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Welcome to the newest iOS Apps Megathread. Thanks to Mr EFord for the previous incarnation of this thread, from which I cribbed a lot of this OP's text. Once again this your one-stop-shop for NON-GAMING things related to the App Store. For general iPhone questions please go here and for iOS game related things in general please go here. Thanks! I don’t know what an app is. Help! In case you are serious: Apps, short for “applications,” are programs that you can download from an online store run by Apple, aptly named the “App Store,” for various prices. An App can do any number of things - weather forecasts, browse the web, take and save notes, or even be simple games for you to play. However, there’s a lot of cruft in the App Store, you should not be arsed to try every single note-taking App on the store to find the one that suits your purposes, especially if some of them cost money to purchase. This thread is meant to help you find apps specific to your needs and generally inform fellow goons about exemplary apps that might have otherwise slipped your notice. How do I check out the App Store? Easy, check it out via iTunes or on your iPhone by clicking/tapping the App Store program. Note: In case you're wondering, you CAN use iTunes gift cards/certificates for purchasing Apps, the same as you can use the credit for buying songs, movies, and TV shows. You can also redeem free codes/gift cards straight from your iPhone by finding the redeem selection under the Categories tab, scroll to the bottom and tap “Redeem.” How do I download an app As easy as clicking on a button, putting in your iTunes Account password, and watching it download. On iTunes, the app will download and sync the next time you connect your device, while downloading through the App Store will put the App and a status bar one of your home screens (you may need to swipe to a later page to find it!) so you can see it download. If you need to pause the download, simply tap on the shadowed icon of the App. Keep in mind that some apps will add options at the bottom of the iPhone Settings App so check there if you're looking for a preference. How much? A lot of apps are currently free, with prices seeming to range from $5.00 to $20.00 for most Apps. There are a few specialized Apps that go for as high as $65.00. We already know that some apps (like the MLB one) "expire" after a certain time and you may have to buy a new one in a quasi subscription manner. There's also a HUGE market for the .99 App with many games and small utilities either having a permanent .99 price, or flexing between various prices and $.99. It's also a good idea to note that there are a lot of duplicate Apps offering the same feature set, with some being free and some charging some amount. It's a good idea to look around and see if there's a free alternative before buying something else that charges for the same thing (assuming the free one is actually good). In addition, we've already seen some authors change apps from Free to paid and vice versa, so make sure you're paying attention so you don't get shafted. Finally, Apple has changed the App Store review system to allow only purchasers of the App to rate it. That means that Apps should be a bit more reliable with their review ratings, although there is some argument as to whether folks that buy an app will instinctively give it a higher rating (because they paid money for it). In addition, Apple allows you to instantly rate an App when you delete it from your iPhone/Touch, which has led to a sharp increase in ratings from those reviews (typically lower scores in general) without any written reviews to backup the score. In any case, reading the written reviews and not just focusing on the aggregate should give you a decent idea of what the program is like. The vast majority of iPhone App reviewers are dumb as a rock. So make sure you actually read the reviews sometimes instead of looking at the aggregate. ("I LOVE THIS PROGRAM IT'S THE BEST EVER. ONE STAR!!!!) What about Jailbreaking/Jailbroken Apps? Any discussion on Apps that only work on jailbroken iPhones or on the process of jailbreaking or posting crappy Winterboard themes e.t.c. should be in the iOS Jailbreaking Thread. This thread is for talking about Official App Store programs and the like. Administrivia If you have anything to add or want to point out something I missed adding from the previous thread, post or PM me and I'll fix it as soon as I can. Thirst Mutilator fucked around with this message at 16:50 on Jul 12, 2014 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 12:47 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 13:56 |
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To pre-empt recommendations, I'll start with an website I'd argue is required, whether you're new to apps or a frequent customer: Appshopper. AppShopper lets you mark and monitor any App you're interested in on the App Store, and it can notify you if an App you're interested in ever drops in price. Used to be a native iOS App for the website, but Apple removed it. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS (All links go to AppShopper) Calendars
Web Browser
Chat
Native Applications for Web Apps/Services A lot of big web services like the ones below offer mobile versions of their Desktop websites, ie Yelp, but they also offer a separate app "native" to iOS - these apps are generally much more responsive and fully fleshed out than their mobile counterparts.
Entertainment
Utilities and Miscellaneous (/To be sorted)
GOON RECOMMENDATIONS bazaar apparatus posted:Twitterrific 5 - Latest edition of the popular Twitter client that invented the idea of posts being called 'tweets' and I think they also were the first to use bird imagery in their icon. Anyway, this is the only client around right now that has me thinking about switching away from Tweetbot. maduin posted:Languages - This is a really cheap ($.99) offline translation application that also looks good. Red posted:USB Disk - There's a free version and a great paid version with many perks. It's a great way to store documents/pictures/etc. in one place for easy access and review. I usually keep a few handy things on it, like various references and directions on my work phone, or some articles to read on my personal phone. timb posted:Weather While not a native iOS app, IFTTT is a service that pairs really well with smartphones in general. Here's a quick write-up and explanation courtesy of bazaar apparatus: bazaar apparatus posted:Essentially, IFTTT is tied into the APIs of about 60 websites and apps, which they refer to as 'channels'. Evernote is a channel, Dropbox is a channel, Twitter is a channel, RSS is a channel, etc. FAQ Your list sucks. You call yourself an App afficianado? You bandwagoner. Show me otherwise then - let me know if I missed an app you think truly deserves a spot up on the OP, and why. I know I've left out a lot of categories, so help a goon out. Important Tidbits, Parting Words Giving iTunes direct links to Apps is great and encouraged, but please give the title of the app and/or a description of what you're linking to for those of us that may not have iTunes on our work computers. Even better, use a service like AppShopper which is basically a mirror of the iTunes App Store. Not too much of an issue anymore since the iTunes Store has a web portal, but keep it in mind. All App Store purchases will charge you tax based on where you live according to your iTunes account. Don't shed tears when your .99c purchase on the App Store ends up costing you 9c extra, you 1%er. If you can, always try before you buy. If an app features a lite version for you to give a test run, there's really no harm in downloading that first in order to see what you could be buying into. This also applies to checking if an app is Universal, or designed with both iPhones/Touches and iPad (Mini) in mind. You can tell if an App is universal by the + sign on the price button in the App Store Thirst Mutilator fucked around with this message at 08:01 on Jan 14, 2014 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 12:48 |
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Replying from the old thread....Star War Sex Parrot posted:Turn-by-turn doesn't look as good to me as Apple's Maps, though the voice is more intelligible than Siri's. The performance isn't as good Apple's vector stuff either. I think it looks much better. Apple maps turn-by-turn just looks like a brown wasteland. Shame they haven't done roundabouts right. Does anybody know if it automatically goes into nightmode? Guess I'll find out for myself in a few hours.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 13:48 |
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Is there a cheap/free calculator app that keeps lines of calculation history like a graphing calculator? And preferably starts up quickly. I don't really care either way about other fancy calculation features since I can do calculus and things on wolfram alpha.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 18:25 |
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Fortuitous Bumble posted:Is there a cheap/free calculator app that keeps lines of calculation history like a graphing calculator? And preferably starts up quickly. I don't really care either way about other fancy calculation features since I can do calculus and things on wolfram alpha. Calcbot is probably what you're looking for (look at screenshot 3 for reference).
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 18:30 |
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Pissflaps posted:Does anybody know if it automatically goes into nightmode? Guess I'll find out for myself in a few hours.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 18:31 |
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Pissflaps posted:Replying from the old thread.... Google Maps still seems to be struggling with legibility - the black text on satellite maps is way too hard to read.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 18:44 |
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Some apps I like but didn't see in the OP (including a few plugs for my own site, hope no one minds): Twitterrific 5 - Latest edition of the popular Twitter client that invented the idea of posts being called 'tweets' and I think they also were the first to use bird imagery in their icon. Anyway, this is the only client around right now that has me thinking about switching away from Tweetbot. Drafts - Great app for quickly jotting down ideas in text form, and can be sent to any number of places like Evernote, Twitter, Dropbox, other text editor apps, Reminders, Clear, Fantastical, and a bunch more I'm forgetting. My review. Clear - Awesome to-do list app. There are no buttons on-screen, everything is controlled by gestures, and it's very pretty. Instacast - My favorite podcast manager, and I've tried them all, including Downcast and Pocket Casts. Instapaper - I would find it hard to believe if anybody around here hasn't heard of Instapaper, but just in case, it's a service that allows you to save articles offline for reading later. It reformats them as well, making the reading experience so much better than if you were just viewing the article on its original website. Hueless - Superb photography app that lets you shoot in monochrome. It's not just applying a black-and-white filter, it's the real deal. I wrote up a review with a bunch of example photos a while back. Flickr - The latest update to this app is really nice. They took on some Instagram-like features (including optional filters) but it's still very much Flickr's thing and I like it a lot.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 18:57 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:Some apps I like but didn't see in the OP (including a few plugs for my own site, hope no one minds): I'll add these when I'm at an actual computer, all good recommendations.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:02 |
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A few more application suggestions, maybe: Languages - This is a really cheap ($.99) offline translation application that also looks good. Due - My favorite reminder app. It's $4.99, and not quite as creative as Clear, but really straight forward and cleanly designed. There's also a Mac app that syncs with it. Check the Weather - My favorite weather app at the moment. It's fully featured and well-designed. It also has Dark Sky's short-term weather radar built into the app. ($1.99) Recall - This is an app for jotting down movie, tv, and music (among other things) recommendations. ($2.99) Squarespace Note - Really nicely designed, gesture driven note taking app. Syncs with Dropbox, Evernote, Squarespace, or other services. It's also free. Launch Center Pro - This app is a bit hard to explain. It's sort of like a springboard inside of your springboard. You can create a ton of shortcuts for things like calling/texting/emailing a certain person or opening apps to perform certain actions. Disclaimer: I feel like this should be ridiculously useful, but I have a hard time remembering to use it. ($4.99) Edit: Handoff is a pretty useful app as well. It uses a browser extension to send pages from your Mac or PC to your iOS device. Delivery Status - If you buy a lot of stuff online, Star Wars Sex Parrot pretty much demands that you buy and use this. Articles - This is the universal version (an iPhone only version is available for $2.99), but this is the best (subjective) Wikipedia app for iOS out there. It just looks great. maduin fucked around with this message at 19:13 on Dec 13, 2012 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:07 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:Clear - Awesome to-do list app. There are no buttons on-screen, everything is controlled by gestures, and it's very pretty. Just want to chime in here and say clear is really great and totally worth the money. Pilfered Pallbearers fucked around with this message at 19:09 on Dec 13, 2012 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:07 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:Twitterrific 5 - Latest edition of the popular Twitter client that invented the idea of posts being called 'tweets' and I think they also were the first to use bird imagery in their icon. Anyway, this is the only client around right now that has me thinking about switching away from Tweetbot. It really is fantastic. I've been using it instead of Tweetbot since it was released and I might actually stick with it.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:07 |
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From the last thread:Happy Noodle Boy posted:All right so I have my gmail account set as an exchange account (as shown here). However I just noticed my device is no longer sending to trash things I delete in my phone and is simply archiving poo poo instead. No biggie, I remember I need to enable that in http://m.google.com/sync (also shown on the earlier link). I had this exact problem when I got my new iPhone 5 this week. You have to go to this url, then sign into Google as normal. Jerks must have changed it when they released the new GMail app.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:33 |
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Here are a few apps I dig, and thought I could share... USB Disk - There's a free version and a great paid version with many perks. It's a great way to store documents/pictures/etc. in one place for easy access and review. I usually keep a few handy things on it, like various references and directions on my work phone, or some articles to read on my personal phone. iconclock - A free clock app that looks like the classic Apple clock. It's neat and free. Genius Scan - Scan and turn pictures into PDF documents (or JPGs). Free and paid versions. White Noise - Best White Noise app I've found, and you can get additional paid/free noises. IT HAS FROGS, FROGS! PaperKarma - Take a picture of your junk mail, submit it, and you'll never get that crap in the mail again. Free. Red fucked around with this message at 19:44 on Dec 13, 2012 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:36 |
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If anyone reads the OP after about a week my mind will be completely blown.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:40 |
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I have an app on my iPad that I wanted to put on my new iPhone but apparently it was pulled from the app store and isn't coming back. Is there a way to move the app from my iPad to my iPhone?
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:49 |
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Sync with iTunes?
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:52 |
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FCKGW posted:I have an app on my iPad that I wanted to put on my new iPhone but apparently it was pulled from the app store and isn't coming back. Is there a way to move the app from my iPad to my iPhone? Are you sure it's an app that's not iPad only?
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 19:53 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:Twitterrific 5 - Latest edition of the popular Twitter client that invented the idea of posts being called 'tweets' and I think they also were the first to use bird imagery in their icon. Anyway, this is the only client around right now that has me thinking about switching away from Tweetbot. Tried it out when it relaunched and I really like it. Streaming, Push and Trends are needed before I consider using it as my daily driver though. bazaar apparatus posted:Drafts - Great app for quickly jotting down ideas in text form, and can be sent to any number of places like Evernote, Twitter, Dropbox, other text editor apps, Reminders, Clear, Fantastical, and a bunch more I'm forgetting. My review. Thanks for recommending this. Your taste and blog are once again fantastic.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 20:05 |
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Is there really no way to change which sounds third-party apps use for notifications? One of my games uses the same tone as texts, and I'd like to keep the sound notification but not if I think I have a new text every time.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 20:12 |
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Chuck Bartowski posted:Tried it out when it relaunched and I really like it. Streaming, Push and Trends are needed before I consider using it as my daily driver though. From what I've heard, the developers specifically left out options like these because they intended it to be more of a casual Twitter experience rather than one for Power Users™. They were trying to make a statement that software should be opinionated, not just a list of all the same features as [x app]. I kinda like them for that. But thank you for the compliment on my blog. I've been working hard on it
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 20:25 |
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Red posted:Are you sure it's an app that's not iPad only? No, the developer said the app was pulled. Wario In Real Life posted:Sync with iTunes? I've never had a reason to sync the iPad to iTunes so that will probably work. Thanks.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:02 |
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I have a question about Delivery Status Touch: You have to manually add tracking numbers, right? I'm assuming there's not some master Amazon API or something that would allow things to be added immediately when you order them..
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:32 |
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Legs Benedict posted:I have a question about Delivery Status Touch: You have to manually add tracking numbers, right? I'm assuming there's not some master Amazon API or something that would allow things to be added immediately when you order them..
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:42 |
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1Password 4 is out, $7.99.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:43 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:From what I've heard, the developers specifically left out options like these because they intended it to be more of a casual Twitter experience rather than one for Power Users™. They were trying to make a statement that software should be opinionated, not just a list of all the same features as [x app]. I kinda like them for that. I can respect them for that and it's certainly my go-to when I just want something quick and interesting to do for two minutes but Trends are kind of a fundamental part of Twitter, even if the majority are poo poo. Streaming wouldn't go amiss but I can live without push. The auto dark mode is great as are the animations and font. I certainly don't regret purchasing it. No problem
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:48 |
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Star War Sex Parrot posted:Nope, but merely opening the app with a tracking number in your clipboard will prompt you to add it. Whoaaaa poo poo. I am totally reinstalling it then. Thanks!
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 21:52 |
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Happy Noodle Boy posted:1Password 4 is out, $7.99. I've been interested in starting to use one of these services. Do you have to pay a fee to start using this before the app? Then do you have to buy the app for each computer you use too (or at least a Mac license and a PC license)?
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:13 |
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IUG posted:I've been interested in starting to use one of these services. Do you have to pay a fee to start using this before the app? Then do you have to buy the app for each computer you use too (or at least a Mac license and a PC license)? There's no overall fee to use the service, but you will have to pay for licenses to use each version (iOS, Mac, PC). It's not cheap but it's been worth every penny I've spent so far.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:15 |
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I don't like the idea of paying fat money for a bunch of password clients when stuff like KeePass is on every platform already (and for the average cost of $0).
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:19 |
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IUG posted:I've been interested in starting to use one of these services. Do you have to pay a fee to start using this before the app? Then do you have to buy the app for each computer you use too (or at least a Mac license and a PC license)? https://agilebits.com/store Mac/PC licence is pretty pricey. I use LastPass personally.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:20 |
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Diabolik900 posted:There's no overall fee to use the service, but you will have to pay for licenses to use each version (iOS, Mac, PC). It's not cheap but it's been worth every penny I've spent so far. I can't find it on their site, but is the Windows/Mac key good for one computer each? I have a Mac Laptop, and a Windows 7 computer at home and a Windows 7 computer at work. I would love to use this, but if that means 3 keys instead of 2, I might have to shy away.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:25 |
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IUG posted:I can't find it on their site, but is the Windows/Mac key good for one computer each? I have a Mac Laptop, and a Windows 7 computer at home and a Windows 7 computer at work. I would love to use this, but if that means 3 keys instead of 2, I might have to shy away. http://help.agilebits.com/1Password_Windows/how_many_licenses.html
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:28 |
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Sounds good, thanks for all the advice everyone. They're more clear on this working for multiple Macs since it's through the iTunes store, but wanted to make sure. I figure with a dual OS license and the iPhone app, I should be fully covered. Might as well not half-rear end it.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:31 |
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Weather Dark Sky - Amazing weather app that will send you a push notification a few minutes before it starts raining in your exact location. It's actually really accurate; I don't think it's ever missed for me. Partly Cloudy - Really unique forecast app that displays temperature and precipitation forecasts by rotating a dial. RadarScope - This is the de facto weather radar app. Easy to use, full featured and fast. Social Avocado - This is like Facebook for you and YOUR GIRLFRIEND. Share pictures, texts, lists, appointments and even hugs and kisses with your SO in this slick little app. Tapatalk - Forum browser that supports a ton of phpBB and vBulletin based sites. Misc. iStat - New version 2.0! Remote monitoring app for Linux, Mac and Windows based systems. Just install the daemon and connect with the iStat app to see a whole host of real time stats and graphs. Also shows iPhone stats including memory, CPU, network and storage. Scanner Pro - The best non-OCR scanner app on the store. Fast, full featured and flexible! DropBox, Google Drive, Evernote and WebDav support along with a built in web server and iCloud syncing. You can also IAP faxing, which is a bit on the expensive side but not bad if you rarely fax things. (It's saved my rear end a few times when I was out and absolutely HAD to fax a contract right the gently caress now.) iTeleport - Hands down the best VNC/RDP app out there. Camera+ - Tons of camera enhancements in this app. Separate focal and exposure points, always on lighting option, gyroscope based leveling
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:31 |
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benisntfunny posted:If anyone reads the OP after about a week my mind will be completely blown. I'd like to think it'd outlive that, but I understand if it doesn't. I'll be doing my best to update it prior to Christmas though, since I figure that's when the iTunes gift cards and iDevices will land in the hands of a many. OP updated. For the time being I've just inserted quoted people with good app recommendations in the OP, if anyone has a better idea of how to represent your recommendations I'm all ears. My plan is to monitor the thread, and if any particular app recommended by someone gets a lot of praise, I'll move it into the general recommendations section.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:33 |
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timb posted:Camera+ - Tons of camera enhancements in this app. Separate focal and exposure points, always on lighting option, gyroscope based leveling I used to use Camera+ exclusively for all my iPhone picture taking needs until I got Snapseed on sale one day. I haven't used Camera+ since.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 22:46 |
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Rageaholic Monkey posted:I used to use Camera+ exclusively for all my iPhone picture taking needs until I got Snapseed on sale one day. Snapseed and Camera+ are completely different types of applications though. Camera+ is great for actually taking pictures. It allows you to set separate exposure and focus points quickly and easily, it has a bar in the center that tilts via the gyroscope to let you know when you're level, it's also got a flash function that keeps the LED on constantly providing constant foreground illumination. In addition to all this it does have post processing tools, but they're nowhere near as good as Snapseed. I shoot in Camera+ and edit in Snapseed or iPhoto.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 23:20 |
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bazaar apparatus posted:Instacast - My favorite podcast manager, and I've tried them all, including Downcast and Pocket Casts. Is the new version of this worth purchasing? I was really bothered to see that the new version is a new $5 app. Somehow, I doubt that the new version will have better performance on my aging iPhone 4 :I They also took the old version off the app store, so to redownload it I have to hunt through my ridiculously long "Purchased" list abraham linksys fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Dec 13, 2012 |
# ? Dec 13, 2012 23:26 |
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# ? May 11, 2024 13:56 |
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Facebook has been updated. Boasts a rebuilt timeline and the ability to add photos into an album when uploading. If you'd have told me this time last year the IOS Facebook app would ever be good I'd have laughed but it's really rather great since the last few updates.
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# ? Dec 13, 2012 23:34 |