Mobile. Hit the jump to find out if the “holy grail” of sports scores and statistics apps has finally come to the iPad. (more…)
