September 2013 September

Display until 9/24/13 until Display • • U.S. $9.99 Beckett Entertainment www.beckett.com September 2013 September

APPS_1309_Cover 6/17/13 3:58 AM Page US_C1 Page AM 3:58 6/17/13 APPS_1309_Cover Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_C2 6/14/13 4:59 AM Page C2 APPS_1309-EDITORNOTE 6/17/13 12:35 AM Page 3

POWER TO THE

46 September 2013 App Buyer’s Guide As the fall season ramps up, so do our schedules. We get ready for the new school year, leaf watching, Halloween, and all the other cool-weather fun SPECIAL POWER ISSUE! the autumn seasonPeople brings. And through it all, our smartphones are at our side—the ever trusty sidekick. 33 Don’t Let that Battery Die 36 Eco-Friendly Accessories As always, we have loads of apps for you this issue. And these apps are 40 Charge! Batteries for Everyone guaranteed to take you into autumn and make it much more enjoyable and productive. If you have kids going to school (or you’re going yourself) you’ll appreciate the bargain finders we uncovered. Everything from the AWESOME AUTUMN APPS latest sales on back-to-school clothes to great deals at the nearest college 6 Fall App Round Up hot spot. 10 8 Apps for School Supply Savings If you’re “suffering” from empty-nest syndrome, take a trip with us on a 14 41 Grade-A College Student Apps train ride to a friendly bed and breakfast. You’ll find out where the best fall 18 10 Spooky Halloween Apps foliage is and where you can locate the nearest flea market for those hidden treasures. TECH GUIDE On the more serious side, September is National Preparedness Month, and 21 Wireless Emergency Alert FAQs we have apps to keep you prepared and safe, no matter what disaster heads your way—natural or man-made. Get alerts, make a plan, and get 23 Social Media in Emergencies ready to go at a moment’s notice. 44 Review: SuperTooth HD 78 5 Senior-Savvy Smartphones But wait, all of these apps keep your trusty sidekick—your smartphone— running and sucking up power. Luckily we’ve reviewed plenty of battery 86 SwiftKey—Best Android Keyboard packs and rechargers to give your phones and tablets an extra boost when they’re running low. Plus, we have some great power-saving tips and APPS FOR EVERYONE power-friendly accessories to help cut down on that power consumption in the first place. 24 Free Lifesaving Apps 28 $hopping Apps that Pay! Enjoy the season, and stay powered up, 30 TV + Smartphone = Fun 82 War Against Texting and Driving 89 Lights! Camera! Apps! Margaret Kavanagh 92 Take Control of Your Social Media Editor 96 Top 5 Real Estate Apps 98 App Laughs

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

46 September 2013 App Buyer’s Guide 499 Can’t-miss apps to make your smartphone smile

SPECIAL POWER ISSUE! 33 Don’t Let that Battery Die How to squeeze extra juice out of your phone’s battery 36 Eco-Friendly Accessories Great gadgets for environmentally concerned users 40 Charge! Batteries for Everyone The latest on-the-go battery packs reviewed

AWESOME AUTUMN APPS 6 Fall App Round Up Leaf peeping, romantic B&Bs, flea markets and harvest moons 10 Stock Up on School Supplies with These 8 Apps Apps to save on everything you need 14 41 Grade-A Apps for the College Student Free and cheap resources to make your life easier 18 10 Spooky Halloween Apps Get your fright on with intriguing apps! TABLE OF CONTENTS • TABLE OF CONTENTS • TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-TOC 6/19/13 1:51 PM Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS • TABLE OF CONTENTS • TABLE OF CONTENTS

September 2013 • Issue 15 EDITORIAL Erin Lang Masercola - Editorial Director Margaret Kavanagh - Editor William Bonin, Andy Broome, Sean Cooper, Simon Hill, Sean Kavanagh, Torrey Kim, Carolyn Koh, Suzanne Leder, Jan Milliman - Contributing Writers Alicia Natale - Art Director Gabby Oh - Cover Design ADVERTISING Gabe Frimmel - Advertising Director [email protected] (714) 200-1930 Bob Hulsy - Account Executive (714) 200-1940 Eric Gomez - Ad Traffic Coordinator John Cabral - Creative Graphic Designer OPERATIONS Gus Alonzo - Newsstand Sales Manager Amit Sharma - Newsstand & Production Analyst Mohit Patel - Newsstand & Production Analyst Celia Merriday - Newsstand Analyst TECH GUIDE Alberto Chavez - Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager 21 Wireless Emergency Alert FAQs EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway # 200 When it comes to safety warnings, your phone delivers Yorba Linda, CA 92887 Ph: (800) 332-3330

23 Social Media in Emergency Situations Beckett Guide to Phone Apps (ISSN 2158-608X) is Keeping you connected in today’s world published quarterly, 4 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Postmaster, send address changes to Beckett Media, 5430 44 Review: SuperTooth HD Bluetooth LBJ Freeway, Ste 1200, Dallas, TX 75240. © 2013 by Beckett Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of Speakerphone any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly Look, Ma! No hands! prohibited. SUBSCRIPTION RATES $14.95/1 year, $21.95/2 years; foreign $24.95/1 year, 78 Senior Tech Series: 5 Senior-Savvy $41.95/2 years payable in US funds. Single copy price is $9.99. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for new subscriptions Smartphones to begin.

Clever device designs for the mature mobile user CUSTOMER SERVICE Beckett Media, LLC 86 SwiftKey—the Best Keyboard You’ll Ever Use 4635 McEwen Road Dallas, TX 75244 You may switch to Android just to use it Ph: (800) 764-6278

Subscriptions, Address Changes, Renewals, Missing or Damaged Copies - 800 764-6278 239 653-0225 Foreign Inquires [email protected] APPS FOR EVERYONE [email protected] 24 Free Apps that Will Save Your Life Back Issues Get prepared, then let these apps stay vigilant for you www.engagedmediamags.com Books, Merchandise, Reprints 28 $hopping Apps that Pay—Really! 239 280-2380 Get rewarded with points, gifts and even cash Dealer Sales 239 280-2380 30 TV + Smartphone = Twice the Fun [email protected] Letters to the Editor, New Products or to Make your smartphone interact with your favorite TV shows Contribute a Story or Photo: 82 Wage War Against Texting While Driving [email protected] We need YOU and you need these apps 89 Lights! Camera! Apps! Create bite-sized video masterpieces Beckett Media, LLC Nick Singh, Executive Director 92 Take Control of Your Social Media Erin Masercola, Business Unit Editorial Director

Apps to organize status updates, tweets, pins, posts and more This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that information presented is from various sources from which there can 96 Top 5 Real Estate Apps be no warranty or responsibility by Beckett Media, LLC as to the legality, completeness or technical accuracy. Get smart about buying a home All characters and artwork shown in Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps are trademark and copyright of their respective owners. This publication is not sponsored, endorsed by or otherwise 98 App Laughs affiliated with any of the featured companies. High-tech giggles from Andy Broome Cover images courtesy of Apple, Android and Thinkstock

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 5 APPS_1309-AUTUMN 6/17/1312:51AMPage6 FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP 6 P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide

Round few of our favorite apps.favorite our of few a are Here them. around activities other the all and days viewing peak for smartphones our on apps and internet the to turn days,weThese word of mouth and checking tourist bureaus for best fall foliage routes.foliage fall best forbureaus tourist checking and mouth of word parents’our In us.was around it changes time, it as landscape incredible the watch togetaway weekend the to turn air,minds the our to nip Flea Markets and Harvest Moons Harvest and Markets Flea Peeping,B&Bs,Leaf Romantic The days are turning cooler and as the crisp days of autumn bring a bring autumn of days crisp the as and cooler turning aredays The KohCarolynBy FALL APP

up - APPS_1309-AUTUMN 6/20/13 1:40 AM Page 7

FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F

If you’re planning a trip or a hike in an area of fantastic Foliage Leaf Peepr foliage, then a park and/or trail finder will help. Free, Yankee Publishing, Inc. HHHHH Where can you find the best fall leaf color when it’s at its peak? Foliage Leaf Peepr allows you to make foliage reports by posting comments and uploading photos of the locations you visit. You can also check for the best reported foliage in previous years to help plan your trip.

Oh Ranger! Park Finder Free, American Park Oh Ranger! Park Finder is an app with search filters to help you Network find parks that suit your needs. If you prefer, have a slow drive for HHHHH your leaf watching instead of hiking—just select that category, plug in your preferred zip code or use your location to pull up the nearby parks. Many tourism boards and state parks also have their own apps for activities, so don’t ignore those—they might give you more in-depth information for your local area. Windows Phone users try: National Parks by National Geographic, free.

All Trails provides guides to hiking and biking trails with maps, photographs and reviews. The trails include urban as well as suburban and wilderness trails, with difficulty measures and notes as to whether they are dog friendly. Log in to use the community settings and post your own reviews. AllTrails Free, AllTrails, Inc. HHHHH

FunTrainRides Free, Invictus Mobile What about something different? Check out autumn foliage Media from a different perspective, perhaps aboard an old steam or HHHHH even a coal fired locomotive? Fun Train Rides finds historic train rides and train museums around the country. Descriptions of trains, rides and museum are all in the app, with links to each website.

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FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP

Of course you can find a motel in a nearby town for your weekend jaunt, but you may want to find accommodations off the beaten path. To help you find that super quaint Bed and Breakfast, there’s InnTouch Bed and Breakfast Locator which also provides recipes from many of the inns and the growing phenomenon of AirBnB—a community marketplace that gives you the ability to meet a local and rent a room from someone with the space in their home. The community-rated TripAdvisor is a great choice for an all-around travel app which rates almost everything: attractions, hotels, guides—they’re all in there. (Blackberry users try: Poynt by Multiplied Media Corp., free.)

InnTouch Bed and AirBnB TripAdvisor Breakfast Locator Free, AirBnB Inc. Free, TripAdvisor LLC Free, American Historic Inns HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

Thoughts of autumn also turn to harvest time boun- ties. Luckily, Farmers Markets abound across our nation. Fresh Food Finder uses data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and your location to deliver all the nearby Farmers Markets on a list or map. Tapping the market name or map pin gives you the name, address and information for the market, including types of products and payments accepted, as well as links to the market’s website, if available.

Fresh Food Finder Free, Andrew Trice HHHHH FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP

8 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-AUTUMN 6/17/13 12:52 AM Page 9

FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP • FALL APP ROUND-UP P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F • P U - D N U O R P P A L L A F

Those who enjoy browsing flea markets for unusual finds and antiques will find Flea Market Finder useful on their Autumnal jaunts. Enter a location or turn on location services and it pulls up a list of flea markets with name and address, and search links on Google and locations on Maps.

Flea Market Finder Free - $1.99, Zach Levengood HHHHH

Finally, what about those gorgeous harvest moons and spectacular fall sunsets? Find them easily with sunrise/sunset and moon phase apps. There are multiple free and paid apps with all the bells and whistles, including location save, calendars and alerts as well.

Lunafaqt sun Sundroid Free Sunrise PhotoMoon and moon info Sunset $2.99, Rivolu Pte Ltd Free, Ron Nijsenn Free, Visalia Mobile Ltd HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

Moonrise HelioStat & Moon 3D Free - $0.99, AVIA MoonCal Free HHHHH $4.99, Two Roads Free, Jappi-Soft

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 9 APPS_1309-SCHOOL 6/17/1312:56AMPage10 STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES 10 STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES SCHOOL ON UP STOCK • SUPPLIES SCHOOL ON UP STOCK • SUPPLIES SCHOOL ON UP STOCK Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide check out these eight apps that can make easy work of it. of work easy make can that apps eight these out check overwhelming, bit a is list shopping back-to-school your tackling of thought the If markers. erase dry towelsto paper from everything includes that items of list laundry what’sa now old lunchbox”the froma gone haveand “onerequirementto lists pencils supply of box School By TorreyKim need you everything saveon to beyond,apps and calculators to pencils to Fromclothes absolutely free of charge. of free absolutely which can list your used items, sell them, and allow you to ship them ship to you allow and them, sell items, used your list can which app,the through items other and DVDs, electronics, games,books, purchasing through the site. Earn Amazon bucks by selling your selling by bucks Amazon Earn site. the through purchasing that item is on Amazon, letting you know if you can save money by money save can you if know you letting Amazon, on is item that code of an item you’d like to buy, and the app tells you how much how youyou’d tells item app an the buy,of toand code like that will save—and earn—you money. Save cash by scanning the bar- the scanning by money.earn—youcash Save save—and will that SCHOOLSUPPLIES app, which has student-specific featuresstudent-specific has app,which this with Amazon of benefits the maximize can you but Amazon.com,mega-site the of Students probably get a lot of mileage out mileage of lot a get probably Students HHHHH LLCFree, Mobile AMZN StudentAmazon STOCK UP ON UPSTOCK WITH THESE WITH 8

Apps APPS_1309-SCHOOL 6/17/13 12:57 AM Page 11

STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES S E I L P P U S L O O H C S N O P U K C O T S • S E I L P P U S L O O H C S N O P U K C O T S • S E I L P P U S L O O H C S N O P U K C O T S School Supplies $0.99, Engineered Stuff Education HHHHH

Making lists doesn’t get any easier than this. The app comes pre-loaded with scores of possible school supply options. You can add, rearrange, or remove items from your list with a tap of the screen. You can even make several lists for different kids in your family, then grab your phone and head to the store, where you can check items off of the list as you buy them so you can easily keep track of what you’ve purchased and what you still need.

Scientific Calculator Free, Augenth, Inc. HHHHH

The first time your child tells you that she needs a scientific calculator for school, your mouth will probably fall open when you see the sticker prices. Typically costing upwards of $100, these essential tools are not only pricey, but they can get lost very easily. Instead, try out this handy app, which won’t get lost as long as your child has her phone. It works quickly and accurately—the only downside is that it probably can’t be used during standardized testing because phones are forbidden in that environment. For more calculator options, check out our article, “41 Grade-A Apps for the College Student” on page 14 of this issue.

Target Free, Target Brands, Inc. HHHHH

If your back-to-school shopping spree involves a trip to Target—or even if it doesn’t—you can derive benefit from this free app. It allows you to make lists, find the closest Target store, and peruse the weekly ad for deals. But my favorite part is when you tap “Browse,” then “School and Office Supplies.” You can then nail down exactly which products you want, and the items that are on clearance or on sale are at the top of the list. Either add the item to your list or directly to a shopping cart to buy it straight from your phone.

Campus Special Free, Campus Special, LLC HHHHH

College students shopping for bargains should look no further than this comprehensive app, which locates your college and then shows you bargains nearby. Whether you need an oil change, a quick bite to eat or some clothes to look sharp for that internship you snagged, the app will show you all of the local bargains for college students in your town. Plus, you can order the discounted food directly from your phone.

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STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Michael’s Free, Michael’s Stores HHHHH

Michael’s not only has some of the best bargains on school supplies, but the retailer also knows just how to ensure you’ll stay organized. On the app, tap “Products,” followed by “Art Supplies” and then “Back to School,” and you’ll find an incredibly comprehensive list of shopping options. You can add the items to your list and then check them off as you shop. My favorite part of the app is that you can tap “Coupons” and that week’s mobile coupon will pop up on your phone—nothing to print or email to yourself. Just present your phone in the store and they’ll scan the coupon right from your phone.

Shopular Free, AirCrunch, Inc. HHHHH

If you avoid the mall for back-to-school clothes shopping, it’s probably because you’re afraid of dropping too much cash since the stores there are often pricier than big-box retailers. Shopular culls all of the available coupons and deals for mall-based stores and funnels them into this simple-to-use app, which will tell you when you can save 25% at Aeropostale, show you a $10 mobile coupon for Macy’s, and alert you to half-price jeans at Hollister, among other great offers.

Wal-Mart Free, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. HHHHH

As most shoppers know, Wal-Mart can be a great one- stop-shop for back to school items, letting you buy clothes, socks, paper towels, notebook paper, pencils, and everything else you need before heading to the classroom. When you launch the app, tap “Shop by Dept” at the top, followed by “Office” and then “School Supplies” to see a comprehensive list of items that the company offers. You can add each item to a list, or directly to your cart for in-app purchase. My favorite part is that when I find an item I need, I can tap “Check local store availability” so the app will tell me if my location has that item in stock. Very helpful when I need a product quickly. STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES • STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES

12 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_13 6/14/13 4:58 AM Page 13

i am a multi-tasking charging machine. Stay fully charged with the iPL10. This dual charging Stereo FM clock radio audio system with the new Lightning Dock let’s you dock the latest iPhone and iPod. Plus, with its USB port, you can charge and play earlier generations too.

NEW ihomeaudio.com ihome ihome Apple Online Store

iHome is a registered trademark of SDI Technologies, Inc. Lightning is a trademark of Apple Inc. iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. APPS_1309-COLLEGE 6/17/131:02AMPage14 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT • 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT • 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT 14 T N E D U T S E G E L L O C E H T R O F S P P A 1 4 • T N E D U T S E G E L L O C E H T R O F S P P A 1 4 bringup reviews and restaurant details. there.you meet to roomies new your to location the tweet and even) commandvoice (via house coffeenight late a find to up it fire night, Saturday a you’reon lateif studying So done it. share and it map then and on, so Local directories. course registersand faculty,news,student maps, campus provides locationand map the restaurants for you with links to whichalso reviews businesses. Both apps use your suggestionsat nearby restaurants. Thenthere’s budget,or you can lock in your budget and spin for letsyou dial in the type of food you’re craving and your doesn’tjust do reviews of restaurants, its mobile app Whatabout the best deals and cheap eats? in participates school your if see to check can you or apps mobile own their have schools Some surroundings. new your with yourself iarize famil- and around get you help to availableare apps free handy fact, In that! you around?tellway your happening? What’sthat Wefind and apps haveyou hot do How what? Nowsurroundings. You’venew friends, new town, New arrived. finally SITUATED GETTING variety, we’ve gathered the best free and low-priced apps for the return to campus. to return the for apps low-priced and freevariety, we’vebest the gathered the of are studentsstudent” “starvingcollege many As institutions. learning higher of halls hallowed the to trip the make and up pack toover, adults is it’syoungfor Summer and time KohCarolynBy classroom the of out and easier—in lifeyourmake resources to cheap Freeand Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide uses your location to help you find the nearest bank, restaurant, pub and restaurant,pub bank, nearest the find you help to location your uses 41 HHHHH Free,UrbanSpoon UrbanSpoon HHHHH Free, Yelp Yelp

Appsfor the UrbanSpoon Yelp COLLEGE STUDENT GRADE-A , HHHHH Free,Groupon Groupon HHHHH Free,Social Living Social Living , which , OneSchool some of the more popular services: popular more the of some don’t.areothers Hereoffershave companies some as one, than morehave to advantageous it’ssometimes and apps mobile in options several services. areTherecoupon or deal special with shopping advance,try in plan that Forstudents HHHHH LLCFree, Mobile Amazon Local Amazon HHHHH Free,App Coupons The AppCouponsThe HHHHH Free,Local.com Local.com HHHHH Free,Inc. OneSchool, OneSchool APPS_1309-COLLEGE 6/17/13 1:02 AM Page 15

41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT • 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT T N E D U T S E G E L L O C E H T R O F S P P A 1 4 • T N E D U T S E G E L L O C E H T R O F S P P A 1 4 • T N E D U T S E G E L L O C E H T R O F S P P A 1 4 EDUCATION Wikipedia may be the bane of professors everywhere, but it is a font of research resources— the perfect starting point for anyone seeking knowledge. There are a number of mobile apps to access this popular internet resource. The Wikipanion boasts fast direct connections to the Wikipedia servers, a slick interface and the paid version offers offline browsing and custom Wikis. Android users can try Wikidroid which has voice search. Of course if you’re familiar with the original website and enjoy the featured article of the day and Wikinews, there’s the recently released official Wikipedia Mobile app available for most mobile platforms. Free, of course. Wikipanion Wikidroid Wikipedia Mobile Free - $4.99, Robert Chin Free - $1.99, Sirius Free, Wikimedia Foundation HHHHH Applications, Ltd HHHHH HHHHH

Ahh… Spark Notes, generations of students have used them. Now, they’re available as a mobile application known as… what else? SparkNotes. The free app comes with 50 pre-installed study guides, Facebook integration and the ability to form study groups with other nearby users.

For many students, a scientific calculator is an invaluable tool. Check out RealCalc Scientific Calculator on Android or Calc Made Easy on iOS. Both have free versions with paid versions offering enhanced features.

SparkNotes RealCalc Calc Made Easy Free, SparkNotes LLC Free - $3.49, Quartic Software Free - $1.99, Lalit Patil HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

College textbooks are big, heavy and expensive. E-Textbooks eliminate the weight and space requirements, but not the expense. Kno Textbooks and CourseSmart are two services with extensive textbook catalogs. Kno Textbooks is not simply an e-reader, it also provides interactive features to help students study and better understand the subject matter, whereas with CourseSmart, students can rent books. Textbook publishers such as Pearson Education and Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt also have their own mobile textbook reader apps for free download. Kno Textbooks CourseSmart eTextbooks Free, Kno Inc. Free, CourseSmart HHHHH HHHHH

Checking prices of textbooks for the best deal? Buy, sell and/or rent textbooks with these apps.

Amazon Student CampusBooks BIGWORDS.com Free, Amazon Mobile LLC Free, CampusBooks Free, BIGWORDS.com HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

One does not gain knowledge from textbooks alone and the wise students looks farther afield. TED started out as a conference bringing together the brightest people from the worlds of Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TED talks have gained great renown. Check them out on the free official app. You may also want to familiarize yourself with Wolfram Alpha—the computational knowledge engine. Originally a website, it’s a bottomless well of knowledge and has been compared to the fictional know-everything computer on Star Trek. TED Wolfram Alpha Free, TED $2.99, Wolfram Alpha LLC HHHHH HHHHH

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There’s so much to be found on the internet and so little time to read it. How better to access information than grabbing pages to read later? Save some data usage time and access the information offline. Several apps are available for that and they are all quite elegant. You’ll have to use your personal preference as each does a great job. Instapaper Pocket Readability $2.99, Mobeliux Free, Read it later, Inc. Free, Readability, Inc. HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

PRODUCTIVITY AND ORGANIZATION Keeping your life organized is no easy task when you’re in college, but several apps will help you out. For taking notes, Evernote has to be one of the best apps available on the market, and it’s free. Take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists and record voice reminders. It can be synced across devices and the notes are searchable. Need to keep a budget or keep track of your finances? Mint.com has a free mobile app to help with that.

Evernote Mint.com Free, Evernote Corp Free, Mint.com HHHHH HHHHH

Schedules can be kept as simply as a calendar, or organized on a planner with projects, notes and deadlines. Here are some of our favorites to help keep track of all your classes, tasks, important dates and to-do lists. Some even allow information sharing with friends.

iStudiez Astrid Tasks & (Lite & Pro) To Do Lists Free - $2.99, iStudiez Team Free, Todoroo Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

inClass Studious Free, inClass, Inc. Free, Braden Young HHHHH HHHHH

Keeping everything together and synched can be a challenge, but there’s always the cloud to help. SugarSync, DropBox and Google Drive all have PC and Mac compatibility as well as apps to help you out here, and as long as you aren’t planning on storing mega-gigs of content in the cloud, it’s all free. You can even set it up so synching is automatic. Which is the latest copy of that paper you’re working on? If you set it up right, you’ll always have the latest copy on all your devices.

SugarSync DropBox Google Drive Free, SugarSync, Inc. Free, DropBox, Inc. Free, Google, Inc. HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT • 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT • 41 APPS FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT

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LIFESTYLE AND ENTERTAINMENT You know what they say about all work and no play. Students also need entertainment. Some brain-candy, if you will, and a social life. So what’s playing at the nearest Cineplex? Flixster on your smartphone will tell you. Check out reviews, watch trailers and even stream and download movies with this app. And don’t forget the old standards Netflix or Hulu Plus, both which have mobile apps. The apps are free, but purchases or subscriptions are required for some content.

Flixster Netflix Hulu Plus Free, Flixster, Inc. Free, Netflix, Inc. Free, Hulu HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

First time cooks, check out CookWizMe which has step-by-step photo instructions to help eliminate the Fail! condition. RecipeSearch comes with voice controls. Say the ingredients you have and it pulls up the recipes for you. For both apps, logging/ creating an account opens up more options including favorites, downloading new recipes and uploading your own.

CookWizMe Recipe Search / Free, Farminers, Ltd Allthecooks.com HHHHH Free, Allthecooks.com HHHHH

Finally, the most important app of all. The one that wakes you up and gets you out of bed to get to your classes. The alarm clock app that works even if your phone is silenced.

Do you prefer a gentle awakening or a loud, rude one? Or even a custom alarm—like your father’s voice proclaiming he’s not paying the next term fees if you fail another class! For some options, like the custom alarm, you may have to buy an app, but effective free ones that have volume ramp ups, limited snoozes, etc. are available in all platforms. We think the best of these for Android is Alarm Clock Xtreme—it actually has a “solve math to disable alarm” feature.

For iOS users, there’s Wake N Shake Alarm Clock which requires you to shake the phone until the meter fills up. No snooze button here, not without filling that meter up, plus gamification to compete with your friends to become the wake king or queen of the week.

Those with a tendency to slide back into bed after silencing an alarm might want to try Sleep if U Can, which requires you to take photographs of household objects to silence the very, very annoying alarm. Register something in a place far away from the bedroom to make this alarm more effective.

Alarm Clock Wake N Shake Sleep if U Can Xtreme Alarm Clock $1.99, Delight Room Free - $1.99, Angle Labs $1.99, Andres Canella HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 17 APPS_1309-HALLOWEEN 6/20/131:44AMPage18 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS 18 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS HALLOWEEN SPOOKY 10 • APPS HALLOWEEN SPOOKY 10 • APPS HALLOWEEN SPOOKY 10 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide your Halloween spirit with 10 apps that will get you ready to scare and be scared. be and scare to ready you get will that apps 10 with spirit Halloweenyour season’sthe forprepare toholiday.up yet Rev just treatspookiest or trick don’tto need you terrifying—but the to cute the from range can Halloween of sounds and sights The By TorreyKim Halloweenapps intriguing innovativeand with on fright your Get try: try: carving your real pumpkin from the patch. the from pumpkin real your carving you want to test out when you’re finally ready to try out you’retry when to readyout testfinally to want you designs for practice and ideas yougive also can side—it creativeyourexpress to way good a this is only Not like. you can make as many virtual pumpkin carvings as you’das carvings pumpkin virtual many as make can you app,porch?front this Withthe on depressing downright Pumpkin Carver Pro HD Pro Carver Pumpkin 1 HALLOWEEN APPS sided jack-o-lantern that looks that jack-o-lantern sided lop- a createto only pumpkin, a carve togrease elbow and time the spenthave us of many How HHHHH Free,Renaud Benoit Carver Pumpkin by Simplify Now,Simplify byLLC, $1.99.

Spooky Android users Android Legends friends.terror-filled most your and decorationscreepiest your by surroundedHalloween, on stories scary telling around sitting for life.perfect is This your of fright the yougive will that legends urban other about learn to app this Or,launch home.your could youin appearance an make to going is Mary if out find and myth urban this test to year of time best the is Halloween self? HD by PiquantGames.com,free.by HD row to summon the ghost her- ghost the summon torow a in times Mary”three “Bloody said and mirror bathroom the of fronthasn’t in Who stood HHHHH Free,AvidApps Legends Urban iPhone users try: try: users iPhone Urban APPS_1309-HALLOWEEN 6/17/13 1:06 AM Page 19

10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS S P P A N E E W O L L A H Y K O O P S 0 1 • S P P A N E E W O L L A H Y K O O P S 0 1 • S P P A N E E W O L L A H Y K O O P S 0 1

Free Halloween Sounds Pro Free, Dream Injector, LLC HHHHH

From croaking frogs to a chainsaw to a witch’s cackle and more, the sounds of Halloween can definitely get you into the holiday spirit. This app is so simple to use that even a child can launch it—and potentially scare the living daylights out of you. Once you open the app, click on the sound you’d like to hear. You can delay its sound by up to two minutes if you want to scare someone. Set it to go off at the allotted time, leave your phone where you know the unsuspecting victim will be walking, and voilà—fright night! If you’d rather stick to a con- tinuous stream of scary sounds, tap “Spooky Soundtrack” and the app plays a background of creepy noises for you. Windows Phone users try: Halloween Sounds by Bang Your Head, LLC, free.

Popcorn Horror Free, Popcorn Horrors HHHHH

Everyone has a favorite scary movie, but some of us get tired of watching the exact same plot over and over again. Popcorn Horror allows you to mix up your fright sources by delivering a new short horror film every week for you to view. You can also join the app’s community and discuss your favorite scary flicks, or head to the Quotes page to peruse some of the most legendary horror quotes of film history.

ZombieBooth Free, MotionPortrait, Inc. HHHHH

Even the most innocent among us deserves to get a bit zombie-fied on Halloween. Snap a picture of yourself or your loved ones this Halloween, then fiddle with the in-app extras to give your photo a zombie mouth, red eyes, gray skin, or open, bleeding sores. Tap OK and the zombie actually comes to life, moving around and making terrifying sounds. The first time you see yourself animated in motion as a zombie is kind of freaky—but very fun.

Halloween Coloring Book! Free, Peep Software Games HHHHH

For a free app, this packs in quite a few hours of entertainment, thanks to over a dozen different pictures that kids can color. You don’t have to print out any pages or gather a set of crayons—the kids color the pictures using the touch screen. Simply tap on any color and then use your finger to fill in the lines on the picture. More into making your own creative Halloween picture? No problem. You can tap the icon of the blank piece of paper and work on your own masterpiece with the in-app colors.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 19 APPS_1309-HALLOWEEN 6/17/13 1:06 AM Page 20

10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS

Halloween Photo Editor for Blackberry $1.99, Elena Vinkurova HHHHH

Forget about having to fiddle with the intricacies of PhotoShop to get your favorite picture spooki-fied. Instead, load this simple app onto your BlackBerry, snap a photo, and choose your embellishments. You can make a spider dip down onto your child’s head, have a witch fancifully fly over your dog’s head, or superimpose a jack-o-lantern’s face over your own. Add one of the 16 photo frames and you’ve got a Halloween-themed piece of art. My favorite? The “blood” effect that gives your pictures a particularly spooky hue.

Scary Scream Machine Free Free, AEON HHHHH

Want to really freak out everyone in your house? Record your own voice on this app, add a scary sound effect to it with the built-in enhancements, and program it to go off at a certain time of day. Sit in the next room and watch as “your” voice screams for help from the phone and your family members scramble to find you. It may seem cruel, but it’s all in good Halloween fun! Up for another trick? Ask someone to take the in-app “eye test.” Halfway through, a terrifying picture will pop up and the unsuspecting eye tester will be screaming in terror!

Halloween MakeUp Free, Libii Tech Limited Games HHHHH

Keep the kids occupied while you’re prepping your house for trick-or- treaters with this creative app that allows you to take a glamorous model and spookify her completely. Kids can customize her hair, eye makeup, headgear, clothing, and even how much blood is dripping from the fangs you’ve given her. The app has countless numbers of combinations to keep kids busy—and it might even give them a costume idea or two. Android users try: Halloween makeup by Giuseppe Tilli, free.

Scary Camera Free, ObjectGraph, LLC HHHHH

When you look into this app, you’ll instantly jump—not only will you see your face with bloody handprints around it, but ghostly faces and figures will be floating past you. It’s a bit off-putting at first when you combine it with the terrifying ghostly sounds playing in the background. But it’s also addictive to add filters and try and determine which is more scary than the next. My favorite feature? Every time a face in a hockey mask floats past me, I jump. Android users try: Horror Camera by Soda, Inc., free. 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS • 10 SPOOKY HALLOWEEN APPS

20 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-PUSHALERT 6/17/13 1:08 AM Page 21

SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY WARNINGS, YOUR PHONE Delivers 5 Wireless Emergency Alert Q&As By Suzanne Leder Turning on the news today reminds us of the constant threat of danger—whether it’s acts of ter- rorism, weather events, disasters, or kidnapped children. With all the danger out there, it’s good news to hear that your smartphone or mobile device can actually be a lifesaver, thanks to WEAs. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are wireless notifications—similar to text messages—deliv- ered to your mobile device as part of a new, national public safety system. They’re designed to inform you of imminent threats to your safety or about missing person alerts in your area. Pre-authorized national, state or local governments may send WEAs regarding public safety emergencies, such as evacuation orders or shelter-in-place orders due to severe weather, a terrorist threat or chemical spill.

How Do WEAs Work? Will I Get WEA Messages? In April 2012, the wireless industry joined the Federal If you have a smartphone or feature phone, chances Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal are you’ll receive the WEAs that affect your area. Most 1Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer U.S. 2wireless providers—nearly 97% of subscribers’ citizens a dependable and wide-reaching wireless providers—are participating in the program. emergency alert system. Suppose you’re in New York City on a business trip, but WEA works with the existing Emergency Alert System you live in Chicago. If there’s an emergency in New (EAS), which is implemented by the FCC and FEMA at York while you’re there, your WEA-capable phone will the federal level through broadcasters and other media receive the WEA, even though your phone is roaming service providers. WEA and the EAS are part of FEMA’s or visiting from another state. However, if there’s an Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). emergency in Chicago while you’re gone, you won’t get that WEA. Alerts from authenticated public safety officials are sent through FEMA’s IPAWS to participating wireless carriers. Important: If you DO receive a WEA, it means that These wireless carriers push the alerts from cell towers you’re within the geographic location that’s affected by to mobile devices in the affected area. WEAs use a spe- the emergency. You should review the information in cific technology that ensures they make it to your the alert carefully and proceed as directed. Check phone immediately without getting stuck in normal other sources, too, like the radio and television for cellular traffic. more information.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 21 APPS_1309-PUSHALERT 6/20/13 1:46 AM Page 22

SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS

For more information on Emergency Preparedness, look for our article, “Free Apps That Will Save Your Life” on page 24 in this issue.

Will I Be Charged for These Will I Receive the Alert If I’m Messages? on the Phone? 3 You will not be charged for receiving WEAs. They are 5WEAs won’t interrupt your voice or data sessions. free and you are automatically enrolled to receive them They will be re-broadcast at specific intervals in the if your phone is capable. And you don’t need GPS in targeted geographic locations, in order to reach as your phone to receive WEAs, either, so don’t worry many devices as possible. However, after that interval about having your GPS disabled and missing out. is over, or the alert has been overridden by another, the original alert will no longer be sent.

What Sort of Alerts Will I Receive? WEAs are also known as Commercial Mobile Alert WEAs can be up to 90 characters and may be one of System (CMAS) or Personal Localized Alerting Network three types: (PLAN). The appearance of the messages will vary 4 • Presidential Alerts – issued by the President or a depending on your device, carrier and the sender. designee. • Imminent Threat Alerts – about severe disasters, such as hurricanes or terrorist incidents when an “imminent threat to life or property exists.” • AMBER Alerts – that help law enforcement agencies locate abducted children.

You can opt-out of all alerts except for Presidential Alerts, but rest assured, WEAs won’t be sent without serious consideration, so it’s worth staying connected and opted-in. Do You Have a WEA WEA alerts will be accompanied by a unique attention Enabled Device? signal and vibration, which is particularly helpful to To receive WEAs, you must have a capable device people with hearing or vision-related disabilities. and be located in an area targeted by authorized senders to receive the alert.

Before you run out to purchase a new device, check with your carrier. You might need to only upgrade your device’s software.

Telltale sign: If your device has the CTIA Wireless Emergency Alerts logo, it’s WEA-capable.

For more information, visit FEMA

SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS http://www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts

22 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps apps_1309-Boston 6/20/13 2:26 aM page 23

SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS • SAFETY WARNINGS S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S • S G N I N R A W Y T E F A S your phone is on high alert— Socialeven media when can help you keep you aren’t connected during an emergency By Torrey Kim If you were in Boston during the Marathon bombing in April 2013, chances are strong that your loved ones were eager for word that you were okay, and it was impractical to phone each of them one-by-one. That’s why social media can play such an important role after a disaster—one status update and everyone knows exactly what happened, where you were, and whether you’re safe and sound. The same can be said about staying secure after the immediate threat passes. Many citizens may have been unharmed from the initial blast, but the perpetrators were still on the loose, which made Boston residents heighten their senses and stay inside to remain safe. Social media came into play once again, allowing people in the surrounding areas to track the latest news about the bombers and law enforcement’s efforts to find them. And with cell phone service spotty after the emergency because so many people were jamming the lines, tapping into social media was infinitely faster than making phone calls.

Social Media Now A Top News Source A Pew Research Center report indicated that 56% of Americans aged 18 to 29 got their Boston bombing-related news through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Not only were these sites used to track the latest news on the criminals and the status of bombing victims, but they also allowed medical and emergency personnel to share information directly with the public without having to go through a middle party such as the evening news. For example, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Association used Twitter to advise locals that they should share concern via text rather than by placing phone calls, because texts used less bandwidth (which could be preserved for law enforcement and tip tracking). When Boston authorities needed to ask locals to “shelter in place,” it was Twitter where they posted the information, and the police department’s subsequent tweet “Captured! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won.” was shared over 143,000 times via retweets. Hopefully, you will never be the victim of a terrorist attack like the Boston bombing. But the odds are pretty good that you’ll someday find that your power is out from a storm or that roads will be impassable due to a flood, and you’ll want to be tuned into social media sites to ensure that you’re up on the latest news. As a precautionary measure, it’s a good idea to Follow (via Twitter) your local police departments and news outlets and to Like (via Facebook) the same organizations so you’ll always have access to their news dissemination. In addition, local news outlets may offer their own apps that can keep you updated on the latest information, and you may want to download those so you are never far from the most recent facts concerning your area. Facebook and Twitter apps are free for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 23 APPS_1309-PREPARED 6/18/134:34AMPage24 FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE 24 E F I L R U O Y E V A S L L I W T A H T S P P A E E R F • E F I L R U O Y E V A S L L I W T A H T S P P A E E R F Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide to react beforeit’slate. react too to you’reso plan readya make youwhat’s help awareof youcoming,but keep only not September.to apps FREE ready,best Toget the we’veyoutogether help put Since 2004, Since immune. is one wildfires—notornadoes, hurricane, floods, lifetime—earthquakes, your in danger of type live,you’resome encounterto likely you where matter Nature.No Mother with dealing when essential is preparation way,either it’sthatBut least.)clear the 1970s,far, the so and U.S.history in decade other any recordthan on hurricanes more had actually 1880s (The perception. our be just may that years—or recent in rise the on Weatherare disasters KavanaghMargaret By youforvigilant stay apps these let prepared—then Get THATWILLSAVE FREE National PreparednessMonth National YOUR LIFE YOUR

Apps (NPM) is observed in the U.S.every the in observed is (NPM) APPS_1309-PREPARED 6/20/13 2:32 AM Page 25

FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE LIFE YOUR SAVE WILL THAT APPS FREE • LIFE YOUR SAVE WILL THAT APPS FREE • LIFE YOUR SAVE WILL THAT APPS FREE The Red Cross to the Rescue The American Red Cross responds to about 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U.S. every year, helping individuals and entire communities. The Red Cross was chartered by Congress to “carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.”

As part of those prevention measures, the Red Cross offers a set of mobile apps that educate and aid users in smart preparation techniques. The apps integrate with one another and provide invaluable information that everyone should follow in an effort to stay safe and be ready.

While checking these apps out, I found them eye-opening. I assumed that several of the apps wouldn’t apply to me in northwestern NY—I thought, “the worst we get is a lot of snow.” I had the preconception that I wouldn’t find use in the Tornado, Wildfire or Hurricane apps. But, I learned that we’ve had 12 hurricanes, 1 wildfire, 3 earthquakes and 61(!) tornadoes in the recent past. I had no plan for evacuating my own home and no “offsite” contact to inform we were safe. I didn’t know that in case of an earthquake (our last one was just weeks ago) you should drop, cover and hold on, rather than stand in the nearest doorway. Let’s just say that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Each of these apps feature: • Explanations of how each emergency or condition occurs • The history of past disasters in your area • Interactive quizzes about proper preparedness for each weather condition • A set of tools, including a Flashlight, Strobe Light, and Alarm • Incredibly thorough checklists of things to do before, during and after, split into sub-lists with headings like “If you do nothing else…” • Links to other resources relevant to the situation • A one-touch “I’m Safe” message button to let others know you’re okay

So while the American Red Cross is there to help in times of need, you’d do yourself a huge favor by preparing to handle an emergency properly so you don’t need help afterwards. Take advantage of all the information these apps provide and prepare an emergency plan and kit. You’ll feel safer and be ready to act, rather than react.

Other Free Preparedness Apps

The Weather Channel FEMA App

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 25 APPS_1309-PREPARED 6/18/13 4:35 AM Page 26

FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

Tornado Warning & Alert App

When the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) issues a tornado warning for your monitored area, you’ll know it with this app—even if you don’t have it open. Less severe alerts are silent, while a tornado warning is accompanied by a siren so you’re sure not to miss it. Let GPS find your location and plug in other towns and cities to monitor the conditions there, as well. Learn about the different types of tornado-related alerts, how to spot danger signs, and what to do before, during and after a tornado hits.

Hurricane App

The Hurricane App is the best way to protect yourself from encroaching danger from hurricanes and other rough weather. Warnings, watches, tropical storms and floods are all monitored for you in the locations you decide. The app shows you which storms it’s actively tracking that might affect your area later on.

Learn how to stay safe, and access the information even if there’s no cellular service available. Take quizzes to learn about storm history in your area, and access links for even more help when service is restored.

Earthquake Notification App

Surprisingly, 45 states and territories in the U.S. are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes, and they’re all over the country. While you may have never been near a tornado or hurricane, chances are you reside in an earthquake risk state—this app will help you prepare if one should happen to hit.

The settings on this warning app are more customizable than in the others because earthquakes are so prevalent. You can set the magnitude level (up to 10.0) and the radius from your location, up to 500 miles. Learn about what caus- es earthquakes and how to stay safe during the initial incident and any after- shocks with in-app information. Notifications are generated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE • FREE APPS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

26 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-PREPARED 6/18/13 4:35 AM Page 27

Wildfire App

Wildfires can happen anywhere if the conditions are right. Dry landscape, a heat source and oxygen are the only requirements and if you’ve got those, you should also have this app. (In the spirit of prevention, you should have this app before you have those conditions.) A nationwide map pinpoints the current and recent fires with red flags, while yellow flags indicate areas in danger.

As with the other prevention apps, you can monitor the locations you choose, so you’re watching not only your current position but also any areas where you may have friends or family. Since wildfires are often undetected at the beginning, and move so quickly, every second counts and warning is essential. The Wildfire App will even walk you through what to do if you’ve been ordered to evacuate your area—what utilities to turn off in your home, what to wear, how to secure your home and what travel routes to use.

Shelter Finder App

When disaster does strike and you need to make your way to the nearest shelter, use this app to find out where that is. The app uses information about open shelters from the American Red Cross National Shelter System (NSS), which contains data about 60,000 potential facilities. Shelter information is updated every 30 minutes and when shelters are open, their populations are updated several times a day. So far, the app is available for Apple only, but others can view the map online at http://app.redccross.org/nss.app/.

First Aid App

This app provides a wealth of information about how to deal with almost every first aid scenario you can imagine, with emergency preparation information to boot. Lots of videos, animations and interactive quizzes make learning a fun process and preloaded info means data is available even if your connection to your cell service isn’t. If you do need to contact EMS, 911 call buttons are integrated into the app in many locations so you aren’t searching for the phone app.

The preparation portion has 20 different emergency categories you can browse (drought, fire, pet preparedness, and more) that lead to instructions on getting prepared, as well as handling and getting past each incident.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 27 APPS_1309-REWARD 6/17/131:13AMPage28 SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY • SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY • SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY 28 T PY • SHOPPING APPS THA A T PAY AT H T S P P A G N I P P O H S • PAY AT H T S P P A G N I P P O H S • PAY AT H T S P P A G N I P P O H S Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide cold hard cash just to use them. use to just cash hard cold even cards,discounts,and gift yougive it. that We’veuse apps to freegreat ed some found you’rewhen better even reward- use—and that’sto app freefun a find It’stoexcitingalways By TorreyKim cash even and gifts points,rewarded with get and apps these with Shop THATPAY– $HOPPING APPS reward kicks in. rewardkicks app will allow you to get products completely free after your ibotta your after freecompletely products get to you allow will app the sometimes that means store,which the in sales and coupons bined account. You can even collect these cash-back offers if you’veif com-offersaccount. cash-back these You collect even can PayPalyour into deposited rewardcash get app,and the to it upload pating products that you’ve purchased, snap a photo of your receipt,your of photo you’vea that snap purchased, products pating threshold is addictive! addictive! is threshold rewardnew each reach to app the on staying of call down—the it set toTrying app.downside? the only on The directly games win instant playing and music, and apps downloading videos,watching by armchair your from right points collect to youallowsworries. app No Thepoints? collect to want still you but Thanks to ibotta, you can select the partici- the select can you ibotta, to Thanks mail. the in arrive to check rebateyourfor months waiting then and rebate a process ibotta store,the to iPad.head Don’tan to wantto cards gift Amazon from everything including items,valuable for in them cash then stores,and local your at items specific scanning by townPointsaround Collect HHHHH LLCFree, inMarket, CheckPoints Forget about spending 30 minutes trying to trying minutes 30 spending Forgetabout HHHHH Free,Inc. ibotta,

Really APPS_1309-REWARD 6/17/13 1:13 AM Page 29

SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY • SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY • SHOPPING APPS THAT PAY Y A P T A H T S P P A G N I P P O H S • Y A P T A H T S P P A G N I P P O H S • Y A P T A H T S P P A G N I P P O H S Belly Free, Belly, Inc. HHHHH

You’ve grown accustomed to presenting your loyalty reward card at various retailers, but you can now present your phone—and have a retailer scan your personalized QR code to give you Belly points every time you walk into a participating store. You can then cash in the points you earn at those same shops. I went into one restaurant three days in a row, and by the third day I had earned a free coffee. You don’t have to buy anything to earn the points—you just have to scan your phone. The only downside is that there aren’t as many participating shops in smaller towns as in big cities, but Belly’s network is growing quickly.

Endorse Free, Endorse HHHHH

Similar to ibotta, Endorse pays you for purchasing products you need from your favorite stores after you upload an image of your receipt. You simply browse the offers, decide what you want to buy, and then follow through. Endorse partners with DonorsChoose.org to fund local schools. In fact, they’ll give you points for every receipt you upload, even if you haven’t purchased one of the listed offers. Save money and support charities—what’s not to love about this shopping app?

Shopkick Free, Shopkick, Inc. HHHHH

Collect rewards, or “kicks,” just by walking into a participating store as long as you have this app open on your phone. Then you can gather even more kicks by scanning participating items and by paying with a linked credit card. Keep an eye on the app daily, since some days you might earn 35 kicks for walking into a store such as Target, whereas on other days you may get a bonus 500 kicks—enough to earn you a $2.00 Target gift card. Keep earning for more valuable rewards, all the way up to a Vespa scooter.

iPoll Free, iPoll.com HHHHH

Put your opinion to good use, and collect rewards while you do it. iPoll allows you to earn cash by completing polls, but not just generic ones. You’ll be asked to perform “missions” at retailers like your bank or movie theater, where you’ll answer questions about your experience and collect cash. The reward amounts vary by the amount of time it will take you to complete them, but typically range from $0.10 to $5.00. You can then cash in your rewards with PayPal or by earning gift cards and other items.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 29 APPS_1309-TV 6/17/131:16AMPage30 TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN 30 T V + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • T V + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • T V + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN 2X = SMARTPHONE + V T • FUN 2X = SMARTPHONE + V T • FUN 2X = SMARTPHONE + V T Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide hate.favorites. our We’veof few a youbrought or loveyou the TV on opinions your share and competitions, and voting live in engage show,favoriteyour about informationlatest the find you help to apps of tons areThere of winner latest the about thoughts our tweeting or IMDB, on face familiar a of name the up looking as simple as be might It activity. online related in engaged have us of half watchingaround while and TV, laptops or tablets, smartphones, use us of percent 80 overresearch,recentAccordingto laps. our on or hands our in screen second a with watchingare us TV of more and More Hill Simon By showsfavoriteyour with interact TV smartphone yourmake that Apps more device support in the near future.near the in support device more If you don’t have a PS3 then don’t worry because Netflix plans to add to plans Netflix because don’t then worry PS3 don’t youa have If thing on the TV and finish watching it on your smartphone elsewhere. smartphone your on it watching finish and the TV on thing app will also sync across platforms, so you can start watching some- watching start can you platforms,so across sync also will app Google TV. This means you can browse content while you watch.you browsewhile contentThe Google can TV.you means This the app as a remote control for the service on your PlayStation 3 or 3 PlayStationyour on service the forcontrolremote a as app the 2x TV + SMARTPHONE = SMARTPHONE + TV your smartphone or tablet, you can also use also can you tablet, or smartphone your tocontent Netflix stream you can only Not app.this grab to want definitely you then ($7.99/mo.) subscription Netflix a haveyou If HHHHH Free,Inc. Netflix, Netflix The Voice,The

fun but it’s a trend that’s starting to take hold. take to that’sit’s trend but a starting APPS_1309-TV 6/17/13 1:16 AM Page 31

TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN N U F X 2 = E N O H P T R A M S + V T • N U F X 2 = E N O H P T R A M S + V T • N U F X 2 = E N O H P T R A M S + V T IntoNow Free, Yahoo! Inc. HHHHH

With Yahoo behind it you might expect something special from the IntoNow app and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Load up the app and with the tap of a button, it will identify whatever you are watching and offer up some related content that you might be interested in. You can also use the app to see what other people are saying and share your own thoughts. The nice thing about IntoNow is that it works for recorded content as well, so there’s no need to be watching live. The “Capit” feature is like a real-time meme generator which you can use to capture a screenshot and add your own text for sharing via social media.

Xbox SmartGlass Free, Microsoft Corporation HHHHH

Anyone using an Xbox 360 as an entertainment hub needs to get their hands on Xbox SmartGlass. This second screen app acts as a remote control for your console. You can use it to browse or play content, or to surf the web. Participating shows, movies and games offer extra content, including detailed information, interactive guides, behind-the-scenes commentary, and links to buy whole series in the Xbox cata- log. The potential for games is even more exciting with extended interactive features, such as a map for the game you’re playing.

Viggle Free, Viggle Inc. HHHHH

Who says watching TV is a waste of your time? With the Viggle app you can check in to the shows you love and earn points which can be redeemed for rewards from brands like Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. You’ll also find chat functionality, including Facebook and Twitter integration, so you can share gossip about shows. Each show profile has a wide range of useful links to related information. There’s even a quiz feature to test your TV knowledge, and a fantasy sports game that you can play while you watch sports.

Shazam Free; Shazam Entertainment Ltd HHHHH

You know that feeling when you hear a tune you simply must have, but you don’t know what it is? Shazam started out as an app that could identify any song simply by listening to a few seconds of it. The app returned the name, artist, streaming lyrics, and even a link to buy it or view it on YouTube. Since its inception, the developers have added the ability to identify TV shows and commercials. Supported shows display a Shazam prompt and you can use the app to access bonus content while you watch. You can also tag and share the TV content you love with ease.

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TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN

GetGlue Free, AdaptiveBlue, Inc. HHHHH

By checking in to your favorite shows and movies with GetGlue you’re joining a huge social network focused on entertainment. It’s all about sharing the buzz with friends and the community at large, discovering new shows and movies that suit your tastes, and earning stickers and rewards. Customize your feed with your favorite shows, add your friends, and you’ll get a stream of the latest news and chatter. GetGlue covers sports as well, and it includes a comprehensive TV guide and the ability to see what’s trending in real time at a glance.

ConnecTV Free, ConnecTV HHHHH

ConnecTV, another social platform, offers the chance to engage in huge online chats with other fans, and even, sometimes, the stars of the shows you are watching. You’ll also find the usual mix of news, polls, celebrity biographies and tweets. The app automatically recognizes what you’re watching and you can log in via your Facebook or Twitter account. It serves up relevant advertising alongside your info and chat, targeted in much the same way that Google ads are—to cater to your needs. Extra content for ads includes things like the ability to buy a ticket for the movie trailer you just saw, direct from the app.

zeebox Free, zeebox HHHHH

The zeebox app is designed to enhance your TV viewing experience by providing a television guide, additional information on what you’re watching, and even interactive fun with polls, competitions, and games. Participating shows and advertisers use “zeetags” to highlight live information about what’s on your screen and provide links to buy products. There’s a substantial social side to it too, with Facebook and Twitter integration, and a discovery tool that lists TV shows your friends and others (including celebrities) are enjoying right now, or getting excited about. You can also set reminders for your favorite shows and even use zeebox as a remote if you have an XFINITY set-top box. TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN • TV + SMARTPHONE = 2X FUN

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DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! ! E I D Y R E T T A B T A H T T E L T ’ N O D • ! E I D Y R E T T A B T A H T T E L T ’ N O D • ! E I D Y R E T T A B T A H T T E L T ’ N O D

don’t let that battery How to squeeze extraDie juice out of your smartphone’s battery By Simon Hill ! Frustrated by your smartphone’s limited battery life? You’re not the only one. Poor battery life consistently takes the top spot in consumer polls on our biggest complaints about mobile technology. As we pack more features into our devices, we tend to use them more and the drain on power increases. Combine that with the trend towards larger screens and it’s no surprise that our smartphones are often dead before the day is done. Battery technology is dated and there’s no sign of a power revolution anytime soon, but you can take steps to prolong your smartphone’s battery. Let’s run through some general tips that will work for any smartphone, and then we’ll take a look at advanced tips, and a few apps that could help.

BASIC BATTERY-SAVING TIPS or “TURN IT OFF!” Obviously, the #1 battery-saving tip for your smartphone is to just turn it off.

If you’re in a dead zone, or you need to conserve some battery for later, then just press that power button. All of the basic battery-saving tips you’ll ever see for smartphones are related to this idea.

But, if you can’t, or don’t want to turn the device off, you should at least turn off some of the functions.

The basics: don’t keep WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, or anything else on, when you aren’t using it. Don’t allow push notifications for email updates. Don’t connect to a 4G LTE network when 3G will do. Turn down your screen brightness and volume. Turn vibrations off. Don’t use widgets or animated wallpapers. Whatever you do, don’t play games or watch video.

Of course, no one really wants to hear this.

We remember having (dumb) mobile phones that handled calls and texts and nothing else. The battery life was amazing, comparatively speaking, but who wants to shell out hundreds of dollars for a phone that does just calls and texts?

What’s the point in having a smartphone if you can’t enjoy the features? What makes sense for you?

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DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE!

CHANGE THE STATUS QUO It’s actually easy to rack up battery savings without missing out on the features you love.

For instance, a lot of us never switch from our phone’s defaults, even if they’re annoying, but we really should. Turn off vibration and sound feedback for typing for instant savings.

You may also find that you don’t really need to know every time a vague acquaintance posts something on Facebook or in a Google+ group.

Many apps turn push notifications on by default and they eat a huge amount of battery juice. They also distract you constantly with a stream of inconsequential nonsense.

Location tracking is often left on, even though you may not be using it. Watch out for apps that want to know your location. If you’re not actually using the smartphone for navigation right now, there’s little benefit to leaving it on.

Shutting off unneeded features isn’t a major chore.

Many smartphones come with quick settings menus that allow you to turn them off with a tap when you don’t need them. If yours doesn’t, then you’ll be able to find an app that offers this functionality. (Windows Phone has a built-in battery saver feature which you’ll find in Settings.)

MANAGING YOUR SCREEN As smartphone screens get bigger, the display is responsible for eating more and more of the battery life.

On Android go to Settings > Battery, or Settings > About phone > Battery use and see exactly what ate your battery. Invariably, your phone’s screen will be top of the list.

We’ve already mentioned reducing the brightness level, but you can also decrease the screen’s timeout—that is, how long your phone stays operational before it dims and locks itself. You’ll find it in Settings > Display or something similar, depending on your phone’s operating system. Set it for as short a time as you can before you find it terribly frustrating that your screen keeps turning itself off.

On iOS (iPhones) you’ll find it in Settings > General > Auto-Lock. On Windows Phones you’ll find the option in Settings > Lock & Wallpaper > Screen Time Out. On BB10 it’s Settings > Display > Screen Lock Timeout.

If you have an AMOLED screen, save battery power by using a dark background. The technology actually turns off pixels when they’re black, so if you have predominantly black wallpaper, you’ll save a lot of juice.

ROOTING ON ANDROID Android users may want to consider “rooting” (or attaining privileged control of the phone’s operating system). It definitely falls under the advanced category, but you can underclock (run at a lower rate) your CPU and freeze annoying bloatware apps. Both reduce battery consumption. DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE! • DON’T LET THAT BATTERY DIE!

34 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-SAVEPOWER 6/17/13 1:20 AM Page 35

BATTERY-SAVING APPS You’ll find various battery-saving apps on all the major phone platforms.

Some of the best options can help you identify what’s using your battery and allow you to save juice without having to dig into individual features and do a lot of manual tweaking.

The most popular option for Android is Juice Defender by Letdroid. It’s completely free and you can choose preset Juice Defender Battery Doctor profiles, so there’s no need to get your hands dirty, unless you want to.

Android gives apps more power to influence your battery drain than other platforms, but you can still use apps on other platforms to gain an insight and find more tips.

On iOS the free Battery Doctor app (Beijing Kingsoft Internet Security software Co.Ltd) provides useful insights and reminders. For Windows Phone 8, there’s a free, popular app Battery called Battery by Enless Soft Ltd., which displays how much Battery Lover battery life you have left and gives you access to quick settings. Battery Lover by TP Soft (free) is a very similar app for BlackBerry 10.

ADVANCED POWER-SAVING TIPS First things first: Keep your apps up to date.

Developers often release updates for apps and games that improve optimization and this can have a big impact on battery life. If you discover a battery hog, consider removing it. Don’t use task-killer apps—these are a last resort, not a solution.

Keep your smartphone’s physical temperature as cool as possible. Sitting in direct sunlight on the dashboard of your car will actually drain the battery faster.

Different batteries respond to different charging schedules, but they all eventually degrade. And leaving your phone plugged in after it is fully charged makes it degrade even faster.

If you’re going to charge your phone overnight, use a charger that shuts off once the battery is full. Don’t let your battery fully discharge too often, once a month is handy to ensure that calibration is correct (so your phone can tell you accurately how much battery life is left). But in general, charge it before it drops too low.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 35 APPS_1309-ECOFRIEND 6/17/131:28AMPage36 ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES 36 O-FRIENDL C O-FRIENDL C O-FRIENDL C S E I R O S S E ACC LY D N E I R F - CO E • S E I R O S S E ACC LY D N E I R F - CO E • S E I R O S S E ACC LY D N E I R F - CO E

ACCESSORIES Smartphone ECO-FRIENDLY Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide stereo system.stereo You’lleveryone. for something find solar-powereda to cases biodegradablefrom accessories, smartphone greengreat products. environmentallythese conscious Takeatof developmentlook a further drive help and impact negativeyour reduce you gadget, eco-friendly an buying By Hill Simon By users smartphone environmentallyconcerned for gadgets Great (gomadic.com) from $99.95 then charge up your smartphone when you return. you when smartphone your up charge then and you’reabout while powerand solar out the store can you so Pack($39.95) Battery Capacity High Cache Solar additional an getting consider results Forbest warranty.lifetime a with ships device the SunVoltand the into plugs Yourcable charging USB standard up.them chargerays those let and once at devices mobile two in plug can you and sun, the facing up panel the prop open, strap.it Flipand handle a with case water-resistantcarrying a in panel solar lightweight Power Solar Station Portable the of form the in juice of sourceown your you’vewhen got grid There’sthe into plug to need no Gomadic from Gomadic. It’sa Gomadic. from SunVolt APPS_1309-ECOFRIEND 6/17/13 1:28 AM Page 37

ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES S E I R O S S E C C A Y L D N E I R F - O C E • S E I R O S S E C C A Y L D N E I R F - O C E • S E I R O S S E C C A Y L D N E I R F - O C E

Leaving your smartphone plugged in once it’s fully charged is not only a waste of power, it can actually damage your battery. Bracketron addresses the issue with the Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger. This simple, portable device has fold out plug pins and a circular design for easy cable storage. It has a standard USB port, so it works with any smartphone.

It is essentially a one-click charger that automatically shuts off when your device is fully charged. Plug it in, hit the big green button and it cuts off the power when your smartphone’s battery is full. $27.95 from Bracketron (bracketron.com)

You’ll never be caught without power again if you invest in an SOSCharger. It’s a self-powered battery pack with a built-in generator. Simply pop out the handle and wind it to generate some juice. Between three and five minutes of winding should give you enough power for at least five minutes of call time on your mobile.

It’s an attractive pocket-sized device and it has a standard USB port so you can charge any smartphone or tablet. The USB-to-micro-USB cable is included and you also have the option of fully charging the 1,500mAh battery before you go on a trip and then using the winding function to keep it topped up.

$44 from SOSCharger (soscharger.com)

If you like to have your favorite tunes, no matter where you are, then the Rukus Solar is the perfect companion. This wireless sound system streams music from any smartphone via Bluetooth. There’s a solar panel in the top to soak up the power of the sun and when the internal battery is fully charged it can go for eight hours.

The excellent design includes an e-ink display which is readable even in direct sunlight, a carrying handle, and a USB port so it doubles as a way to charge your smartphone. Portable stereo sound and a charging system, all $149.99 from Eton (etoncorp.com) powered by the sun—a simply irresistible proposition. Available in black, white, and of course, green.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 37 APPS_1309-ECOFRIEND 6/17/13 1:28 AM Page 38

ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES

It’s time to get on your bike with the ECOXPOWER Pedal Powered Headlight & Mobile Device Charger. You’re probably familiar with dynamos which harness your pedaling power to bring a headlight to life. Well, the ECOXPOWER goes one step further and allows you to juice up your smartphone as well. It has a headlight at the front, flashing safety light at the back, and a universal fit, water-resistant handle bar case for your smartphone.

You can still operate your phone when it’s in the case, so this is ideal for GPS navigation. In fact it uses a standard USB cable so any smartphone, or even a GPS unit, will work with this gadget. Fire up your GPS navigation app, charge your smartphone as you go and you’ll never get $25 from iBamboo (ibamboospeaker.com) lost again. Reducing the amount of power you use is a great way to reduce your impact on the planet. The iBamboo Speaker can help. With precision cuts in a piece of sustainable bamboo, you can harness the natural beauty of nature to enhance your iPhone music. It gently amplifies the sound and it works with the iPhone 4, 4S and 5.

Not only is the iBamboo an eco-friendly product, but it is also very efficient to manufacture with little waste. They come in black or original and each iBamboo speaker is unique.

Starts at $99.99 from Grace Digital (ecoxgear.com)

At first glance Papernomad’s Gadget Sleeves may not look like the ideal protection for your smartphone or tablet. They resemble ordinary padded paper envelopes—but look a little closer and the quality and craftsmanship shines through. Papernomad replaces tra- ditional case materials with paper—the company is committed to sustainable solutions.

The sleeve range is stitched and combines paper with other organic materials to create a protective case for your phone or tablet. The iPhone 5 sleeve also has a magnetic lock, so your device goes to sleep when it’s slipped inside. Each one is fully customizable, so you can create a unique look by sketching, writing or coloring on the outside, and they’re tear and water resistant, too.

Starts at $34 from Papernomad (papernomad.com) ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES • ECO-FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES

38 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-ECOFRIEND 6/17/13 1:28 AM Page 39

How about an acoustic amplifier carved from a single piece of beautiful, solid wood? The Original Koostik, seen here in African Makore wood, is available in a range of sustainable wood, including maple and cherry. It has been designed to cradle your iPhone (it works with all versions) and amplify the speaker to offer between two and four times the standard volume without needing any power at all.

These products aren’t just eco-friendly, they’re also astoundingly attractive. If you want an aesthetically pleasing alternative to plastics then you’ll love the Koostik range. The one pictured is $95, but there are smaller, single chamber docks which are more affordable.

Starts at $60 from Koostik (koostik.com)

$24.95 from Innovez (innovezproducts.com)

You’ll enjoy the standard dual-protection of a great smartphone case with the Innovez Life $29.95 from Bioserie Series cases, but you’ll also be pleased to know (bioserie.com) that they are crafted from environmentally friendly plastic called EcoPure. There’s a hard outer shell and a soft, shock absorbing interior to protect The Bioplastic Covers from Bioserie are made from plants. your smartphone when it falls. The company aims to produce everything from renewable materials, to minimize carbon emissions during production, EcoPure is made from organic material blended and to ensure no pollution when the product is eventually with plastic. The clever part is that it is durable discarded. The result is an impressively durable and colorful and long lasting, but when placed in the right set of cases for your smartphone. environment, such as a landfill, it is fully biodegradable. The cases are offered in a range of A minimal form factor and a range of colors and styles allow two-tone color designs and you can mix and you to be environmentally conscious without having to match the interior and exterior parts to create the scrimp on your choice of smartphone case. They are the combination you want. world’s first USDA-certified biobased smartphone cases.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 39 APPS_1309-BATTERIES 6/17/131:33AMPage40 CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE 40 E N O Y R E V E R O F S E I R E T T A B ! E G R A H C • E N O Y R E V E R O F S E I R E T T A B ! E G R A H C Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide BATTERIESFOR CHARGE! a chance to check out. check to chance a had we that models few a are Here occasion. that’s versionevery convenientalmost for there’sand differentseveralforms in comes a battery.It external the gap: the filled has accessory new Luckily,apps.a featuresand additional with loaded when especially phones,current the of demand the satisfy to enough aren’t advancesquickly coming Phone manufacturers are constantly working on ways to increase battery life,but battery increase toways on working constantly are manufacturers Phone it. need you when purpose intended its for phone your use to able be to And while it’s ecologically sound to conserve power when possible, it’spossible,important when also power conserve it’sto while sound ecologicallyAnd limiting our phone time in an attempt to make our energy last until the end of the day.the of end the until last energy our make to attempt an in time phone our limiting off all the bells and whistles, following every power-saving tip we can find, and actually and find, can we power-savingtip every followingwhistles, and bells the all off turning to taken have us of up.Many eats it powermore the it, use you actively more the it’sAnd time anyon. power drains it use,you tablet or phone the of Regardless KavanaghMargaret By reviewed packs battery on-the-go latestThe

Everyone APPS_1309-BATTERIES 6/17/13 1:33 AM Page 41

CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE TTERIES FOR EVERY TTERIES FOR EVERY TTERIES FOR EVERY E N YO R E V E R O F S E I R E T AT B ! E G R A H C • E N YO R E V E R O F S E I R E T AT B ! E G R A H C • E N YO R E V E R O F S E I R E T AT B ! E G R A H C Powerocks Magic Cube www.powerocksusa.com $75-$110 This small block of power will help you in a pinch. It’s a simple, colorful little box that packs a punch. Pop off one end, and plug in your phone or table to recharge. It comes with one micro-USB cable built in, and one USB port for you to plug in your own cable. (It’s strong enough to charge a USB and micro-USB device at the same time.) Lights on the other end of the device let you know how much stored power the Magic Cube has left. It claims to last for up to 500 charges (many more than other batteries we tested) and we were able to charge our iPhone 4S several times from less than 24% before we needed to charge the unit again. We were even able to use our phone while charging it, without any noticeable lag. The battery is about as big as your hand, and depending on the model, it’s between 5-10 ounces. It comes with a carrying bag and is easy to tuck into a bag or briefcase.

To recharge, use the built-in USB cord and either plug it into a computer or wall charger adapter. It does take a while to recharge, so plan on giving it at least overnight.

One note: You’ll need your iPhone’s cable, so don’t forget it if you’re on the road.

Color Options: Pink, Blue, Black, Silver Battery Capacity: 6,000/9,000/12,000 mAh Input: 5.0V/2A Output: 5.0±0.25V/2.1A

What do the numbers mean? Don’t let the figures confuse you. Basically it breaks down like this.

Capacity: The higher the better. So while a 2500mAh charger will give you a boost, 12000mAh will give you many more boosts. However, it will also take a lot longer to recharge because it has to store more energy.

Input: Most batteries are about 5V/1 or 2A. That is standard for the rate of energy coming in to the battery pack while it’s recharging. If the second number is higher—2A versus 1A, that means the battery will recharge faster.

Output: Again, it’s the second number that counts, as in 5V/2.1A versus 5V/0.5A. The 2.1A port will put out more energy, faster. But beware—some devices will need power at a certain rate. Check your device’s manual for the correct numbers before using a battery pack.

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CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE

iWalk Chameleon/Chameleon Easy www.iwalkusa.com $59.99-$64.99 Rather than a battery block that you plug into to recharge, this accessory doubles as an actual case for iPhone 4/4S and Samsung Galaxy S3 models. It’s a form-fitting battery pack that stays with your phone and nearly doubles its battery life. You’ll need to recharge it regularly, like you do your phone, but you don’t need to remove it to do so. The included cable lets you transfer data and recharge while the case stays on. The name Chameleon comes from the case’s colorful, interchangeable faceplates. 5 come with the product, so you can easily select one to match your mood: green, red, white, black or yellow.

Although the front plate feels a bit brittle, we have yet to encounter any breakage, even though we snap it on and off at will. The entire case is fairly lightweight (just 78g) compared to other battery cases we’ve reviewed, and its slim fit and bright colors make it an attractive choice.

One downside: if you like to use your iPhone with a dock accessory (like a bedside clock), you will have to remove the case.

Tip: pair this with a battery block, and you’re set for travel.

Battery Capacity: 2,000/2,800 mAh Input: 5.0V/1.0A Output: 5.0V/0.5A

iWalk Link 2500m www.iwalkusa.com $54.99 Perhaps the most portable of the bunch is the Link series of batteries. They are small enough to fit in your pocket and go anywhere with you. The Link 2500m holds just 2500 mAh, not a lot compared to the bigger models, but more than enough to rescue you when your phone is failing. The micro USB adapter allows this mini helper to plug right into your phone, unobtrusively. It worked like a charm for us, allowing us to continue using our phone while it charged.

It’s a bit pricey for the capacity, but you’re really paying for convenience. Charging is easy via a computer and cable, and it’s quick, since it’s lower capacity.

A snag: The cover hinge actually snapped the first Color Options: Black, White time we opened it because it was a bit awkward. Not Battery Capacity: 2,500 mAh great, but it doesn’t change the functionality. Other models with lower capacity are available. CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE

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New Trent iCarrier www.newtrent.com $69.95 Another high-capacity battery (12,000 mAh) that charges two devices at once. This little gem is a great buy, holding a lot of power for a low price. But it does come with a few little differences that could be upgraded to make it even better. First, it’s one of the only devices that can’t be recharged using a USB port on a computer. Instead, you have to use the included adapter and a standard power outlet. Additionally, the battery has an on/off button, rather than just charging a device as soon as it’s plugged in. The power block is about four-inches square and only about 10 ounces. It takes about 11 hours to charge but can charge most devices fully between four and six times. It’s rumored to work through 500 charging cycles.

Battery Capacity: 12,000 mAh Input: AC wall/100~240V Output: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1.0A

iWalk Extreme 10,000 Duo www.iwalkusa.com $99.99 This battery block, like the others, comes in handy when you’re on the go and need to give your phone that extra battery boost. Its long, slim profile means it slips right into any carry-on. It’s slightly heavier (close to one pound) than the Magic Cube but it packs more punch and its design is modern and substantial. The Extreme includes two bright red charging cables—a micro USB and an Apple 30-pin adapter—very convenient so you never have to worry about bringing your phone’s cables. This battery has the ability to charge two devices: one USB port charges at 2.1A (rapid charging) while the other runs at 1.0A. Why not two rapid charging ports? Because some devices need to charge at a lower amperage. Recharging happens in the normal way. You can plug it into the USB port on your computer or into a wall adapter. This charger takes quite a while to recharge, so plan ahead if you’re going to need it.

Bonus(?): The charger also includes an LED flashlight, accessible by holding down the power button for a few seconds.

Color Options: Black, White Battery Capacity: 10,000 mAh Input: 5.0V/1.0A Output: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1.0A

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iBattz: BattStation 12000 usa.ibattz.com $29.90-$49.90 The BattStation is a rugged box with a nice exterior rubber case that protects it from bumps and drops. It also adds a nice design element that gives it a gothic feel. However, strip off the rubber case, and it’s much like the other battery packs. It comes with a nice set of cables and adapters— more than most, including a 30-pin for the iPhone and an adapter for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It even includes a Carabineer clip so you can snap it onto your belt, backpack, or what have you.

It has a bit of heft to it, but not more than expected for a battery pack (300g). All in all, it’s a solid performer, and takes just about 8 hours to charge using a wall outlet and adapter. Battery Capacity: 7,200/8,400/12,000 mAh Input: 5.0V/1A The BattStation also shuts itself off when devices are done charging. A Output: 5.0V/2.1A, 5.0V/1A (5.0V/1A, 5.0V/0.5A GREAT feature that more battery packs should employ. for 7,200 mAh and 8,400 mAh models) Caveat: There’s no word on how many times you can cycle this battery pack, but guesses are the lifetime is probably about equal to other similar products.

REVIEW:LOOK, Both hands MA! on theNo wheel Handswith the SuperTooth HD By John Bosch The SuperTooth HD Bluetooth Speakerphone works quite well. The sound quality is above average and the battery life seems to handle a real life and work schedule. I was able to do a full days’ travel with many sales calls via the hands-free device, as well as communicate with friends and family late into the night with plenty of battery left.

The voice commands worked very well the majority of the time and the automatic phonebook transfer worked perfectly.

This device will stream your music, give voice navigation via your smart phone, and works with 6 languages—thankfully English was one of them. It can also be paired with up to 8 devices (2 phones max).

The noise cancelling worked well and the sound quality was excellent. I do recommend this hands-free device for anyone needing to conduct calls while driving. But make sure you’re legally allowed to do so in your region.

The SuperTooth also has an option for a hands-free assistant (but I did not set that up or use it). This option allows you to compose and send SMS, emails and much more, all via voice command. In the war against texting while driving, this accessory is an ally. CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE • CHARGE! BATTERIES FOR EVERYONE

44 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps

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2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • APPUltimate BUYER’S GUIDE GAME APPLICATIONS Rayman Jungle Run $2.99, Ubisoft Action Games HHHHH Bad Piggies Explore new words, unlock new powers and battle new enemies $0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd. on your way to victory. HHHHH Punch Quest Free, Rocketcat Games A fresh take on the Angry Bird franchise, but still an addicting HHHHH experience! Simple, yet addictive gameplay has players going toe-to-toe with Angry Birds Star Wars skeletons, zombies, cyclops and riding dinosaurs. $0.99, Rovio Mobile Ltd. HHHHH Prince of Persia Classic $0.99 - $2.99, Ubisoft Star Wars fans will have a blast as the Angry Birds travel to a HHHHH galaxy far, far away. Relive the adventures of a young Persian hero, who traverses cas- Angry Birds tles and battles swordsmen in search of the young princess. Free, Rovio Mobile HHHHH Wreck-it Ralph $0.99, Disney Hurl birds and pigs through the air. HHHHH

Angry Birds Spce Three challenging arcade games to enjoy based on the hit Disney Free, Rovio Mobile movie. HHHHH Nutty Fluffies Rollercoaster In this edition of Angry Birds, developer Rovio takes the classic $0.99, Ubisoft pig bashing gameplay, mixing it with zero gravity action, new HHHHH 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE birds and new superpowers to deliver its best so far. Your goal is simple—safely deliver a bunch of stuffed animals from the beginning to the end of a wild rollercoaster ride.

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2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE •

Doodle Jump Traffic Rush $0.99, GameHouse $0.99, Donut Games HHHHH HHHHH E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 • E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2

Guide a jumping green creature equipped with springs, jet packs Your goal is to get as many vehicles as possible safely through and other gear. the intersection without a collision. Jetpack Joyride When Balls Drop Free, Halfbrick Studios $1.99, Joseph Neuman HHHHH HHHHH

Strap on a jetpack and navigate through countless fun-filled lev- A mellow game that will keep you glued to the screen as you try els. Avoid obstacles like electricity fields, lasers and missiles, com- to get the bouncing ball in one of five different point slots. pleting missions and collecting coins along the way. Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim Preschool Educational Games $1.99, HeroCraft LTD HHHHH 225 Kid Outdoor Games Rule your own fairytale kingdom, defeating enemies and conquer- $0.99, Paidotribo ing new lands in this exciting real-time strategy roleplaying game. HHHHH

Ninjump Search for fun games to play based on the materials you have Free, Backflip Studios on-hand and the amount of time you want to spend playing. HHHHH Bug Games by Busy Bee Studios You’re a strong and proud ninja. $0.99, Busy Bee Studios HHHHH PAC-MAN $1.99, Namco Networks With four different games, your children will learn and practice HHHHH phonics, numbers, pattern matching, and musical melodies.

Bring the original video game hero to your smartphone. Find Them All: Dinosaurs $1.99, Knbmedia Plants vs. Zombies HHHHH $0.99, Electronic Arts HHHHH Dinosaur-related activities and games that teach kids about dinosaurs and their habitats. Use a variety of weapon-laden plants to protect your home from the Zombie hoard. First Words Animals Kids Free, AZB Soft Snail Mail HHHHH $0.99, Sandlot Games HHHHH A simple and fun game that will appeal to your preschoolers as they learn to spell the names of familiar animals. Race Turbo Snail on an intergalactic runway picking up packages for him to deliver. Monster Hunt – The Memory Game Free, Innovative Mobile Apps Stickman Golf HHHHH Free - $0.99, Noodlecake Studios HHHHH Featuring bright little monsters that you search for, kids have so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning. Test your golf skills by hitting the ball over mountains, bodies of water, down slopes, through trees and so much more. Grandma’s Garden $0.99 - $1.99, Fairlady Media/Noodlecake Studios Inc. Tap Tap Revenge 4 HHHHH Free - $2.99, Tapulous HHHHH Kids will enjoy helping Grandma in the garden as they match, color, and count vegetables. An addictive music game—follow the on-screen arrows, as you listen to your favorite artists and bands like Katy Perry, Linkin Park and Lady Gaga. Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 47 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:40 AM Page 48

Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss Memory Fun $3.99, Oceanhouse Media Free, Karmic Apps HHHHH HHHHH Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone A challenging and addictive game to train your Children learn picture and word association as animated words memory capacity, focus and concentration with an easy to use are spoken when your child touches each picture of this classic interface, multiple levels of difficulty, and a wide selection of Dr. Seuss tale. card images. Kids Numbers and Math Cogs $2.99, intellijoy Free - $2.99, Chillingo/Lazy 8 Studios HHHHH HHHHH

Keeps your kids entertained and excited while learning about Build increasingly complex machines with gears, pipes, and wheels. numbers. Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Flow Free Games Free, Big Duck Games LLC Free, Kevin Bradford HHHHH HHHHH Connect matching colors with pipe to create a flow, but the chal- Your child will learn letters, spelling, shapes and colors, addition lenge comes when pipes cross or overlap, causing them to break. and subtraction, figure out puzzles and play memory games. Drop7 TallyTots $2.99, Zynga $0.99, Spinlight Studio HHHHH HHHHH A highly addictive game where you drop discs numbered 1 Your kids will practice counting, receive positive verbal through 7 into a grid, forming a chain to nab bonuses and stay reinforcement, and encounter fun surprises along the way as alive. they learn to count to 20. Quell Word Wagon - by Duck Duck Moose $1.99, FallenTreeGames $1.99, Duck Duck Moose HHHHH HHHHH This has to be one of the most soothing games you’ll ever play. Spells words by placing the letters for each object shown in the correct order and earn stars to build animal-shaped constellations. Jigsaw Mansion 2 Gold $0.99, SGN Zoo Train HHHHH $1.99, Busy Bee Studios HHHHH Multi-touch controls, 360-degree piece rotation and more than 20 new, original paintings carved into challenging puzzles. Word building meets city building in this fun app. Relix Free, Mark Mengelt Puzzle Games HHHHH

77 Logic Games – Time Killers Tapping and sliding pieces to match tiles, with challenging Free, Andrea Sabbatini features to make each of the 50 levels increasingly difficult. HHHHH Sprinkle Free Free, Mediocre Exercise your brain with 70 logic games and be relaxed and HHHHH challenged at the same time.

Jigsaw Puzzle Use your crane-mounted water cannon to put out fires, activate Free, Critical Hit Software, LLC traps, and move boulders and ice blocks. HHHHH Draw Something Free Free, OMGPOP Use one of the 60 preloaded puzzles or turn one of your own 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE HHHHH photos into a jigsaw puzzle to solve.

Put your artistic skills to the real test. Draw something and your friend (or a random user from around the world) must guess what it is.

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Cash Cow Word Genius Lite $0.99 - $3.95, Plasmaworks LLC Free, Catnip Media HHHHH HHHHH

Touch a bunch of coins that equal 5, 10 or 25 cents and then add E D Find I U G as S ’ many R E Y U B words P P A E as T A M you I T L U can 3 1 in 0 2 a • letter E D I U scramble. G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 up that bunch into a dollar. Word Seek Domino Run Free, Idealix Inc. Free, Shiny Egg Studios HHHHH HHHHH Race against the clock as you find words on a 4x4 letter grid. Stack dominos and topple them over in 70 fun-filled levels— replay levels and try to beat your time. Hangman Free Free, Optime Software LLC Where’s My Water? HHHHH $0.99, Disney HHHHH With such a wide variety of choices, the whole family will be learning while having fun playing this classic game. Swampy the Alligator wants to take a shower—too bad the other alligators have blocked his water! Word Trick Free Free, Outplay Entertainment LTD Geared HHHHH Free - $2.99, PlayfulArt/Bryan Mitchell Games HHHHH A crossword-style game with trick tiles to increase your score.

The object of this game is to line up four different sizes of gears Wordfeud and connect them to one another. Free, Bertheussen IT HHHHH

Word Games Play up to 30 games simultaneously, against 8 million of your Word Search + closest opponents. Free, Sarah Pierce/Megafauna software wurdle HHHHH $1.99, Semi Secret Software LLC HHHHH This app provides you with word 16 categories. Each word list teaches you more about subjects such as food and wine, science, A fast-paced word game perfect for trips in the car or any time sports, and geography. your kids need a little mind-stimulating entertainment. Bird's the Word Free - $0.99, SGN Tabletop Games HHHHH Battleship Create words from random letters while birds swoop in and hin- Free - $2.99, Electronic Arts der your progress. HHHHH Bookworm $1.99, PopCap Destroy the enemy fleet before they destroy you! HHHHH Clue $0.99 - 3.99, Electronic Arts Search for words in a grid of letters. HHHHH War of Words Free, Wolf Studios LLC The classic detective game on your phone and tablet. 5 stars LIFE $0.99 - $6.99, Electronic Arts Crossword puzzle-style game with bombs. HHHHH

Wheel of Fortune Navigate through life in this classic board game. $2.99, Sony Pictures Television HHHHH

Transports you into the world of the famous game show.

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Jenga Flashcards+ $0.99 - $2.99, NaturalMotion Free, Connor Zwick HHHHH HHHHH

Build a virtual structure with wooden blocks. When you’re getting ready for that important exam, you can make your own flashcards and study them while you’re on the go. Monopoly $0.99 - $9.99, Electronic Arts Free Graphing Calculator HHHHH Free, William Jockusch HHHHH The fast-dealing property trading game in smartphone format. With over 100 math functions, the graphing calculator is a clone Risk of the TI-83 that lets you input data and make graphs and matri- $2.99 - 6.99, Electronic Arts ces to your heart’s content. HHHHH Math Pack Flashcards Try your hand at world domination. Free - $0.99, Tititaa HHHHH Stratego $6.99, Keesing Games BV Flashcards cover beginning skills like addition, subtraction, multi- HHHHH plication, and division all the way to more difficult skills like geometry and algebra. Capture your opponent’s flag with strategic moves. Math Ref Trivial Pursuit $0.99 - $1.99, Happy Maau Studios LLC $0.99 - 3.99, Electronic Arts HHHHH HHHHH This app functions as a math and physics formula study guide Test your knowledge of all things trivial. with figures, tips, graphs, and examples. MiniMod Reading for Details EDUCATION APPLICATIONS $8.99, E Skills Learning LLC HHHHH Educational Tools Read a passage of text based on three different reading levels Quick Homework Help and answer questions to test your comprehension. Free, Brightstorm HHHHH Molecules Free, Sunset Lake Software HHHHH Select a subject and the app shows tips, videos, and sample problems to help lead students on their way to success. This app allows you to view and manipulate 3D models of differ- Math Workout ent molecules. Free, Brain Training/Workout Games HHHHH myHomework Student Planner Free, Rodrigo Neri/instin LLC HHHHH Daily brain training exercises and math drills designed to enhance mental arithmetic. Track your classes and assignments with a calendar and set up Blackboard Mobile homework reminders. Free, Blackboard Inc. HHHHH NASA App Free, NASA HHHHH This app allows students and teachers to view course listings, grades, discussion forums, post announcements, and so on. Great for kids to explore all things space related. Britannica Kids $4.99, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Mathmateer $0.99, Dan Russell-Pinson 2013 ULTIMATE APPHHHH BUYER’SH GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE HHHHH With a wide range of subjects available, Britannica Kids is brought to you with the outstanding quality that Encyclopaedia Kids will have a blast learning math as they build their own rock- Britannica is known for. ets and fly them to the stars.

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Solar System Explorer College Confidential $1.99, Neil Burlock Free, Hobsons Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

Take an interactive 3D trip through the Solar System. E D Get I U G the S ’ R truth E Y U B about P P A E a T A college M I T L U 3 by 1 0 2 tapping • E D I U in G to S ’ this R E Y U app’s B P P A 430,000 E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 member community. SparkNotes Free, SparkNotes LLC SAT Vocab Challenge by The Princeton HHHHH Review $4.99, Modality Inc. Link to the most popular study guides for literature, Shakespeare, HHHHH poetry, philosophy, drama, short stories and more. This app can help you with the vocab you need to know—and Spelling Bee uses quick tips to help you remember what the words mean. $0.99, Socratica LLC HHHHH College Score Matcher Free, Rolzer Study a word, read the definition, hear it pronounced using text- HHHHH to-speech and take a quiz to test your knowledge. Matches your student’s SAT scores with schools to which they Star Walk qualify. $2.99, Vito Technology Inc. HHHHH SAT Math $4.99, honeHead This astral telescope adapts its view to wherever you’re pointing HHHHH and highlights both constellations and planets. From flash cards to practice tests, SAT Math helps you thoroughly Tic Tac Math prepare. $1.99, IPMG Publishing HHHHH GradeWizard $1.99, Jarcas Software Combines the fun and familiar strategy game of Tic-Tac-Toe with HHHHH Android solving math equations. Calculate your own GPA by entering your grades into Today in History the GradeWizard app. $1.99, Down-Shift Inc. HHHHH iCollege Guide $0.99, Dorm Mom LLC HHHHH Teaches kids all kinds of interesting facts by showing all of the major events that happened in history on that date. From the top colleges offering merit-based aid to those with the most students living on campus, this app is loaded with data College Research Apps from the U.S. Department of Education. Quick Calendar All College Application Essays Free, Jim Blackler $4.99, All College Essays HHHHH HHHHH

Between college visits, essay deadlines, SAT testing, and senior Select one of the 600 colleges listed and you’ll find out the appli- year homework, a must-have for staying on top of your dead- cation essay topic requirements, due date, and word length— lines. updated with each application season. MyMajors Peterson’s College Guide Free, Moblico Free, Peterson’s HHHHH HHHHH

Enter your criteria and take the app’s quizzes to discover which Jump directly to the colleges you want more information about, schools meet your needs. or enter your search criteria and let the app suggest schools for you.

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Spotify MEDIA APPLICATIONS Free, Spotify Music Apps HHHHH BandNamer Streaming radio with a library of over 15 million songs. $0.99, Handy Little Apps HHHHH xPiano Free, cyandroid HHHHH Select your band’s genre (Garage Rock, Emo, Hip-Hop, Metal/Hardcore, and Electro-Pop) and Band Name does the rest. A basic, 4-octave piano keyboard on your touchscreen Android Bloom phone. $3.99, Opal Limited HHHHH News & Magazine Apps From music legend Brian Eno, create your own soundscapes Flipboard based on 12 different available moods by tapping on areas of the Free, Flipboard Inc. colored screen. HHHHH Chordbot $4.99, Lars Careliusson Turn personalized digital "pages" of your favorite publications HHHHH and social media sites. PressReader Musical accompaniment app that allows you to create and play Free, NewspaperDirect chord progressions. HHHHH Concert Vault Free, Wolfgang's Vault Access to 2,100 newspapers from 95 countries in 54 languages. HHHHH The Week Free, The Week Publications, Inc. Home to legendary concert promoter Bill Graham's massive HHHHH collection of live recordings. Listen to a wide range of streaming concerts. Commentary and analysis online from the popular print magazine. MicDroid Free, intervigil US Newspapers HHHHH Free, Baris Efe HHHHH Automatic pitch correction and on-the-fly pitch correction— simply hit “record,” sing into your phone and the app corrects the Read major US newspapers and news sites online. pitch. Mobile Metronome eReader Apps Free, Gabriel Simões HHHHH Audible Free, Audible, Inc. An excellent free metronome for musicians of all levels. HHHHH Pandora Free, Pandora Allows you to listen to your latest book—great for commuters. HHHHH Audiobooks - 2,947 classics for free Free, Spreadsong, Inc. Create and listen to personalized radio stations. HHHHH Shazam Free, Shazam Entertainment Thousands of public-content classics for free with narration HHHHH included.

2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE Goodreads Music identification service—recognizes songs via your smart- Free, Goodreads phone’s built-in microphone. HHHHH

Goodreads connects you to your friends to see what they’re reading and what they recommend.

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Google Play Books Finding Nemo - My Puzzle Book Free, Google Inc. $0.99, Disney HHHHH HHHHH

An eReader app that allows you access to your current titles E D Improve I U G S ’ R E your Y U B child’s P P A E T problem-solving A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 • E skills D I U G by S ’ completing R E Y U B P P A E inter- T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 while on the go. active puzzles while following the adorable Nemo through his undersea adventure. iScroll Free, Appsessions LLC The Lorax - Dr. Seuss HHHHH $4.99, Oceanhouse Media HHHHH Perfect for students of any age, use this app to have narration synchronized with your text. Start with an auto-play option that plays like a movie for younger kids, and progress to a read-it-aloud option that allows kids to Kindle record their own voices for playback. Free, Amazon Mobile LLC HHHHH My Little Pony- Twilight Sparkle, Teacher for a Day Kindle is the crème de la crème of all eReading apps. $3.99, Ruckus Media Group HHHHH Kobo Free, Kobo Inc. HHHHH Whether your child is a “brony” or a female My Little Pony fan, this interactive app will keep them occupied for hours. Kobo goes the extra mile in adding social networking features to Wheels on the Bus your eReading experience. $0.99, Duck Duck Moose Design HHHHH Nook Free, Barnes and Noble HHHHH You can read and sing along to the popular “Wheels on the Bus” song in five languages and even record you and your child singing so you can play it back later. Barnes & Noble’s eReader with a more vibrant interface than others offer. Overdrive Media Console – Library Sports Media Apps eBooks and Audiobooks Free, OverDrive, Inc. ESPN Radio HHHHH Free, ESPN Inc. HHHHH On-the-go access to eBooks and audiobooks from your local library. Instantly listen live to over 17 ESPN radio stations nationwide and 40 exclusive podcasts. Wattpad Free, Wattpad.com ESPN Scorecenter HHHHH Free, ESPN Inc. HHHHH Discover an unlimited amount of free stories from new writers that you won’t find on Kindle or Nook. Scores and news from TV’s leading sports network. MLS MatchDay Free, MLS Interactive Storybook Apps HHHHH PBS Super WHY MatchDay brings the excitement of Major League Soccer (MLS) to $2.99, PBS Kids and Out of the Blue Enterprises LLC your smartphone. HHHHH NHL GameCenter Free, NHL Interactive Cyberenterprises Kids can play using each of the four main characters from the tel- HHHHH evision program as they journey through a story line that they control. The ultimate hockey fan’s dream app—watch live games and video highlights so you never miss a moment of the hard-hitting action.

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WatchESPN Hulu Plus by Hulu Free, ESPN Inc. Free, Hulu HHHHH HHHHH

Live sports programming from ESPN on your mobile device. A Watch thousands of classic and current TV shows and movies on cable subscription with ESPN included is required. your smartphone—Hulu Plus subscription required. WNBA Center Court IMDB Free, National Basketball Association Free, IMDB HHHHH HHHHH

Watch live streaming games, view the latest scores, and check Exhaustive collection of movie and TV information. Also includes statistics, news and photos of your favorite team. theater times and trailers. Justin.TV TV, Video & Movie Apps $2.99 - $4.99, Justin.TV HHHHH ABC Player Free, ABC Digital HHHHH The Justin.TV app allows you to view live video streams created by other users. Watch your favorite ABC shows. NBC Free, NBC Universal, Inc. B-Movies HHHHH Free, Bubble Pop Software HHHHH Watch your favorite NBC shows. Connects you to the Internet Archive, home of free content Redbox including such classics as The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Plan 9 Free, Redbox Automated Retail LLC from Outer Space and Night of the Living Dead. HHHHH CNN Mobile Free, CNN Reserve tonight’s movie from your phone and pick it up at your HHHHH local Redbox kiosk. RunPee Never miss breaking news again—breaking news notifications as $0.99, polyGeek well as CNN Radio. HHHHH Fandango Movies Free, Fandango Run Pee will tell you when it’s safe to make a dash to the bath- HHHHH room—as in, a “boring part” is coming up. SPB TV Pay a small fee to reserve movie theater tickets. Free, SPB TV AG HHHHH GetGlue Free, AdaptiveBlue HHHHH Watch over 150 live TV channels from over 20 countries around the world, including news and sports. This social network for movies, TV, music, and books allows you TV.com to see what your friends like and recommend, while you add Free, CBS Interactive, Inc. your own ratings. HHHHH HBO Go Free, Home Box Office, Inc. Your favorite shows from CBS wherever you go. HHHHH

Watch HBO’s acclaimed series when you’re away from the house—so long as your satellite or cable network gives you access to this brand new app. 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE

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ComicBook! Photography Apps $1.99, 3DTOPO Inc. HHHHH LifePics Free, LifePics Photo App E Now D I U G you S ’ R E can Y U B transform P P A E T A M I your T L U average, 3 1 0 2 • E every D I U G day S ’ R E photos Y U B P P A into E T A a M I T L U 3 1 0 2 HHHHH comic book superhero or villain.

LifePics app allows users to upload photos and order prints from Photosynth more than 13,000 specialty camera and photography stores. Free, Microsoft Corp. HHHHH PostalPix Photo Prints Free, Postal Pix The only app that lets you capture the world in 360 degrees. HHHHH Adobe Photoshop Express When it comes to ordering standard or square photo prints on Free, Adobe Systems your iPhone, you can’t do much better than PostalPix. HHHHH

Snapfish Bring the powerful photo-editing PC software to your smart- Free, Hewlett Packard phone. HHHHH Photo Editor Ultimate Upload photos to the website in a snap (heh), give access to oth- Free, Ice Cold Apps ers to view your online albums, and view friends’ albums on your HHHHH phone. Easily edit your photos in seconds and share them with your mymosaic loved ones. $0.99, MindTrip Studios HHHHH PicSay Free, Shinycore Instantly transforms your photos into stunning mosaics. HHHHH

PicsArt You’ll have a laugh personalizing your photos by adding text and Free, PicsArt decorating them with hair, beards and other goofy stickers. HHHHH

A brilliant photo-editing app that’s proof you don’t need to pay a OUTDOOR LIVING APPLICATIONS dime for quality apps. Pocketbooth Weather Apps $1.99, Project Box HHHHH Surfline Free, Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. Project Box brings the photo booth experience to your smartphone. HHHHH Pixlr-o-matic Free, Autodesk Inc. Surfline will keep you up-to-date on the weather forecast and HHHHH surf reports for thousands of the best surf spots worldwide. Ski & Snow Report Finish your photos in style— over 100 effects, 280 overlays and Free, SkiReport.com 200 different borders. HHHHH Photo Editor by Aviary Free, Aviary Find all the ski areas in your location and the slopes with the best HHHHH snowfall. AccuWeather A simple way to let your photos shine—edit photos in a few Free, AccuWeather.com quick, easy steps. HHHHH

This app provides detailed hourly and 15-day forecasts. The Weather Alarms™ warn you of any potential snow, ice, rain, wind speed/gusts in your area.

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Living Earth – Clock & Weather Allergy Alert $1.99, Radiantlabs LLC Free, Pollen.com HHHHH HHHHH

Observe live sunrise and sunset borders around the world, view Track the air quality and allergen levels for your exact location snow and ice coverage as well as other seasonal changes around and plan ahead with the app’s forecasts. the globe. Allergy Track Outside – Visual Weather Forecast Free, PLB Melody/Stallergenes $2.99, Robocat HHHHH HHHHH Allergy Track helps you measure your allergy symptoms and their Weather conditions are color-coded, giving you a quick read of intensity. what’s happening outside. Manual updates are available simply by shaking your phone. State of the Air Free, American Lung Association Radar Now! HHHHH Free, USNaviguide LLC HHHHH Get a real-time and forecasted EPA Air Quality Index for your location, including both ozone and particulate pollution counts. The most current National Weather Service (NWS) enhanced radar base images along with current weather conditions and OSHA Heat Safety Tool storm indicators. Free, OSHA HHHHH The Weather Channel Free, The Weather Channel Calculate the heat index for your location and provides protec- HHHHH tive measures you can take to prevent heat-related illness.

This hearty weather app has everything you need to stay steps Heat Index & Relative Humidity ahead of the weather. $0.99, Verosocial Studio HHHHH WeatherBug/WeatherBug Elite Free - $1.99, Earth Networks Useful when you’re planning to exercise or work outdoors, this HHHHH app measures air temperature and relative humidity to calculate the heat index. Now you can access real-time weather info from around the world using this app’s links to 10,000 weather stations in North America and thousands of others worldwide. Camping & Hiking Apps WeatherEye Free, The Weather Network AllTrails Hiking and Biking HHHHH Free, AllTrails, Inc. HHHHH WeatherEye provides detailed weather conditions, and short-term, hourly and long-term forecasts as well as severe weather alerts. While most phones lose their signals once you’re out in the wilderness, “no signal” is no problem since you can save a trail to EPA’s SunWise UV Index your phone ahead of time. Free, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency HHHHH Backpacking Planner Checklist $0.99, Little Apps Provides hourly forecasts of ultraviolet radiation intensity as well HHHHH as precautions. This backpacking checklist/planner app comes pre-loaded with Suntan Watcher 250+ backpacking trip related items. $0.99, David Tessitore HHHHH Trimble GPS Hunt Pro $4.99, Trimble Navigation Alerts you when you need to turn over, reapply lotion and check HHHHH

2013 onULTIMATE your loved APP ones.BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE For the serious hunter, this app contains topographical maps, waypoint marking, and journaling.

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Leafsnap Camp Recipes! Free, Columbia University $1.99, The App Sack HHHHH HHHHH

Identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. E D A I compilation U G S ’ R E Y U B of P P over A E T 700 A M I recipes T L U 3 1 0 from 2 • campers E D I U G S ’ all R E over Y U B the P P A country. E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 My Fishing Advisor How to Tie Knots Free, MyFishingAdvisor.com/Pishtech LLC Free, Sergey Burlakov HHHHH HHHHH

Plug in a few details about your fishing trip and this app presents Offers animated step-by-step instructions to walk you through you with the strategy you need to land the big one. how to tie over 40 different knots. MyNature Animal Tracks $4.99 - $6.99, MyNature Inc. HHHHH Cycling Apps

For both hunters and animal lovers, this standalone reference Bike Gears $1.99, Bootstrap Apps guide identifies what's lurking in your neck of the woods. HHHHH Tiny Flashlight + LED Free, Nikolay Ananiev This app gets down and dirty with bike gear ratios, gain ratios, HHHHH sprockets, fixing skid patches, and more lingo for those in the know.

Light up your life by using your phone's screen or its LED light. Bike Repair $3.99, Atomic Softwares Built-in controls let you change brightness, color, and even dis- HHHHH play warning- and police-style lights.

Camp Checklist Fix a flat, bleed your brakes, or un-chink a chain with this $0.99, Jimbl invaluable app. HHHHH Cyclemeter GPS Cycling Computer $1.99 - $4.99, Abvio Inc. If you’re a list maker then this is a must-have—a preloaded HHHHH camping checklist with a huge array of items.

Woodall’s RV & Camping Copilot Customizable audio feedback during your cycle trip fills you in on Free, Waterfield Technologies your stats, and tells you where your competition is when you're HHHHH in a racing frame of mind.

Contains 12,000 campgrounds and RV parks across North EveryTrail Free, GlobalMotion Media America to help find just the spot you’re looking for. HHHHH US Army Survival Guide Free, Milodroid Find new biking trails right around the corner. HHHHH MapMyRide GPS Cycling Riding Free, MapMyFitness Inc. Based on the US Army Survival Manual, this guide can help you HHHHH do anything from identifying a venomous snake to sending a smoke signal. Set your workout goals and watch your progress as you select ViewRanger Outdoors GPS preplanned rides, or map your own. Free, Augmentra HHHHH Ride the City $1.99 - $2.99, Ride the City HHHHH Turn your phone into a complete outdoor navigation tool whether you’re camping, hiking or cycling. Maps the safest bike route while avoiding highways, busy streets, Take Ten to the Greater Outdoors steep hills, and other dangers. Free, Columbia Sportswear Company HHHHH

Columbia Sportswear developed this app to introduce users to the Ten Essential Groups—including medical, navigation, sun protection, tools and fire Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 57 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:41 AM Page 58

Match.com SOCIALIZING APPLICATIONS Free, Match.com LLC Social Networking Apps HHHHH Facebook This free application allows you to search for your love match Free, Facebook with relative ease. HHHHH PickUp Lines Free, Swiss Codemonkeys Keep in touch with all your Facebook friends with this free app. HHHHH Hoot Suite Free, HootSuite This app displays pick-up lines, including the “All-Time Top” based HHHHH on user votes. PlentyOfFish Manage multiple social media sites from one convenient app. Free, PlentyOfFish Twitter HHHHH Free, Twitter Inc. HHHHH Join over 25-million users looking for their soul mate with this popular dating app. Keep up with all the latest with this free app from the micro blogging service. Phone Call Blocking Apps Bad Decision Blocker Dating Apps $0.99, John Genest HHHHH 101 Relationship Tips Free, Pazacta Prevents you from making outgoing calls that you might later HHHHH regret.

A nice way to read about ideas to build, strengthen, and improve BlackList your relationship. Free, AntTek Inc. HHHHH Call Faker Free, Rob Franz HHHHH Create a blacklist to block unwanted calls and text messages. Call Blocker Escape a bad date with this app—set a time to receive a fake call Free, embware and then you can say, “I’m so sorry, but I really have to go. My HHHHH roommate is locked out of the apartment.” Conversation Starters Block unwanted calls and text messages. Free, SusaSoftX Extreme Call Blocker HHHHH $5.99, GreyThinker HHHHH You’ll have all sorts of intriguing conversation starters that will turn any dud of a date into something great. Hangs up an unwanted call, sends it straight to voicemail, or Dating Ideas mutes the call so it rings as normal for the caller and then goes to $0.99, Creative Glance voicemail. HHHHH Hide a Caller $0.99, Smash Software LLC Romantic date ideas: input your zip code, and you get ideas HHHHH involving cultural, outdoor, adventurous, romantic, and novel categories. Hide numbers that you don't want seen in your iPhone FlirtMaps Free, Neo Network

2013 ULTIMATE APPHHHHH BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE

With this free app you can find all available singles in your area displayed on a map.

58 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:41 AM Page 59

Cards Info-Sharing Apps $2.99 - $4.99/printed postcard, Apple Inc. Burst HHHHH Free, Burst.it LLC

HHHHH E D For I U G those S ’ R E special Y U B P P A occasions E T A M I T L U when 3 1 0 2 quality • E D I U matters, G S ’ R E Y U this B P app P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 creates and mails folded greeting cards (not just postcards). Captures, stores, and organizes videos and lets you share videos selectively—you even get to decide who can re-share. Text Messaging Apps Path GO SMS Pro Free, Path Inc. Free, GO Dev Team HHHHH HHHHH

Photo- and video-sharing capabilities but limited to 150 social Makes texting more fun with emoticons, and fully integrated with connections making it a more intimate network. social networking websites like Facebook—chat instantly through Facebook chat. NextCall Free, Nazori Handcent SMS HHHHH Free, Handcent HHHHH You decide how often you want to call someone and NextCall sets up a schedule and reminders. Ehanced text messaging that lets you send and receive SMS and MMS in style. Red Stamp Cards Free, Red Stamp Cards LLC Tango HHHHH Free, Tango HHHHH The go-to app for sending e-cards with 400 card designs with customizable features. Offers free text messaging, phone calls, and video chat between other Tango members. Find My Friends Free, Apple Inc. HHHHH Email Apps

Send a request to a friend or relative and once they accept the Gmail Free, Google Inc. request, you can track their location and view it on a map. HHHHH Holiday Card Tracker $2.99, christine reindl Gmail’s convenience and robust design for the smartphone. HHHHH iPriorityMail Free, Ahlquist Software Track when you send and receive cards from people in your HHHHH phone's Contacts list, and view your card mailing history from past years. Manage your incoming mail and social networking messages all Touchnote Postcards from one convenient smartphone app. $1.49/printed postcard, Touchnote LTD HHHHH K-9 Mail Free, K-9 Dog Walkers HHHHH Takes your digital image, turns it into a custom printed postcard and sends it anywhere. K-9 Mail is the kingpin of Android email and has all the features Postagram you’d ever want. $0.99/printed postcard, Sincerely Inc. HHHHH MailDroid Free, Flipdog Solutions LLC HHHHH Create and send a printed postcard from images on your phone. Spellchecking, custom signatures, and a powerful search engine to quickly locate important email.

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Yahoo! Mail Free, Yahoo! Inc. Fashion & Clothing Apps HHHHH eBay Fashion Free, eBay Inc. Your Yahoo! Address Book, your phone contacts, and Yahoo! HHHHH Messenger in one convenient app. Peruse designer trends and then tap an item to find similar SHOPPING APPLICATIONS listings on eBay. Digital Wallet Apps Feather Report $0.99, MEDL Mobile eWallet HHHHH $9.99, Ilium Software HHHHH Short for Fashion + Weather—use your location’s weather report to offer randomized outfit suggestions complete with links to A one-stop app to organize and remember all of your buy. passwords—from online banking to personal identification (PIN) numbers to email passwords. Fashion Sense $1.99, Eighteen Twenty Consulting PayPal Mobile HHHHH Free, PayPal HHHHH Recommends particular looks based on your body type, and tells you when you shouldn’t waste your cash on an outfit that won’t Make online purchases, instantly transfer money and locate near- flatter you. by businesses that accept PayPal. MagicMirror Hair Styler Google Wallet $2.99 - $3.24, Touch Multimedia Free, Google HHHHH HHHHH This app gives you the opportunity to find out how you’d look in Keep all your credit cards, debit cards, offers, and rewards cards a particular hairstyle before you plunk down your money. at your fingertips. POPSUGAR Shopping Square Wallet Free, POPSUGAR Inc. Free, Square HHHHH HHHHH One-stop shopping for clothing, home decor, and kids & baby Enter all your credit card information and you’re ready to go categories from over 300 retailers. shopping. Yoox.com LevelUp Free, Yoox.com Free, SCVNGR HHHHH HHHHH An app to help you find and buy fashions for every family member. Converts your credit card information to QR codes, which merchants scan with their own smartphones to accept payment. Zappos Free, Zappos.com Lemon Wallet HHHHH Free, Lemon HHHHH Zappos sells clothing, bags, beauty products and, of course, shoes.

A different kind of digital wallet—not only does it keep track of FastMall Free, MindSmack LLC the contents of your wallet, it also tracks your spending. HHHHH CardStar Free, CardStar The app can help you find your way around the shopping mall HHHHH and even find parking. 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE This app allows you to store your reward card numbers and have cashiers scan your bar codes directly from your phone’s screen.

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Beer Match: Beer, Food and Cheese Product & Gift Research Apps Pairings $0.99, StoneRaven LLC ESRB Rating Search App HHHHH Free, Entertainment Software Rating Board HHHHH E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 • E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 Beer Match pairs 31 beer styles with over 500 foods to help you select a beer that always complements your food. Feel safe when giving video game gifts to children—snap a photo of the game package or enter the game title, and you get BeerCloud the rating summaries you need. Free, INsReady Inc. GoodGuide HHHHH Free, GoodGuide HHHHH BeerCloud is the essential app for beer lovers. Cor.kz Wine Info If you have eco-conscious people in your life, the GoodGuide $1.99, Applied Ambiguities LLC mobile app will make gift-giving simpler by identifying, rating HHHHH and reviewing products for eco-friendliness. Grocery IQ A smartphone sommelier. Free, Coupons.com HHHHH Drinkspiration By Absolut Free, The Absolut Company HHHHH Make grocery lists by text entry, voice or barcode scans. App instantly organizes your list into aisles. Drinkspiration provides drink recommendations using classifica- ShopSavvy tions such as weather, location, time and the type of bar. Free, ShopSavvy Inc. HHHHH Harvest - Select the Best Produce $1.99, Sean Murphy HHHHH Scans barcodes, providing reviews and price comparisons among 20,000 different retailers as well as real-time pricing and availability among thousands of online merchants. Harvest contains extensive guidelines to help you select the best produce available. Gift Ideas Free, Rosu Gabriel How to Cook Everything HHHHH $9.99, Culinate Inc. HHHHH

With a constantly growing database of gift ideas, this app offers you personalized presents for every occasion. Contains over 2,000 recipes, menu ideas and how-to illustrations with built-in timers included in the recipe to guide you. El Gifto - Gift Ideas Guru Free, IBKR Analytics LLC Mise En Place HHHHH $2.99, Derrick Schneider HHHHH

Enter the gift recipient's personality type, their relationship to you and other details to get creative, appropriate gift ideas from Plan your dinner party prepping and cooking tasks to the minute this app. so you can make sure that your 6:00 p.m. dinner doesn't end up more like a 7:00 p.m. dinner. Mixology™ Drink Recipes Free, Digital Outcrop FOOD & PARTY APPLICATIONS HHHHH Food & Drink Apps The Mixology app claims it’s the “ultimate drink recipe and bartending guide” and with almost 8,000 drinks recipes and over AG Wine Guide 1,300 ingredients included, it’s hard to disagree. $2.99, Approach Guides LLC HHHHH Pair It $4.99, Bandar Interactive HHHHH Your complete wine store companion. Comprehensive food and wine pairing guide.

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Sushipedia SeatingPlanner+ Free, Tokiolabs LLC $4.99, Gobee Labs HHHHH HHHHH

Sushipedia contains an encyclopedia with over 200 sushi entries, Virtually plan your big party's table seating so that everyone has including full color photographs and detailed descriptions. a place to park and those mortal enemies won't have to glare at each other from across the table. Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner Free, Allrecipes.com Party Planning List HHHHH $0.99, Jimbl HHHHH Click on what type of meal you’re making (dessert, main dish, etc.), the ingredients you have, and how much time you want to Pre-loaded with tasks that apply to virtually all types of parties, spend cooking, and the app will show you the matching recipes. so you don’t have to type out every single task. GrillTime Party Planner $1.99, Weagle $0.99, PartyPlannerApp.com HHHHH HHHHH

GrillTime calculates recommended grilling times to give you Enter basic information about the type of party, and the app tells perfect timing from flip to finish. you how much to purchase of each supply item—from ice and cups to garnishes. Weber’s On The Grill $4.99, Weber-Stephen Products Event Planning Tools 2.0 HHHHH $0.99, Party Aficionado HHHHH Gives you instant access to over 250 of Weber’s tried-and-true recipes, from appetizers to desserts with lots of marinades, rubs, Packed with loads of useful functions, this app keeps your and main courses in between. budget in check while planning your party’s design. Omaha Steaks Steak Time Free, Omaha Steaks International Bar & Restaurant Apps HHHHH Happy Hour Finder Free, Happy Hour Finder, Inc Get access to over 100 recipes organized by cut, and boost your HHHHH grilling know-how with the “Steak 101” instructional video series. Grill-it! A great app for finding all the details on happy hours happening $0.99, Sluice close to your current location. HHHHH Citysearch Free, Citysearch Mobile This offering from the folks at the online magazine Grilling HHHHH Companion offers step-by-step instructions for producing a slew of grilled delicacies. Citysearch has local listings and reviews of restaurants, bars, and Party Planning Apps just about any other business you can think of. DrinkOwl Evite Free, Great Owl Technologies Free, Evite HHHHH HHHHH DrinkOwl currently offers drink specials for 75 cities This popular website brings its invitation finesse to your smart- (and counting). phone so you can manage guest lists on the go. LocalEats Phrase Party! (Catch It) $0.99, Magellan Press Inc. $1.99, iParty Mobile HHHHH HHHHH

2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE Points you to the best local restaurants in over 50 major US cities, Split your guests into two teams and play a game of hot potato. as well as other local favorites in smaller cities and towns. Over The team who has the phone when the time runs out loses. 15,000 restaurants included.

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Goby Harry’s Lap Timer Free, Goby Technologies $8.99, Harald Schlangmann HHHHH HHHHH

With more than 350 categories of things to do, and more than 6 E D Ideal I U G for S ’ R the E Y U B automotive P P A E T A M I enthusiast T L U 3 1 0 2 • who E D I enjoys U G S ’ R E participating Y U B P P A E T A in M I T L U 3 1 0 2 million events across the U.S., the Goby goldfish will simply not autocross or track events, this app will give you great information, allow you to be bored. including data on where you drove fastest, where you slowed down, and how quickly you completed your fastest lap. Happy Houred Free, Appsolute Media EZ Care HHHHH Free, MobileAppWerx HHHHH The search interface lets you look for nearby drink deals or search by picking your poison, whether it’s wine, beer, cocktails, Tells you when the recommended service intervals are for your spe- or “pubs with grub.” cific make and model, including when to change your oil, when your brake pads should be evaluated, and how often you should Karaoke Loop have your air filters replaced. Free, Entourage Entertainment HHHHH AutoGeekOnline Free, Autogeek.net Find Karaoke shows in your area. HHHHH

Thrillist Expert advice about detailing your car inside and out, as well as the Free, Thrillist best products to use on your car’s paint, leather seats, wheels and HHHHH windows.

Thrillist brings you hand-picked local restaurants, bars, clubs, and CarBuzz stores in 14 US cities. Free, Wapit, Ltd. HHHHH UrbanDaddy Free, UrbanDaddy Nonstop news about the latest in the automotive field with pre- HHHHH views of new models, photos of upcoming introductions and technical specifications of various car styles. Select which area of the city you prefer, your companion (clients, mistress), personality type (old and stodgy, from out of town) Car Locator and desired atmosphere (next to a fireplace, around hipsters). $3.99, Edward Kim HHHHH Urbanspoon Free, Urbanspoon Photograph the location of your car when you park and later you HHHHH can look at a satellite image that shows your location and your car’s location. Urbanspoon is fantastic for folks who can’t make up their minds where to eat and the slot machine-style shake feature is perfect DriveSafe.ly for selecting restaurants at random. Free, iSpeech Inc. HHHHH

Uses text-to-speech functionality so your incoming text messages Travel & Navigation Applications and emails are read to you aloud while you drive. Automobile Apps GasBuddy Free, GasBuddy Organization Inc. Rev HHHHH $39.99, DevToaster, LLC HHHHH Find the cheapest gas prices wherever you happen to be. Beloved by cab drivers. Monitors real-time vehicle data and can tell you vital details INRIX Traffic about how your car is operating, including engine temperature Free, INRIX Inc. and actual speed and RPMs, revealing any inaccuracies in your HHHHH instruments. INRIX Traffic gives you real-time traffic conditions, complete with information on wrecks, construction and other delays.

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iWrecked - Auto Accident Assistant TeleNav GPS Navigator Free, Vurgood Applications Free, TeleNav Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

Record all crash information and add photos to create an How to get to your destination with vibrant maps, audio alerts, accident report. and even some bonuses such as Facebook check-ins, cheap gas searches, local restaurant locations and more. PhantomALERT Free + $29.99 for 1 Year Subscription, PhantomALERT Inc. TomTom US & Mexico HHHHH $59.99 - $65.99, TomTom HHHHH With the use of driver generated databases, this app alerts you to red light cameras, speed traps and DUI checkpoints. Unique to TomTom is the IQ Routes technology, which takes into account rush hour, traffic lights, and even shopping crowds. RepairPal: Auto Repair Expert Free, RepairPal Waze HHHHH Free, Waze HHHHH Helps you get accurate repair estimates based on your location and includes customer reviews of repair shops in the area. When you’re on the go and don’t need directions, this social app allows you to see what other drivers are encountering—such as Speedbump traffic, accidents, and police sightings. Free ($9.99 monthly subscription required), WirelessESP Maverick: GPS Navigation HHHHH Free, Code Sector HHHHH Monitor your teen’s driving habits and location and you’ll receive an email or text notification if the speed limits you set are Use Google, Bing and Open Street Maps to track where you're exceeded. going and where you've been. Navigation Apps Travel Apps BlackBook City Guides Beat the Traffic Free, BlackBook Media Corp. Free, Triangle Software LLC HHHHH HHHHH

Covering all the major cities within the U.S. and abroad, this View traffic maps and click on roads to see speeds and any inci- app helps you locate the best venues and hottest spots in your dents. Up to two hours of traffic predictions, weather informa- location. tion, and even traffic camera images in over 34 cities. Taxi Magic Magellan RoadMate North America Free, RideCharge, Inc. $59.99, Magellan HHHHH HHHHH

You can do everything from your smartphone—from finding and The same turn-by-turn guidance as other navigation apps, but booking a taxi to charging the ride to your credit card. you’ll have three voice options, in-app music control, and con- nectivity to Yelp! Spring Break Live $1.99, EarthCam, Inc. MotionX GPS Drive HHHHH $0.99, MotionX HHHHH From Miami to Maui to Cancun, check out what’s going on in all the Spring Break hot spots via live web cams. Simplified menu interface. You can also purchase a “Live Voice Guidance with real-time navigation” package for $9.99 (regularly Trip Splitter $24.99). $1.99, DC Software Arts HHHHH Navigon North America

2013 ULTIMATE APP$59.99, BUYER’S Garmin GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE HHHHH Expertly split all types of expenses—add an unlimited number of participants and create even or uneven splits for each bill. Precise spoken announcements, live traffic updates, and lane assistance—plus quarterly map updates for at least two years.

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GateGuru Kayak Free, Mobility Apps LLC Free, Kayak.com HHHHH HHHHH

Whether you’re looking for a hot meal, a memorable souvenir E Compare D I U G S ’ R E flight, Y U B P hotel, P A E T and A M I T car L U rentals 3 1 0 2 • from E D I multiple U G S ’ R E Y sites U B P in P A one E T A app. M I T L U 3 1 0 2 or the closest restroom, Gate Guru has you covered. Packing Pro FlightView $2.99, Quinn Genzel Free, FlightView HHHHH HHHHH You’ll never forget anything again with Packing Pro. Instant updates to your mobile device when there’s a flight delay, including a national map with up-to-date weather. SitOrSquat Free, P&G Productions Airport Life HHHHH Free, Airport Life LLC HHHHH A traveler’s bathroom finder—SitOrSquat lists toilets by location and gives them user ratings. Developed by a seasoned pilot. Terminal maps provide directions to gates, services, shopping and restaurants in over 100 Trip Journal airports. $2.99, iQapps HHHHH Airport Guide - iFly Free, Red Cirrus LLC Document your vacation experiences and share them with HHHHH friends and family.

Information on over 700 airports worldwide with interactive TripAdvisor maps, Wi-Fi access locations and ATMs. Free, TripAdvisor HHHHH Airport Transit Guide $4.99, Salk International LLC Reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions from real travelers. HHHHH TripIt Plan your travel to and from airports effortlessly—provides Free, TripIt rates, schedules and pickup locations. HHHHH

My TSA This app stores your itineraries and gives you the option of dial- Free, Transportation Security ing numbers straight from these itineraries on your phone. HHHHH Disney Mobile Magic It’s easy to keep track of different airport security requirements Free, Disney and exactly what you can bring on a flight. HHHHH

AllSubway GPS maps for the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, $0.99, carmat Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, with official wait times. HHHHH Walt Disney World Park Hours Instead of standing in front of maps in the busy corridors like $0.99, Minneware an obvious tourist, study the multi-colored lines ahead of time. HHHHH

FlightTrack You’ll find opening and closing times for all Disney Parks as well $4.99, Mobiata as “Magic Hours” for guests staying on Disney property. HHHHH Disney World Wait Times FlightTrack can not only show you—offline—the flight path to Free, Phunware, Inc./UndercoverTourist.com your destination but how much longer you have to go. HHHHH

Globetipping Check this app to find user-generated wait times that will help $0.99, Ivan Karpan & Evgeniy Lebed you make your choice. HHHHH

Before you pay too much or too little, turn to this helpful app.

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Walt Disney World Notescast Prognosis: Your Diagnosis $3.99, TimeStream Software Free, Medical Joyworks HHHHH HHHHH

Access to 300 pages of information, trivia and hints for those This free app presents clinical cases in an interactive format that notorious “hidden Mickeys.” you investigate and diagnose. The Merck Manual - Home Edition HEALTH & FITNESS APPLICATIONS $9.99, Agile Partners HHHHH Medical Apps Learn about medical conditions and procedures, medical terms, Vision Test and how to handle emergency situations. Free, 3 Sided Cube Design Ltd HHHHH Total Baby $4.99, ANDESigned This app contains a number of eye tests and questions to evalu- HHHHH ate your eyes for a variety of conditions including visual acuity, astigmatism, and color tests. Designed to document multiple aspects of your child’s care and development. Cures A-Z Free, Plum Amazing WebMD HHHHH Free, WebMD LLC HHHHH Medical conditions are presented in an easy-to-navigate A to Z format and include both natural and prescriptive remedies. The famous WebMD website is now available for smartphones. Doximity Free, Doximity Fitness Apps HHHHH Daily Ab Workout Free, Daniel Miller Doximity’s free social networking software gives you the ability HHHHH to connect with other medical professionals and colleagues. S.O.S. by American Red Cross This app offers 5- to 10-minute abdominal routines for men and Free, Sharecare Inc. women that step you through 10 of the best ab-sculpting exer- HHHHH cises out there. Instant Heart Rate Step-by-step instructions to deal with a wide range of emergen- Free, Azumio Inc. cies, from choking to allergic reactions to broken bones. HHHHH Pocket First Aid & CPR $1.99, Jive Media Inc. By placing the tip of your index finger on the phone’s camera, HHHHH your phone quickly and accurately registers your heart rate and a real-time chart shows your every heartbeat. Get rapid, concise instructions on how to perform CPR and Couch-to-5K respond during an emergency. $1.99 - $2.99, The Active Network, Inc. iHealthTrax HHHHH $4.99, Winkpass Creations Inc. HHHHH If you are feeling like a couch potato and want to get up and get moving, try the Couch-to-5K app. Give your doctor complete and accurate information with Fitocracy this calendar based iPhone application that stores your medical Free, Fitocracy Inc. history. HHHHH MedicalRadio Free, ReachMD By utilizing the addicting leveling system of games and combin- ing it with your workouts, Fitocracy motivates and empowers you 2013 ULTIMATE APPHHHHH BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE to succeed at fitness. MedicalRadio delivers top-flight streaming content through their exclusive XM-Radio satellite channel as well as access to over 5,000 podcasts. Pandora Radio for Doctors!

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Fooducate Relax and Sleep Free, Fooducate Ltd. Free, Mizu Software Solutions HHHHH HHHHH

Fooducate grades your groceries on nutrition from an A to D, E D The I U G app S ’ R offers E Y U B P over P A E 30 T A M relaxing I T L U 3 1 sounds 0 2 • E D that I U G can S ’ R E help Y U B you P P A get E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 explains what’s really inside each product, and then suggests your beauty sleep and includes an alarm feature to ensure that healthier alternatives. you’re awake right on time. LIVESTRONG MyQuitCoach – Dare to Stress Tracker Quit Smoking Free, AboveStress Free, Demand Media, Inc. HHHHH HHHHH Created by leading clinical psychologists and researchers, this This physician-approved, interactive and easy-to-use app creates app uses cognitive behavioral therapy and Mindfulness principles a personalized plan to help you quit smoking—evaluate your to help you identify and manage your stress. current status and set attainable goals. iStress Endomondo Sports Tracker $0.99, PSI Apps Free, Endomondo.com HHHHH HHHHH iStress teaches you stress-management skills using humor and Track times and GPS distances for running, cycling, swimming, positive thinking to reduce stress and promote a relaxed lifestyle. hiking and even fitness walking. Anti-Stress Exercise RunKeeper - GPS Track Run Walk Free, QUO?TE Developers Free, FitnessKeeper Inc. HHHHH HHHHH Guides you through breathing exercises to reduce your Keep track of your runs and share with friends. stress levels.

Stress Relief Apps SECURITY APPLICATIONS Daily Yoga (All-in-One) Free, IMOBLIFE Co. Ltd Home Security Apps HHHHH Alarm.com Free, Alarm.com Inc. Through video and voice instruction, this app guides you HHHHH through difficulty levels of 36 yoga sessions and over 300 poses. Arm and disarm your system, adjust your home’s temperature, Relax Melodies and see live video feed from your home security cameras. $2.99, Ipnos Software HHHHH Sex Offenders Search $1.99, LogSat Software LLC Select one of the 46 included sounds and you’ll have an instant HHHHH relaxing and calming soundtrack to get you ready for sleep time. Updates every day with a list of names, addresses, and pictures of Pocket Yoga registered sex offenders nearby. $2.99, Rainfrog LLC HHHHH IP Cam Viewer Free - $4.99, Robert Chou Pocket Yoga has detailed instructions for each yoga pose, includ- HHHHH ing both audio and visual descriptions. View any camera for which you have the IP address, including Stress Check by Azumio DVRs and web cams. Free, Azumio HHHHH Guardian Watch Free, Guardian Watch LLC This high-tech app measures your heart rate through your smart- HHHHH phone’s camera and light features to determine your level of physical and mental stress. Report an emergency quickly or stream video and audio to public officials using your smartphone to assist them with response efforts.

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SpotCrime Lite Kryptos Free, Popvox LLC Free ($10/month subscription required), Kryptos HHHHH Communications HHHHH Real-time information about crimes based on your location, including the type of crime, where it occurred, and when it Encrypts all of your phone calls with military-grade encryption to happened. prevent unwanted eavesdropping. K9 Web Protection Browser NQ Mobile Security Free, Blue Coat Systems Inc. Free, NQ Mobile HHHHH HHHHH

A free browser that blocks inappropriate content, including NetQin Mobile Security is a complete security solution with the material related to pornography, hate/violence, gambling, and ability to remotely locate, lock or erase a lost phone as well as drugs. real-time virus protection and scanning. OnCall Defender – Advanced Mobile TouchDown for Smartphones Protection Free, $19.99 license purchase required, NitroDesk Free (with paid subscription plan), AMP LLC HHHHH HHHHH TouchDown provides a full-featured email experience with all Sends an emergency call to local public authorities on your of the functionality you are accustomed to when using email behalf that provides critical information to first responders. on a PC. ME911 avast! Mobile Security Free, ME911 Free, AVAST Software HHHHH HHHHH

One-stop access to your family’s medical and emergency contact One of the most comprehensive security apps on the Android information, including allergies, insurance information, and med- platform with no hidden costs. ications. Lookout Security & Antivirus Free - $2.99/month, Lookout Mobile Security Smartphone Security Apps HHHHH

Sprite Backup A great app for anyone with security concerns—scans your apps $4.95, Sprite Mobile for viruses and spyware and includes anti-theft tools. HHHHH mSecure - Password Manager Automatic backup to Box.net or DropBox. Touted as the most $9.99, mSeven Software LLC popular mobile backup solution. HHHHH

SMS Backup+ Remember one password as your password list is encrypted and Free, Jan Berkel available for sync to other mSecure enabled devices. HHHHH Webroot Security & Antivirus Back up your text messages to your Gmail account with this free Free - $19.99/year, Webroot Inc. app. HHHHH

MyBackup Pro Webroot’s free version of this app scans for viruses and malware, $4.99, RerWare, LLC scans web links and URLs to thwart phishing attempts. HHHHH Kaspersky Mobile Security This highly praised app backs up all your data in one cloud- $14.95/year, Kaspersky Lab based location via MyBackup Pro’s web portal. HHHHH

eyeD® Biometric Password Manager Kaspersky’s full mobile security suite with anti-virus, anti-theft $17.99, Winkpass Creations Inc. and anti-phishing capabilities. HHHHH 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE

Uses iris scanning based on a picture that you take of your eye to create an unbreakable password.

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary Child Safety Apps Free, Merriam-Webster Inc. HHHHH Mobiflock $29.95/year, Mobiflock HHHHH E D The I U G Merriam-Webster S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A Dictionary M I T L U 3 1 0 2 app • E thousands D I U G S ’ R E of Y U B words P P A and E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 definitions at your fingertips and you can conveniently look up words with voice search. Block apps, numbers, camera use, contacts and websites on your child’s phone from your phone or a remote computer. Productivity Apps MamaBear Child Tracker Free, geoWaggle, LLC reQall HHHHH Free, reQall Inc. HHHHH Find out where your children are, with whom they're spending time, and also monitor texting and social media usage. Capture and organize all your tasks and to-do items in one place. Family Tracker Things Free, LogSat Software LLC $9.99, Cultured Code HHHHH HHHHH

Use it to track as many devices as you wish, and see where those Considered one of the top task-management apps, Things is devices are at any time. easy-to-use and effective at helping you stay organized and managing your time. Life360 Family Locator Free, Life360 Toodledo HHHHH $2.99, Toodledo HHHHH Features include a private family map with check-ins allowing you to quickly let your family know you've made it to your Filters and prioritizes your most important tasks, creating an appointment, the airport, or a friend's house. automatic smart list, configuring the best use of your time, and generating “alarms” for tasks due soon. SMS Tracker Starts at $2/month, GIZMOQUIP Cozi Family Organizer: Shared HHHHH Calendar & Lists Free, Cozi SMS Tracker has everything needed to monitor your child's HHHHH device usage. Organize your calendar, grocery list and to-do lists, and much more in a shared format that the whole family can access and BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT modify. Wunderlist APPLICATIONS Free, 6Wunderkinder Writers’ Apps HHHHH Organize your daily life with simple to-do lists and basic FastPencil task-management. Free, FastPencil.com HHHHH Remember The Milk Free, Remember The Milk Inc. FastPencil helps make reading, writing and working on books a HHHHH lot easier wherever you are. One of the most popular task-management apps, Remember The iA Writer Milk allows you to track, prioritize and check off tasks quickly and $0.99, Information Architects Inc. easily. HHHHH

Let the ideas flow freely onto the virtual pages with iA Writer without distractions: no spellchecking, auto-correction, toolbars—only concentrate on what matters, writing.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 69 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:42 AM Page 70

Dragon Dictation Line2 Free, Nuance Communications Free, Toktumi, Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

Turn talk into type—from short text messages to longer email Adds a second phone line to your mobile device so you can messages separate those business and personal calls. Producteev Vonage Mobile Free, Producteev Free, Vonage HHHHH HHHHH

To-do-list app that lets you mark priorities, set deadlines, and Vonage Mobile lets you make local and international calls—all receive email reminders. With paid upgrade, this app becomes a you need is WiFi and 3G or 4G. project management system. HeyTell Free, Voxilate, Inc. Data-Saving & Minute-Saving Apps HHHHH Save a bundle in phone minutes: send voice messages as an 3G Watchdog email rather than making multiple calls. Free, Richard Gruet HHHHH Truphone Free, Truphone HHHHH Monitor your data usage daily, weekly, monthly or by billing period. Make and receive calls instantly over the Internet with Truphone. Onavo Extend HHHHH Finance Apps Uses data compression to allow you to receive more data than normal—up to five times more! RetirePlan Free, Katherine Philip Traffic Monitor HHHHH Free, RadioOpt GmbH HHHHH Enter your financial data and assumptions, and be dazzled as your financial plan instantly appears before your very own eyes. Your all-in-one smartphone usage monitor: track WiFi and cellular traffic, monitor calls, roaming charges and text messages. Easy Money Planner Free Free, In A Day Development Bundler HHHHH Free, NexusPC HHHHH Choose from 12 handy planners: calculate how much to save for retirement, your investment rate of return, and your loan pay- Bundler is your no-frills data monitoring app for Windows Phone ment amount instantly. users. Vanguard My Data Manager Free, The Vanguard Group, Inc. Free, Mobidia Technology HHHHH HHHHH

Keep track of your investments portfolio, research stock, instantly Control your data and reduce your phone bill as you manage receive your latest account activity and trade stocks from your your data with up-to-the-minute usage statistics. smartphone. iTrade - Stock Market Simulator Free, Neon Surge HHHHH

2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE iTrade lets manage your own virtual stock portfolio. 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE

70 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:42 AM Page 71

CNBC Real-Time Free, NBC Universal, Inc. HOME & LIFESTYLE APPLICATIONS HHHHH Pets Apps

Instantly receive real-time quotes before, during and after E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 • E D I U G S ’ R E Y U B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 market hours. All Pets Radio Player Free, Quick Bridge Solutions StockTwits HHHHH Free, StockTwits Inc. HHHHH This app streams an Internet radio station devoted completely to pets of all kinds and includes pet news, pet care tips, pet stories, Find out which stocks are being tweeted about the most and and more. trending worldwide. ASPCA Action Pageonce - Money & Bills Free, BlueToad Free, Pageonce HHHHH HHHHH

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Pay bills, manage and track your cash, credit cards, bills and (ASPCA) free quarterly magazine ASPCA Action on your iPhone. investment portfolio all in one app. HungryPet Chase Mobile Banking Free, OhmzTech Free, JPMorgan Chase HHHHH HHHHH

HungryPet offers a database of "people" food and details on Pay anyone with an email address instantly with Chase QuickPay whether these foods are safe for your dog or cat to eat. and make deposits by taking a photo of your check. Pet First Aid Tax Preparation Apps $2.99 - $3.99, Jive Media Inc. HHHHH H&R Block Free, H&R Block Pet First Aid offers instructional videos and how-to's with HHHHH illustrations for a variety of cat and dog first aid needs. Pet Master Pro An income tax encyclopedia from H&R Block. $4.99, GF Media Apps IRS2Go HHHHH Free, IRS HHHHH Pet Master helps you keep track of all the maintenance that goes into your pets. Track the status of your income tax return. Petcentric Free, Purina TaxACT Central HHHHH Free, 2nd Story Software HHHHH Petcentric will find pet-friendly establishments for your animals, such as hotels, restaurants, and parks. Tax preparation, filing, and return status tracking in one app. Petoxins TaxCaster by TurboTax $2.99, Treviso Media Group Free, Intuit Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

Prevent your pet from eating poisonous and toxic plants with Enter some basic personal information and watch as your tax this searchable database. refund is instantly calculated. PetRescuers TurboTax SnapTax Free, HomeAgain PetRescuers Free to try ($19.99 to file), Intuit Inc. HHHHH HHHHH

Search for local missing animals and get alerts when a pet has Tax prep app from the leader in tax prep software. gone missing in your area so you can remain vigilant in helping to find the animal.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 71 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:42 AM Page 72

Mary Kay Virtual Makeover Babysitting Apps Free, Mary Kay, Inc. HHHHH iSitter Free, Dorada Software HHHHH Download your own photo or choose a model to try different combinations of eye makeup, lip colors, hairstyles, hair colors, accessories and more. A handy substitute for a baby monitor that works on the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. Stylish Girl – Fashion Closet Free, DDN Media Inc. Babysitting Guide HHHHH $0.99, Phoneflips HHHHH Photograph each piece of clothing to create a virtualized wardrobe and then mix and match into different outfits without Babysitting advice, including what to do if a child gets upset ever having to try anything on. when his mom leaves, how to swaddle a baby, what to expect during diaper changes, and much more. Fashion Kaleidoscope Free, Inporia Inc. Baby Connect HHHHH $4.99, Seacloud Software HHHHH With hundreds of fashion ideas for clothing, shoes, accessories, and handbags, this app is sure to inspire your inner fashionista. The old days of writing in a child’s activity journal are over—now you can log everything the child does in this simple app. Beauty Product Reviews Free, Total Beauty Media Baby Food Diary HHHHH $1.99, Evan L. HHHHH Actual user feedback on various products, from anti-aging lotions to hair gel to bath beads. When a baby starts solid foods, this app simplifies the process by tracking when a baby ate a certain food, if it caused a reaction, Chore Pad and how much of the food the baby wanted. $2.99, Nannek HHHHH ScanAvert $1.99, ScanAvert, Inc. HHHHH Set chores so they come up automatically every time they need someone to do them. ScanAvert allows you to pre-program a child’s dietary Clorox myStain requirements, and then scan the barcode of a food product to Free, Clorox determine if the ingredients contain anything harmful. HHHHH

Lifestyle Apps Look it up on myStain to find both on-the-go and at-home stain-lifting solutions. The American Survivalist Free, Failsafe Productions Hair Cast HHHHH Free, Studio One HHHHH The latest survivalist news, from terrorist attacks to homeland security alerts, step-by-step instructions on how to pack a This app will ease your hairstyling tension by telling you the survival bag, all of the info you need to become a survivalist. temperature, level of humidity, chance of rain, and projected wind speed for your area. Disaster Readiness $1.99, Phoneflips Makeover HHHHH Free, ModiFace HHHHH This app helps you prepare for a variety of disaster events and shows you what you should do if they head your way. Take a photo of yourself, and then use this app to see how you would look with a different hairstyle, a change in makeup, tan,

2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE anti-aging procedures, plastic surgery.

72 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/20/13 2:43 AM Page 73

Natural Beauty Recipe Wedding Registry Free, Kiumiu Soft $1.00, iListApps HHHHH HHHHH

Shares beauty techniques using ingredients you have around the E D Rather I U G S ’ than R E Y U register B P P A E at T A M multiple I T L U 3 1 0 stores, 2 • E D this I U G app’s S ’ R E barcode Y U B P P A scanner E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 house. lets you add an item to your registry from any store in town! Stylebook Our Wedding Planner $3.99, left brain/right brain Free, Wepala HHHHH HHHHH

Log the clothes you have in your closet, and then create different To-do lists, budget planning, seating plans, guest lists (including looks in the outfit editor to test them out. pending and received options) and more to assist you with everything you need to plan your wedding. Trendstop.com Fashion Trendtracker Free, Amoja LTD Honeymoon Planner HHHHH $0.99, Jimbl HHHHH Watch slideshows of the work from specific designers, view runway videos sorted by collection, or look through a series of Includes more than 275 honeymoon and travel-related checklist hip street fashions. items, such as “women sundries,” “medication,” ”documents” and more. TriMirror Fashion Closets Free, Quakeup Media Production Inc. Fun Wedding HHHHH $0.99, Intelligence, Inc. HHHHH Post outfits to your social network for comments. Create a music playlist for your reception by searching through millions of songs—including gems from the 1950s through pres- Wedding Apps ent time. weddinggawker Maid of Honor Complete Guide Free, gawkerverse $0.99, KoolAppz HHHHH HHHHH

Get ideas and inspiration for your own event by viewing From giving the all-important toast to holding the bride’s hand wedding photographs submitted by wedding bloggers throughout the gown-selection process, you are the go-to gal for throughout the world. all the tears, laughter and hair-pulling that goes into planning a wedding. Wedding Countdown Free, Sevenlogics, Inc. The Maid of Honor Speeches HHHHH $0.99, AppWarrior HHHHH A fun and fully customizable way to count down the days and hours until your wedding day. With this app, you can choose from 10 complete Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid speeches that you can personalize, or select a The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner template to use and fill in the blanks. Free, TheKnot HHHHH Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt $0.99, KMT Marketing Designs HHHHH The Knot offers a variety of tools for organizing the big day, whether it’s your to-do list, budget, guest list, dress ideas, and more. A scavenger hunt is among the bachelorette party favorites, plan and organize one without the need for pen and paper. Wedding Snap Free, Minglle LLC Dare Devil Bachelorette HHHHH $1.99, Forte Development HHHHH Encourage guests to upload photos so you can see your wedding from their perspective and check out what you missed! If you really want to make the bachelorette party interesting, this app offers an edgier version of the classic game “Truth or Dare.” No matter your party location, you can play more than 100 different truths or dares, in either competitive or playful mode.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 73 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:42 AM Page 74

Group Guess – Bridal Shower Game Handy Construction Calculators $2.99, LuPalm Wonders $7.99, Sidetop Software HHHHH HHHHH

Similar to the group game Taboo, this app takes the headache An app that calculates everything from amps, watts, and volts to out of planning the bridal shower games with this app. excavation and backfill. Houzz Interior Design Ideas Home Décor Apps Free, Houzz Inc. HHHHH iHandy Carpenter $1.99, iHandy, Inc. HHHHH The largest database of home design ideas on the internet and over 700,000 photos—browse by style, room and location and save them to your virtual idea book. With five great tools on board, including a plumb bob, a surface level, a steel protractor, a steel ruler, and a bubble level bar you 3D Room Design Udesignit can calibrate your measurements quickly and easily. $4.99, HB Conception Virtuelle Inc. HHHHH Carpenter’s Helper Lite Free, My Pie HHHHH This app gives you a 3D animated image of the layout you customize—from the room’s size, paint and wallpaper, down to the materials and area rugs. Thanks to Carpenter’s Helper, you can calculate simple solutions like a room’s area, as well as tougher measurements such as roof Budget Shopping Locator pitch and stair rise. $2.99, MapMuse HHHHH Benjamin Moore Color Capture Free, Benjamin Moore & Co. HHHHH With this bargain locator, unearth consignment shops, flea markets, swap meets and thrift stores nearby, anywhere in the country. Just snap a photo of a particular paint color, and the app will tell you the color it matches in the company’s 3,300-plus paint Christie’s spectrum. Free, Christie’s Inc. HHHHH Smart Tools $2.50, Smart Tools Co. HHHHH Participate in an auction to bid on an antique luxury armchair, 20th century chandelier, mahogany armoire or other extravagant furnishings—without stepping foot outside. You can’t buy 15 individual tools—including a metal detector— for $2.50 at your local home improvement store, but you can DécOrganizer with this app. $2.99, Aisling Apps HHHHH The Home Depot Free, The Home Depot, Inc. HHHHH Track furniture to purchase, favorite stores and websites, contacts, notes, prices, photos and a wish list—all in easy-to-file fold- ers categorized by room. Look up a product that you’re interested in buying, then find out which store has it and whether it’s available in the store invento- Dream Home ry, saving you from making unnecessary trips. $0.99, Apalon HHHHH HomeSavvy Free, Service Magic HHHHH Leaf through hundreds of home décor photos, arranged by room type, color, style or what’s popular. They’re easy to upload, rate and share. The HomeSavvy app allows you to keep track of your home maintenance needs, and even alerts you if you’re overdue. Fab Free, Fab.com HGTV To Go HHHHH Free, Scripps Networks, LLC 2013 ULTIMATE APPHHHH BUYER’SH GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE The app version of Fab.com, the website that sells urban designer goods and art at an on-sale price tag. In addition to watching the full episodes of HGTV shows, you can also access photo galleries that offer tips and ideas for re-creating a design theme in your house.

74 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:43 AM Page 75

iHandy Level Atheist Pocket Debater Free, iHandySoft Inc. $2.99, JAY-ROC Investments HHHHH HHHHH

No need to purchase a leveling tool when you have this free app. E D An I U G app S ’ to R E Y assist U B P P you A E T the A M I next T L U 3 time 1 0 2 you • E D enter I U G S a ’ R religious E Y U B P P debate. A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 iQila Interior Design Community Bible Free, Pyronyx LTD Free, LifeChurch.tv HHHHH HHHHH

Are you searching for the perfect coffee table? Post pics or This bible app includes over 100 versions, including the King browse in a virtual interior design community that gives you James Version, the New American Bible, The Message, and more. feedback. Book of Shadows Mark On Call $3.99, Shadowink Designs Technology $1.99, M.O.C. Interior Designer LLC HHHHH HHHHH Book of Shadows is a personal spell recipe book of sorts for “Mark,” named after interior designer Mark Lewison, is your per- pagans and features rituals, rites, spells, traditions, holidays and sonal design assistant and shopping guide in the palm of your much more. hand. Daily Buddhist Prayers Palettes $1.99, Buddhist Apps Free, Rick Maddy HHHHH HHHHH For the practicing or just-learning Buddhist, the app provides Just take a picture, highlight a shade and you’ve got a whole inspirational daily prayers. color palette on your hands for endless design fun. eVotions Photo Measures Free, Little i Apps LLC $4.99, Big Blue Pixel HHHHH HHHHH Billed as a series of "digital devotions for modern Catholics" and Photo Measures easily stores your room’s measurements in an includes images, videos, prayers and writings, plus push orderly fashion. reminders for praying novenas. Remodelista LDS Gospel Library $2.99, Remodelista LLC Free, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints HHHHH HHHHH Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone The Mormon Church’s Gospel Library allows users to Explore the interiors of homes across the globe, while snuggled access lesson manuals, general conference addresses and scrip- comfortably in yours. tures from just about any phone platform. Prayer Time PRO Spiritual Apps Free, NextWorldMobile 101 Success Tips HHHHH Free, Pazacta HHHHH An app to calculate the correct prayer times and proper direction to face for Muslim worshippers. This app contains success and self-development tips to develop strategies to counter your weak points. Crafts Apps Inspirational Quotes Free, AppFlute Blockfab Free, Mary Kay Podlecki HHHHH HHHHH

The thought-provoking quotes in this app can help you to keep Ever found fabric that you just know would make a beautiful quilt moving forward, make an overdue change, or simply help you to but you have no idea how much to buy? This app will help you live life to the fullest. with that task.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 75 APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/131:43AMPage76 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE • 2013 ULTIMATE APP BUYER’S GUIDE driveways, sheds, and other outdoor elements. outdoor other driveways,and sheds, patios,hammocks, with design you lets that elements color plant and harvest your own vegetable garden. vegetable own your harvest and plant Gardening Apps Gardening Beyond just trees and plants, this app includes 280 hand-drawn 280 includes app this plants, and trees just Beyond more.and recipes décor,delicious parties, home crafts, holiday gifts, homemade make to Tutorialshow on more.many borders,and and batting backing, for needed is fabric much calculations—how quilting Numerous projects ting knit- multiple forinformation project and countersstitch Store embroidering.crocheting,or knitting, started you get to pictures and instructions step Tutorialsstep-by- with tutorials video and posts blog through more and crafting sewing, cooking, about learn users helps app This projects. own your inspire to crafts and arts handmade discoverand search visually to youallows that gallery photo A 76 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone to Beckett’sGuide This app gives you all of the information you need to need youinformation the of all yougives app This Nokia Android,iOS, HHHHH Ltd. Pty Software Hutchinson $1.99, Gardenate HHHHH Inc. Design, AdvancedData $1.99, Palette Outside Home HHHHH Free,Applications Mitchell TipJunkie HHHHH Fabrics Kaufman Free,Robert QuiltingCalc HHHHH Free,CordlessDog CounterLite Knit HHHHH $2.99, TechnicalLLCEasy Made Stitch Easy HHHHH Free, Vanessa Wilson Gemini Crafty HHHHH Free,gawkerverse Craftgawker ideas and medicinal uses. medicinal and ideas culinary tips, planting includes and spices and herbs common 40 about information and pictures providesreferenceThis app pictures. and text both with journal garden yourplants—update your about informationorganize recordand to you allows 360 Garden successes.and failures their share and another one with connect to gardenersallows MyGarden.org space. and time availableyour and level, expertise your on based plants recommends and vegetables and fruits Growpopular 20 forinformationYour plantingprovides Own temperature you set. temperatureyou the below fall forecastedto temperatureis the when you warns only— thing one and thing one does set-it-and-forget-itThisapp information. easy-to-understand and pictures greatbeneficial—with and detrimental bugs—both garden American North common most the of many lists app This cultivate.to want you that plants the and location your on based schedule planting a up set you helps Plant to When composition. soil fertilizer,and rotation,crop techniques,composting,gardening on guides gardening useful gardeners vegetablegives comprehensive app This HHHHH Daniel Wall$2.99, Herbs+ HHHHH ATU$2.49, Software 360 Garden HHHHH Free, Trendscobvba MyGarden HHHHH Free,Society Horticultural Royal The Grow YourOwn HHHHH AntonyCook $1.58, FrostColdSnap!Alarm HHHHH Davidson Justin $0.99, Garden the in Bugs HHHHH Limited Interactive Growing $1.99, Plant to When HHHHH Solutions Deraign $1.60, Calendar Gardeners The APPS_1309_BUYERSGUIDE 6/17/13 1:43 AM Page 77

Eden Garden Designer iVeggieGarden $1.99, Herbaceous Software $9.99, Moorit Software HHHHH HHHHH

Take a photo of your empty garden (or use a provided image) E D Includes I U G S ’ R everything E Y U B P P A E you'll T A M I T L need U 3 1 0 to 2 plan, • E D I track, U G S ’ and R E Y U troubleshoot B P P A E T A M I T L U 3 1 0 2 and plant photorealistic pics of the flora and fauna you plan to your vegetable patch (or farm) from pre-seeding to post-harvest. use. Landscaper's Companion Garden Buddy $4.99, Stevenson Software $2.99, Island Apps HHHHH HHHHH Great photos and an extensive search tool that lets you look for A "garden math" app that calculates your supply needs for you: planting characteristics (like sun/shade) and ensure you'll find compute cubic yards of gravel, how much fertilizer you need, or what you're looking for. select materials for the perfect pond size. WHAT DO OUR ICONS MEAN?

iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch devices

Android smartphones

BlackBerry smartphones

Windows smartphones

Kindle Fire tablets (They use the Android OS)

Nokia Symbian smartphones

Palm OS devices

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 77 APPS_1309-SENIOR 6/17/131:45AMPage78 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES 78 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES SENIOR-SAVVY 5 • SMARTPHONES SENIOR-SAVVY 5 • SMARTPHONES SENIOR-SAVVY 5 5 more mature user in mind. in user maturemore the with smartphones developed and designedgrowingdemographic,have this of needs hearing, eyesight and coordination challenges. But, alert manufacturers, realizing the realizing manufacturers, alert But, challenges.coordination and eyesighthearing, is for the generation who grew up with it. The natural process of aging can bring about bring can aging of processit. natural with The up grew who generation the for is it as them foraccessible as technology.quite latest However,be the not might deserve it One in eight Americans is now over the age of 65, and like the younger crowd,youngerseniors the like and 65, of age the overnow is Americans eight in One Hill Simon By user mobile mature the for designs deviceClever Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide

Smartphones SENIOR-SAVVY APPS_1309-SENIOR 6/17/13 1:45 AM Page 79

5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES S E N O H P T R A M S Y V V A S - R O I N E S 5 • S E N O H P T R A M S Y V V A S - R O I N E S 5 • S E N O H P T R A M S Y V V A S - R O I N E S 5

Fujitsu Stylistic S01 Here’s an Android smartphone with a great blend of features for any technophobes out there. There’s a nice big 4-inch display, solid specs (including a 1.4GHz single-core processor and an 8MP camera), and it is both dustproof and water-resistant. It’s comfortable to hold, the buttons are big and clear, and the interface that has been built on top of Android includes large, clearly marked features and a help button on each page to explain everything. It also has a built-in personal alarm in case of emergency.

The phone asks you your age during setup and it even tweaks the frequency of sounds for older ears incapable of registering higher frequencies. There’s also a feature that allows you to slow down the speech of the caller on the other end. The interface tweaks extend to a web portal free of ads and a simplified set of camera controls.

Jitterbug Touch You’ll find a 3.2-inch touchscreen that slides aside to reveal a full, physical QWERTY keyboard on the Jitterbug Touch. The keys are well spaced and easy to press and the basic interface is simple and accessible. However, the 320x240- pixel resolution is a real letdown and the Jitterbug user interface is running on top of a very old version of Android. Overall, it doesn’t offer the best user experience.

On the plus side it does have good battery life, the interface options are clear, and there are built-in apps and services for the elderly, such as the 5Star™ Urgent Response app and a LiveNurse service. It is relatively inexpensive and it won’t tie you into a long-term contract with cancellation fees, but in terms of hardware and performance, it’s tough to recommend unreservedly.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 79 APPS_1309-SENIOR 6/17/13 1:46 AM Page 80

5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES

Doro PhoneEasy 740 This Android smartphone is a slider design—the touchscreen slides up to reveal a physical dialing pad with large, clearly marked keys. The interface, called the Doro Experience, is unrecognizable as Android. It’s a simple list that scrolls vertically and each selection is large and descriptively labeled.

Functionality is deliberately basic, there’s a 5MP camera, and the 3.2-inch display is fairly low resolution at 320x480 pixels. It has plenty of handy extras, like an extremely loud speaker, and a magnifying glass app to enlarge text. There are also built-in emergency functions which tie in to the GPS functionality to identify your location. 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES • 5 SENIOR-SAVVY SMARTPHONES

80 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-SENIOR 6/17/13 1:46 AM Page 81

Samsung Galaxy Note II Although Samsung didn’t design the Galaxy Note II specifically for seniors, there are some compelling reasons that make it a great choice. It has a huge, 5.5-inch display and it comes with a stylus, which many elderly people prefer over classic touchscreen gestures. Select Easy mode when you set the Note II up and it provides a simplified home screen with handy widgets pre-loaded. It’s also easy to increase the font size on the Note II for those who need larger print.

Since it’s a top-of-the-range device, the Note II is absolutely packed with features. It basically combines the best of a tablet and a smartphone in one device. The Galaxy Note II has the latest technology in spades packaged in a senior-friendly setup.

Pantech Flex It simplifies Android, reducing it down to one, easily accessible home screen, but the Pantech Flex doesn’t scrimp on hardware or features. It has a 4.3-inch display, with good 540x960-pixel resolution, an 8MP camera, and it supports the fastest networks with 4G LTE. All of the interface options are large and clear, the setup process has been simplified, and the audio quality is enhanced.

This is a solid device, and it represents a thoughtful attempt to make a senior friendly phone. It doesn’t cut corners or dumb things down and the end result offers real value for money. There are lots of pre-installed apps, from Pulse news, to a pill reminder. It is also possible to choose between the “Easy” experience and “Standard” so if the owner grows more tech savvy, or the phone changes hands, its appeal isn’t limited.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 81 APPS_1309-TEXTWAR 6/17/131:47AMPage82 WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING 82 TEXTING WHILE DRIVING WHILE TEXTING G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W WAGE Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide There Highway National Trafficthe Administration(NHTSA).to Safety so,doing By once. least at wheel the behind you’vetextedit, probably admit don’t to want you though even but driving,You and wouldn’tprobablydrinking consider Cooper Sean By apps Wethese need need YOUyou and texting while driving. while texting against efforts war need the wewhy YOUjoin about to facts the get first, But wheel. the on hands your and road the on eyes your keeping while calls and emails texts, your manage you help can WarAgainst are ways to keep in touch while on the road, if you really have to.haveApps really you if road, the on while touch in keep toways , accordingdriver, drunk a you’rethan dangerous more times six APPS_1309-TEXTWAR 6/17/13 1:47 AM Page 83

WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W

MAINSTREAM MESSAGING DEADLY DRIVERS Texting has exploded in popularity over the last decade. How dangerous is driving while texting, really? Incredibly. In 2007 texting outnumbered actual calls for the first time. It’s not hard to see the allure of texting versus calling—texting is Each time you send or receive a text, you take your usually a lot quicker and easier. eyes away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, according to NHTSA. While it may not seem like a lot, at a In 2012 a whopping 9.8 trillion SMS messages were sent in the speed of 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the length U.S., up from 7.8 trillion in 2011. In fact, the average person of a football field—blindfolded. sends 357 texts per month. It makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a While drinking and driving has been considered taboo for many crash when you’re texting behind the wheel and 6 times years, drivers are just starting to get the message about the more likely than drunk driving. It’s as dangerous as dangers of driving while texting. driving after 4 beers. Texting while driving has deadly consequences. Each year there are over 3,000 deaths and 330,000 injuries related to texting while driving, according to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study. Texting is most popular among teenagers, and unfortunately, teenagers are also most likely to obtain their driver’s license at this age. Here’s another scary fact: Texting while driving is the number one cause of accidents and deaths of teen drivers.

MESSAGE NOT RECEIVED Unfortunately, the warnings aren’t sinking in for drivers. Just how widespread is the problem? According to recent AT&T Commuter surveys, despite the fact that more than 95% of drivers admitting knowing that texting while driving is dangerous, 49% of commuters surveyed admitted to doing so—and 43% of teens surveyed did, as well. Adults are setting a bad example. 77% of teens said adults tell them not to text and drive, but then do it themselves “all the time.” In fact, 40% referred to it as a habit. Most disconcerting is the lack of perceived danger among teenagers. High numbers of surveyed teens—77%—are very confident or somewhat confident that they can drive safely while texting. Amazingly, 55% claim it’s “easy” to text while driving. And it seems that texting while driving isn’t just a problem for teenage drivers, but also for their passengers. 40% of teens admitted to riding in a car when the driver was texting while driving in a way that put people in danger, according to the Pew Research Center.

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WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING

THE LEGAL FIGHT WHAT YOU CAN DO In the U.S., there’s currently a massive campaign against We all know the key to driving safely is to avoid texting while driving. Government agencies like the U.S. distractions and keep our eyes on the road. Department of Transportation and the FCC (Federal By texting while driving, not only are you putting yourself in Communications Commission) have created websites to danger, but you’re putting a long list of innocent people in warn against its many dangers. harm’s way: your passengers, other drivers, their passengers, Even cell phone service providers like AT&T have jumped on and even people on the street. board and created their own websites. These websites have The next time you’re tempted to text while driving, think hard-hitting statistics, articles and videos about the twice about all those you’re putting in danger. dangers of texting at the wheel and the devastating results it can have. Is your text more important than someone else’s life? Or your own? Texting while driving has been a hot-button issue with Congress. Instead, pull off to the side to attend to that text. Better yet, check out our apps for managing texts while you’re on U.S. lawmakers have been busy passing texting while driving the road. bans in over 39 states. However, there isn’t yet a federal law against it. Check out our review of the SuperTooth HD on page The main challenge of the law is enforcing it. That 44 of this issue. It’s a hands-free accessory that pairs means that drivers themselves must change their habits, with your smartphone for safer driving. otherwise stopping texting while driving is an uphill battle.

AT&T DriveMode Free, Skype HHHHH

AT&T has taken a tough stance on driving while texting, going as far as creating its own app for text-addicted drivers. This app looks to stop this deadly habit by allowing you to temporarily limit the features on your phone. This keeps you focused on the road ahead, instead of the screen below. There’s even a feature that turns on auto-replies to texts, emails and calls. However, we experienced some annoying instances when the app turns itself on, even when we weren’t driving.

tXtBlocker $6.99/month, tXtBlocker HHHHH

Similar to AT&T’s app, tXtBlocker blocks incoming texting, as well as calls, while your vehicle is on the road. If your friends or family try to contact you, they’ll receive an automatic message that you’re driving and you’ll reply later. tXtBlocker isn’t just for driving—it comes in handy when you forget to turn off your mobile phone, including at work, school and the movies. It’s important to note that emergency 911 calls are always permitted. Starting at $6.99 for a single user and $9.99 for a family plan, this app may be pricey, but it does a fantastic job. WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING

84 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309-TEXTWAR 6/17/13 1:47 AM Page 85

WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING • WAR AGAINST TEXTING G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W • G N I T X E T T S N I A G A R A W Cellcontrol $89, Cellcontrol HHHHH

This app works with a small device that plugs into your car—it detects motion and stops you from texting and talking. Cellcontrol is the most widely compatible app of its kind. It works on both smartphone and standard mobile phones and it’s extremely accurate. While a lot of the other apps block your phone when you’re a passenger, Cellcontrol, using its DriveID technology, will be able to detect whether you’re actually behind the wheel (due in late 2013). You can fully customize the app to determine exactly what you can and can’t do while driving.

DriveSafe.ly Free, iSpeech.org HHHHH

Instead of totally disabling communication while driving, this unique app actually reads text messages and email aloud in real time. It also lets you use your voice to respond to texts and calls without ever taking your hands off the wheels. Not only does this offer a safer solution, it allows you to be productive even while you’re driving. The app is fully customizable, right down to the gender of the voice of the sender (with the Pro version, $9.99). The free version limits each message read to the first 25 words.

Otter Free, Otter LLC HHHHH

Otter is so much more than a standard texting- while-driving solution. Not only does it keep your eyes on the road (where they belong), it allows you to quickly manage your texts wherever you are. Whether you’re at home, work, or driving on the highway, Otter’s by your side. The app’s unique GPS Mode with auto-reply feature kicks in as soon as your vehicle travels faster than 10 mph, muting those distracting chimes from texts and ring tones. Best of all you can switch between auto and manual mode, so you can quickly respond to urgent texts with a preset message.

Online Resources for More Information Texting & Driving… It Can Wait: itcanwait.com Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving: Distraction.gov Don’t Text and Drive: www.textinganddrivingsafety.com Federal Communications commission: www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 85 APPs_1309-sWiFtKey 6/17/131:50AMPage86 SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE 86 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide to select the word.the select to type type like”“I as such you’rewordsuse,displays to SwiftKey “you.”likely most spacebar the press correct, is word the If With SwiftKey installed, a row above the keyboard appears with 3 suggestions, or predictions. For example, if you Forif example,predictions. or suggestions, 3 with appears keyboard the aboverow a installed, SwiftKey With together.groupedare type. SwiftKey’stype. SwiftKey 4 uses what it calls it what uses 4 SwiftKey be. will phone iPhone freaks jealous, you’ll be amazed at how much faster your keyboard is and just how much smarter your smart- your smarter much how just and is keyboard your faster much how at amazed you’lljealous,be freaks iPhone Well, with the arrival of arrival Well,the with word?eight-letter an of letters seven first use them? What if your smartphone offered up the words it thinks you’re typing, and not just after you’ve typed the you’ve after typed you’rejust thinks not it wordsand typing, the offeredup smartphone your them? if Whatuse What if a smartphone could learn from your typing, which words and phrases you most often use, and when you when and use, often most you phrases and words which typing, your from learn could smartphone a if What KEY(BOARD)IS THE INTELLIGENCE entry. text smartphone of accuracy and speed improveinventedthe to be tohave will way other pening—some hap- that of what’slikelihood the future—and the in bigger gets keypad the cy.Unless greateraccura- with and quicker smartphones our on text We’denter to able be to like all difficult. often is letter precise the hitting so big are fingers our and small are pain. smartphone’sletters Thea our is on keyboard typing us, of manyLet’sfor honest: be By WilliamBonin Androidto switch convinceto you may diehards—this WatchiPhone out

BestKeyboard you’ll ever use you’llever Prediction Engine Prediction , an Android keyboard replacement app that will make even the most diehard most the even make will that app replacementkeyboardAndroid an SwiftKey4, intelligent natural language naturalintelligent not only recognizes the words you’re typing but also understands how wordshow understands you’rewordsalso recognizes the but only not typing is the is technology to suggest words it thinks you’reto thinks it wordstrying suggest to technology APPS_1309-SWIFTKEY 6/17/13 1:50 AM Page 87

SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE E S U R E V E L L ’ U O Y D R A O B Y E K T S E B E H T S I Y E K T F I W S • E S U R E V E L L ’ U O Y D R A O B Y E K T S E B E H T S I Y E K T F I W S

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? LEARNING YOUR WAYS So it knows that “you” is a word that commonly appears SwiftKey learns about your personal writing habits by look- after “like.” So what? What’s the big deal? ing at your text messages, email, Facebook postings and “Predictive typing?” you ask. “Isn’t that just a rehash of the Twitter feed. This is done only with your permission, of lame autocorrect feature that I already have on my smart- course, as part of the Personalization Service. The more of phone that picks the wrong words at the worst times?” your writing style that SwiftKey can examine, the sooner it can start offering user-specific predictions. Nope. Far from it. Autocorrect works by checking words as you type and comparing them to its dictionary. If no match SwiftKey also looks at your typing style and identifies where is found, it offers the closest possibility. But the problem of you most often make mistakes. If you are prone to hitting context is troublesome. the A key when you meant to hit the S key, SwiftKey learrns that and takes it into consideration in the future. If you typed “unicfrom” did you actually mean “uniform” or did you mean “unicorn”? This is when autocorrect leads to You’ll also find that many times you can let SwiftKey do all mirth and merriment or horrific red-faced embarrassment. the writing for you, even if it’s not exactly what you planned. If you intended to text “I am leaving now” but instead decide to just follow where SwiftKey leads you, you end up with “I am on the way to your house.” Same meaning and certainly less typing, correct?

< The SwiftKey suggestions appear above the regular keyboard while you type.

SwiftKey and Me SwiftKey rapidly learned how to work with my typing habits by checking out messages I created. For example: when I compose a text message or email using SwitfKey, two of the choices I’m offered are “Hey” and “I.” I realized that when I start an online conversation, I almost always start with “hey” rather than “hello.” And when I respond to someone’s emails or text messages, I usually start with “I.” SwiftKey learned from my writing habits to offer custom predictions. When I was exchanging text messages with a friend who gave me a book recommendation I intended to write, “Always on the lookout for a good book.” I started to write “always” and at “alw” I was shown “always.” Great, that’s my word, so I hit the space key to autocomplete. “On” was the next word offered and that’s my next word, so space again, and once again when “the” is offered. That’s 6 keystrokes on my part to enter 14 characters. So far, so good. When I typed “lo” I was offered “lookout”—amazing! And then the next two words predicted were “for” and “a.” That means that SwiftKey quickly sorted out what I was intending to write because it understands how the phrase “on the lookout” is most commonly used.

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SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE

GO WITH THE FLOW Another feature new to SwiftKey—that’s been available for a while in other products—is the concept of Flow. Flow gives you the ability to drag your finger around the keyboard from letter to letter to type words. If you’ve never used flow-style keyboard entry, often referred to as swiping, you’re probably going to find it rather strange at first. Rather than type each character in a word individually (as in f, then l, then o, then w), you drag your finger over the letters in succession without lifting it from the screen. You’ll not only be amazed at how fast you can enter words using Flow but at how forgiving SwiftKey is when it comes to interpreting your swipes. With Flow, you can forget about using the spacebar between words—SwiftKey figures out where one word ends and the next starts. Swipe style typing is so fun and natural that I often find when I’m using an iPad or an iPhone I immediately start trying to flow around the keyboard! Caveat: SwiftKey’s addition of Flow seems a bit superfluous since it’s harder to select a suggested word when you’re swiping, and the prediction engine is so good that the Flow feature almost seems unnecessary. After all, when your next word is shown as a suggestion before you even type a letter, who needs swiping? Nevertheless, it’s a nice to have and I find that I still use it quite frequently. A NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT SwiftKey continually notifies you of how much it’s improving your typing experience. SwiftKey Stats tracks your efficiency (36% more efficient in my case), keystrokes saved (14,398!), typos corrected (4,074) and my favorite of all, distance flowed—a measure of how far your finger has travelled when using Flow (66 meters). SwiftKey 4 typically sells for $3.99 (www.swiftkey.net). While you may balk at paying for a keyboard—after all, a free keyboard came with the phone—ask yourself this: Will your free keyboard ever learn all about your verbal and stylistic idiosyncrasies? And will it actually improve your texting?

When using the Flow feature, you drag your finger from letter to letter without lifting it from the screen.> SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE • SWIFTKEY IS THE BEST KEYBOARD YOU’LL EVER USE

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LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L

LIGHTS! CAMERA! Create bite-sized video masterpiecesApps and become a short-attention span Spielberg By Sean Kavanagh ! Andy Warhol declared that everyone would be famous for 15 minutes, but even he might be impressed at how social media and smartphone apps provide a platform that barely needs 15 seconds to propel people to stardom. These micro video apps demonstrate how restrictions, like short time limits, can inspire creativity and communication.

Vine Free, Vine Labs, Inc. HHHHH

If you have trouble getting through a YouTube video without jumping ahead on its timeline, Vine is the perfect video platform for you as all its videos are six seconds or less. That may not sound like much time to get creative, but explore the network’s “Vines” and you’ll find everything from laugh-out-loud time-wasters to elaborate multi-shot scripted clips. Shooting a Vine is a breeze. Simply press and hold on a device’s touchscreen to capture video. Finished clips play in loops similar to an animated GIF, which can then be shared with Facebook, Twitter, and Vine’s own social platform, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Instagram. One gripe: uploads can’t be queued, which prevents shooting multiple videos when a connection is unavailable. Vine wasn’t the first player in the micro-video app niche, but it’s the current leader thanks in large part to being owned by Twitter.

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Viddy Free, Viddy, Inc. HHHHH

If you think of Vine as the “Twitter of YouTube” then Viddy is its Instagram. Viddy helps users put a personal stamp on their creations using stylized filters, much like the popular snapshot app. It also lets users tweak frame rates and includes a library of music snippets to enhance a clip’s mood with a soundtrack. Compared to Vines, Viddy’s seem like sprawling epics thanks to a generous 30-second cap (recently upped from 15 seconds). In addition to capturing video, Viddy lets users upload existing clips. Video can be trimmed after recording, which is especially helpful given the “Did it start?” lag that often plagues phone video. Viddy began life as an iOS app, and that platform has a slight edge in terms of feature and interface polish. Blackberry users try: Snipper by Serramedia BV, free.

Cinemagram Free, Cinemagram Inc. HHHHH

Capture the world around you on video and transform your clips into “cines” that are surreal and sublime. This app sets itself apart by letting users freeze an image and selectively animate portions of it. A host of special effect options lets users manipulate the laws of time and space in clips. Users can change playback speed and alter the video direction. But the most impressive effect comes courtesy of the Mask options, which lets users selectively freeze portions of the screen while allowing other parts of the video to continue playing. For example, reflections or shadows can move independently of a person or leaves can fall in slow motion while jumping children appear frozen in time. Cinemagram also lets you apply graphic filters to the continuously looping 4-second recordings. It can take a while to get the hang of the effect options, but the results are worth the effort. Once again, the iOS version’s features and interface are superior to Android’s.

Snapchat Free, Snapchat, Inc. HHHHH

You won’t have to worry about files cluttering your friend’s phone storage with this video-sharing app. All the photos and video you take with Snapchat are set to self-destruct after the time limit you specify. Just shoot the subject, choose the number of seconds the clip or photo can be viewed, and send it off to a contact in your Friends list. As soon as a friend clicks on the notification message for your masterpiece, the countdown starts. When it hits zero… POOF! It’s gone. Snapchat has gained a certain amount of notoriety for being linked to sexting due to the disposable nature of the content. The most disturbing accounts revolve around teens, but the truth is that most are probably just goofing off and sharing funny moments with friends. If you are entertaining thoughts that veer into Snapchat’s seedier side, heed this warning—even though your message may disappear, recipients have the ability to grab a screenshot during playback. The app will try to let you know when this occurs, but by that point you may be on your way to being famous for the wrong reasons. LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS!

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LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! • LIGHTS! CAMERA! APPS! ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L • ! S P P A ! A R E M A C ! S T H G I L Facebook Poke Free, Facebook, Inc. HHHHH

What do you get when you marry Snapchat with one of Facebook’s most ridiculed features? Facebook Poke. This app lets users send disposable video, photos, text messages, and nostalgic “poke” notifications to Facebook friends. Although it integrates with users’ Friends lists, recipients can only view the messages using the phone app. As with Snapchat, remember that recipients can take screenshots of content before it expires, so think twice before sending anything racy or potentially incriminating. Facebook Poke’s biggest advantage over its inspiration may simply be that it isn’t Snapchat, sidestepping that app’s image perception problems and potentially making it less creepy when you ask if a friend is using it. The one downside: it’s limited to the iOS platform.

Vyclone Free, Vyclone Inc. HHHHH

Social sharing is a key component of video apps, but usually it just involves making completed projects public on social networks. Vyclone integrates social features right into the content creation process by giving multiple users a way to collaborate and combine their individual videos of the same event. It offers a unique way to preserve an event from different views, perfect for gatherings like weddings, graduations, concerts, and sporting events. Only clips from the same location and time can be synced and users can see the number of other users who are logged-in nearby when shooting footage. Although the app doesn’t allow clip deletion, it does let users control what’s public. Users who are more enamored with editing than being behind the camera can also remix other people’s projects, making Vyclone a truly social platform. In addition to the app’s functionality, the Vyclone.com website provides online editing tools where users can fine tune their masterpieces.

CineBeat Free, Smule HHHHH

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a singing sensation? You might be well on your way to living out your superstar fantasies when you showcase your talents with this fun music video creator. Simply record up to 15 seconds of singing or speaking and CineBeat adds a soundtrack and auto-tunes your vocals to pop perfection. After applying visual filters to your video, post it to your social networks and wait for the talent agents to start calling. Just don’t forget who your friends are when you make it big. The free version of CineBeat comes with just a few visual and sound effects, but once you get a taste you’ll be tempted to purchase more filters or expanded clip time within the app.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 91 APPS_1309-SOCIAL 6/17/131:53AMPage92 TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA • TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA 92 AKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA • T A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K TA • A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K TA ordered. We found several apps that make following and creating the latest social buzz a snap.a buzz social latest the creating and followingordered. make that apps Weseveralfound doctor the what be just might app management media social A happenings.latest the all with Facebook,up it’skeep toon, Twitter,challenging so and Pinterest, Google+ LinkedIn, you’re activities, Between alone.social not online you’reyour byIf overwhelmed feeling Cooper Sean By more and posts pins, updates,tweets,statusorganize to Apps TAKE Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide has a smaller screen. You can even filter tweets by keyword, so you only see the tweets you want to see. to want you tweets the see only you screen.so keyword, smaller by Youa tweets filterhas even can bookmarks in an instant. The ability to view thumbnails of photo tweets is a great feature, especially if your phone your if feature,greatespecially a is tweets photo of thumbnails view to instant. ability an The in bookmarks overload. It’s a simple way to get the most out of updateTwitter.out todream—finger-swipe most a the like get works to way interface simple overload.It’sThe a

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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA • TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K A T • A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K A T

Tweetings for Twitter $1.99, RBD Solutions Limited HHHHH

Tweetings for Twitter was designed with Twitter-aholics (is that even a word?) in mind. Although it looks fine on phablets and standard smartphones, the app really shines on large-screen smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4. WiFi support means tweets are up to the second. And never forget to send an important tweet again; this app lets you schedule tweets for a future date and time. It also takes the pain out of the 140 character limit by splicing tweets.

HootSuite for Twitter & Facebook Free, HootSuite HHHHH

HootSuite is your one-stop shop social media management app. Monitor and manage Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn from one powerful app. Similar to Tweetings for Twitter, you can schedule tweets and Facebook status updates for later. That’s not all. You can upload and share photos, receive notifications, and monitor keywords of your choosing. HootSuite’s simple yet powerful interface makes managing your online social life easy. The app is fully integrated with the HootSuite website’s features— seamlessly import an existing account to get started. HootSuite is a great way to build a following and share with the world wherever you are. Windows Mobile users try: Rowi Lite by Hidden Pineapple, LLC, Free

UberSocial Free, UberMedia Inc. HHHHH

This is the jack-of-all trades social media management app you’ve been waiting for. UberSocial is fully loaded with features that put the official Twitter app to shame. You won’t miss Tweets from your best friends with Inner Circle. Are you tired of hearing the latest celebrity scandal? Mute allows you to block individual hashtags and users for as long as you like. You can manage all your social media accounts and schedule tweets for later. Although it’s a great app, it would be nice to have more features for Facebook other than cross-posting, liking and viewing status updates.

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Buffer Free, Buffer HHHHH

Social media is all about sharing. Buffer makes it easier to share on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and App.net. Similar to news apps like Flipboard and Feedly, Buffer goes the extra mile by offering Twitter analytics and Facebook insights with the ability to click, retweet, comment and like. Sharing is made easy—when you find something you like, simply add it to your Buffer queue. Schedule your content to go live when the time is right. Social media is much easier thanks to Buffer.

TweetCaster for Twitter Free, OneLouder Apps HHHHH

With so many wonderful Twitter apps to choose from, what’s a smartphone user to do? TweetCaster is the highest rated Twitter app for good reason. Its easy-to-use, attractive interface makes navigating Twitter a snap. Not only is this app reliable, it’s ultra-fast and there are a host of amazing features at your disposal. For instance, Search Party lets you search your own timeline, and Photo Effects enhances your images with cool effects before you upload them for the world to admire. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA • TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA • TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K A T • A I D E M L A I C O S R U O Y F O L O R T N O C E K A T

TweeterLight Free, Pilchie HHHHH

Finding a decent Twitter app for Windows Phone is like finding a needle in a haystack, but the search is finally over. TweeterLight is an enhanced version of the official Twitter app. It includes a slew of amazing features, including themes, twitpic uploads, and geolocation. All your latest feeds are automatically updated on startup, so there’s no need to constantly refresh, and new tweets are highlighted for easy reading. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the other apps we’ve mentioned, but it does the job for Windows users.

Scope Free, Scope HHHHH

With Scope, you’ll be the talk of the town. It’s your social hub and an easy way to manage your social life. Manage accounts from all your favorite websites including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, Tumblr and Reddit. The app takes the magic of Flipboard and uses it to enhance social media. One-click sharing makes communicating with your friends a breeze. All your favorite features such as liking, commenting and more are here. The only downsides are that the app sometimes suffers from slow connections and you can’t register multiple accounts.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 95 APPS_1309-REALESTATE 6/17/131:53AMPage96 TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS • TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS • TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS • TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS 96 A A A S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T • S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T • S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T 5 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps Phone Beckett’sto Guide TOP desired neighborhood comes up for sale.for up comes neighborhood desired make you the first to know when a home in your in home a when know to first the you make alerts push and use to easy is agents. to interface The scoop with exclusive information usually available only available usually exclusiveinformation with scoop inside the offers Redfin as dark Youthe in won’t left be available.alwaysare listings current them; isn’tof one Redfin data, stale fromsuffer apps aggregating some Whileservice). listing (multiple MLS the from directly the go. Redfin is the only app that lets you view listings view you lets that app only the is go.Redfin the meet your criteria. criteria. your You’remeet you.for that’s one perfect the find to sure that homes to directly you steer can apps these when house after house through walking easier.lot time Don’tyoura waste home dream yourfor search the make that apps new longer.no of consuming,but plenty time areThere and tedious be to used hunting House Cooper Sean By apps smartphone these with home a buying about smart Get

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TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS • TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS • TOP 5 REAL ESTATE APPS A A A A S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T • S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T • S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T • S P P A E TAT S E L A E R 5 P O T

Zillow Real Estate Free, Zillow HHHHH

Zillow instantly delivers the newest home listings to your mobile device. If you’re looking to score a deal, be sure to browse the foreclosures and for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) listings. Receive only notifications for the properties that matter to you by using Zillow’s filters to customize your search based on price, neighborhood and your chosen keywords. Push notifications ensure you’re always in the know. Find out when new listings are available or when houses drop in price. And little beats the convenience of being able to book an appointment to view a house without picking up the phone.

realtor.com real estate - homes Free, Move, Inc. HHHHH

If your home buying is ultra-competitive, get a leg up on the competition with the app that realtors are using. Quickly search for houses by browsing individual listings or zoom in on your desired neighborhood with the handy map. Search for homes by school district—a must-have for parents. Property listings include everything you’ll need, including property tax, price history and number of bedrooms. Area Scout is a unique feature to this app and it lets you view property results and track average home values in different neighborhoods.

Real Estate & Homes by Trulia Free, Trulia HHHHH

Trulia is a simple, yet powerful real estate app certain to help you find your next house. Using GPS, the app determines your location and shows you houses for sale in your vicinity. Properties come to life through high-resolution photo galleries. Trulia is a great app for bargain hunters. A tap on the screen lets you instantly know properties that have had their prices recently slashed. This app has the same great push alerts you’d expect from other real estate apps, including the latest new listings.

Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps 97 APPS_1309-APPLAUGHS 6/17/13 1:55 AM Page 98 APP LAUGHS By Andy Broome

“ I have to have the biggest phone so people know how important I am.”

“ Fine. We will try your Google maps. ”

“ These aren’t the ‘droids you are looking for. ”

98 Beckett’s Guide to Phone Apps APPS_1309_C3 6/24/13 1:59 PM Page C3

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The Latest Apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Tablets. Smartphone Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier. Hot Free Games and Apps. Product Reviews, Tech News, and Much More!

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