Half the games in Windows Marketplace’s top ten games chart can’t be downloaded onto the Nokia Lumia 610.

After a Spanish Windows Phone blog revealed that along with Skype, both Angry Birds and football classic PES 2012 could not be installed on to the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango handset, Pocket-lint began investigating further.

To our surprise, a further three titles from the top ten games chart; Pac-Man Kart Rally, Monopoly and Sid Meiers Pirates, could not be downloaded to our Nokia Lumia 610 device.

What’s more, expand the parameters to the top 20 and again we were unable to install Plants vs. Zombies, Assassin’s Creed and NFS: Hot Pursuit. This means a total of 8 games in the current top 20 are not compatible with the Nokia Lumia 610.?

Other high profile apps we’ve noticed that aren’t compatible with the Nokia Lumia 610 are The Sims 3 and Tango, the free video calling app.

However, before we start hitting Windows Phone, Nokia, or both, with a proverbial stick, this situation is surely temporary and will change as app developers make the odd tweak here and there before resubmitting their apps to the Marketplace.

At least we hope so. The BBC recently confirmed to Pocket-lint that there were no plans to bring a native BBC iPlayer app to the Windows Phone platform, despite Nokia saying one was on its way.

Read

Tags: Apps Phones Nokia Nokia Lumia 610 Windows Marketplace Windows Phone games

Nokia Lumia 610: Five out of top 10 games won't work originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 May 2012 17:25:00 +0100

Take That star and X Factor judge Gary Barlow can now be seen as a 3D augmented-reality figurine by pointing a mobile device at a special-edition Jubilee issue of Hello! magazine.?

The Hello! 3D app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablet devices.

Once downloaded users can point their mobile camera towards the front cover before seeing the Take That front-man pop up as a 3D image - a feat achieved by using 42 Nikon digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras in a photo shoot.

Digicave - which has used Vuforia, Qualcomm Incorporated’s augmented reality platform for the 3D scanning technology - and Timeslice Films have put the app together.

Gary Barlow is not the first music star to have been given an augmented-reality makeover in recent months. Deceased rap star Tupac Shakur was brought back to life as a hologram to perform alongside fellow hip-hop star Snoop Dogg.

Tags: Apps Augmented Reality Magazines 3D

Hello! magazine features 3D Augmented Reality Gary Barlow front cover originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 May 2012 15:52:00 +0100

Sometimes the best kind of apps are the ones you can just pick up and play. Instantaneous fun for the train, bus or any other boring situation, they are ideal time fillers to pull out of your pocket.

Consider these guys the iPhone classics - easy to play, hard to master and just as much fun whether being picked at for five minutes tor for over an hour. The other great thing is, they're usually cheap.?

Oh! Edo Towns

We are big fans of Kairosoft over at Pocket-lint, its uber-addictive formula of retro gameplay and graphics has had us wile away many an hour on one of its numerous apps.?Oh! Edo Towns puts you in charge of building villages in Japan. Think of it like a simplified version of Sim City, without all the complex building zone laying. You start off with a small plot of land and only a few residents to manage. Build on vacant lots and wait until people start arriving, from then on the game begins to get seriously fun.

Once you have a decent little collection of chappies enjoying the delights of your simple yet likely barren village, you're going to want to start building fields, shops and all other types of entertainments for your citizens. The usual emphasis on upgrading and researching is there, as in all Kairosoft titles.?You can boot straight into the gameplay, provided the app hasn't been killed, and it saves ands load very quickly. This makes it the perfect title to pick at while on the train and well worth the ?2.49 asking price. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?2.49

Rating: 3/5

?

Anthill: Tactical Trail Defense

This little gem combines real-time strategy and tower defence, merging the two, admittedly very similar genres, into one - and creating an excellent game in the process.?The plot is straightforward enough: you take control of a variety of friendly formicidae which all work together to gather food and destroy enemy bugs so that your anthill might be preserved. There are workers who collect the food, an army variety that gets stuck in hand-to-hand, and flying ants that bombard the opposition with green goo, among others.

As ever, it's a case of balancing the different varieties at your disposal; creating workers to forage for food and combat troops to defend them, if you're going to be successful. You can determine where each type of ant goes by creating a line on the screen which they'll follow to a target - the whole system working very well.?Where the real beauty lies is in the gameplay. Things can look pretty hectic at times, but because of the intuitive interface everything remains under your control. For a game that, somehow, feels quite fresh on the iOS platform, we have to say that it's a bargain. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?1.99

Rating:?4/5

?

The Nightjar

The Nightjar is a space adventure in which you play the last crew member of a spacecraft about to spiral into a black hole. As black holes and spacecraft (and pretty much anything for that matter) don't tend to mix, the aim of the game is to get the hell out of Dodge.

The storyline is all pretty straightforward sci-fi, but it's in the gameplay that things start to get interesting. Immersed in total darkness, it is by use of sound cues that you have to navigate your way off the doomed ship.?You also have a guide at hand in the form of Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who gives you hints on the task at hand.

This is a genuinely unnerving game, which increases the tension with subtle suggestions of other lifeforms on the ship - whether it's the gruesome chomping of a nearby lifeform dining on a fallen shipmate or the computer announcing that a party of complex lifeforms has just boarded: "one of which is human".?The game is brief but while it lasts every step and sound oozes quality; and the fact that it's a free download means that if you have the iDevice on hand it's a must. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 3/5

?

Paper Glider

Neon Play, known for Flick Football and Golf Putt Pro, couldn't buy the sort of publicity that it has been awarded by its Paper Glider being the 10 billionth application downloaded from the App Store. So it's incredibly heartening to note that it couldn't have happened to a nicer company or concept.?

Paper Glider is a mind-boggingly simple idea: guide a paper aeroplane as far as you can by an initial swipe and gentle gusts of wind. Yet it is fiendishly addictive and an ideal and welcome time-waster for any journey.

You can also post your scores to Twitter and Facebook or send an email. Simple, cunning and a prime example of a "just one more go" game.?Also, as the app is completely supported by advertising, it's free - you won't lose anything by giving it a try. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 4/5

?

Angry Birds Space

Space is the final frontier, as that fella on Star Trek says, and now, rather than heading down to Brazil in some movie tie-in, or finding yourself blasting pumpkins in some extra levels for Hallowe'en, Rovio's latest venture takes the angry birds and the green pigs out of this world.

What ensues are three?planetary?bodies, with 30 levels apiece and plenty of space pigs to kill.?The gameplay is as addictive as it always has been, and not too?dissimilar from the tried-and-tested formula of AB games past, so you'll know whether that means you are bored of it already or raring to go.?The key difference is that gravity has been added as a gameplay tool, and specifically the gravitational pull of planets and moons. They have an affect on the trajectory of your birds and that's something you now have to factor in. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?0.69

Rating: 4/5

?

Where's My Water?

Where's My Water? revolves around our hero (in the loosest sense of the word) Swampy the Alligator. Swampy wants to take a shower, but someone has been messing with his water supply. We're sure you can guess how the game unfolds after that.?

Of course, the aim of the game is to get the water running out of Swampy's shower so the dirty 'gator can give himself a good scrub. But this isn't just a pipe game like Toobz, here you have a whole range of different environmental conditions to deal with.

?

Along the way you'll have to clear earth to let the water through, move ramps, avoid weeds, divert acid, bounce water jets, navigate mazes, avoid mines and all manner of things to complete the level.?Levels are beautifully designed and we love the cartoon styling. Levels are easy enough to make good progress without getting frustrating, but there are moments when you'll need a little trial and error to figure out exactly what everything does. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?0.69

Rating: 4/5

?

Cut the Rope: Experiments

Like the original Cut The Rope game, this involves getting as many sweets as possible into the mouth of your Om Nom. Rope-cutting is of course also central to the premise of the application, though there are now plenty more special items thrown into the mix to make feeding your Om Nom harder.

Things like the rope gun and suction cup holder now mean you can take more direct control over the path of your sweet. This doesn't mean things are any easier than they were. In fact all this new controllery makes the game a little bit tougher, which we definitely like. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?0.69

Rating: 4/5

?

Temple Run

There's no great complexity to Temple Run, but it's within its simple gameplay that its genius lies. Its simple, twisted, evil genius - even more evil and tortured than the monster-monkeys that chase you throughout the entire experience.

For you see, as with any successful casual mobile game, the power of Temple Run is its addictiveness. The "one more go" lure that will see evenings, days and weeks lost, blurred into a hazy nightmare involving hollow trees, gold coins and, weirdly, an American footballer.

The premise is straightforward: your character (there are several protagonists who you can unlock) has escaped from a temple (hence the name) and is being chased incessantly by the aforementioned monster-monkeys.

You're not sure why you're running but run you shall. Run, turn, jump and slide. That's it. Avoid the trees, don't fall off the track and make sure you collect as many coins as you can along the way - presumably whatever your character has made off from the temple isn't enough for him or her.

iTunes:?Link

Price: Free

Rating:?4/5

?

Flick Kick Football

There is one football app that, regardless of whether you follow the beautiful game, you'll be glued to as if it's Match of the Day and you don't know the result. The premise is simple. You've got to score as many goals as possible to carry on playing. Shooting at certain areas classed as the Skill Zone earns you lives or more time. Do well and you'll be on to a cracking score; crack under pressure and you'll be starting back from scratch.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? That is until you put moving goalies and players in the way. Then you've got the varying distances to cope with and the ability to curve the ball like you're David Beckham. Ten minutes in and like Paper Toss you'll find you're addicted. With smart graphics, some great nail-biting camera replays and gameplay that you'll enjoy and be infuriated by, this app is a winner. GOOOOOOAALLLLLLLLLLLLL. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 4/5

?

Whale Trail

This highly stylised and polished game has clearly been influenced by previous successful iPhone games, such as Tiny Wings. This is not to say that it's not original - there are plenty of innovative ideas - but the simple gameplay, controls and sound are nothing if not reminiscent.

Game mechanics are simplicity itself: pressing and holding anywhere on the screen makes the whale rise, while releasing brings about a swooping action - the aim being to collect bubbles to fuel your flight.

As you move on through the levels, bubbles become more scarce and your flying skills will need to improve. Nice elements include frenzy mode which makes your whale invincible, enabling you to smash through the dark clouds - these suck away your bubble fuel in order to curtail your flight - and high-speed boosts that enable you to go where no whale has gone before.

iTunes:?Link

Price:?69p

Rating:?4/5

Tags: Apps iPhone iPhone 4 iPhone 4S iPhone apps iOS Features

Best iPhone gaming apps: casual originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 May 2012 15:11:00 +0100

Despite reports to the contrary, the BBC has told Pocket-lint that there are no plans to bring a BBC iPlayer app to Windows Phone.

The Inquirer had reported a Nokia spokesperson telling it that the app - which enables viewers to catch up on BBC shows they have missed as well as live TV - would shortly be arriving on the Windows Phone Marketplace.

However, when Pocket-lint spoke to the BBC its response suggested this was not the case at all.?

“BBC iPlayer is already on over 500 platforms and devices including Virgin Media, BT Vision, FreeSat, Freeview, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and hundreds of mobile phones, tablets and Internet-connected TVs,” said the BBC spokesman.??

“We are always looking at new and existing platforms to bring BBC iPlayer to, but have no plans to launch a BBC iPlayer native app in Windows Phone Marketplace in the immediate future.”

Microsoft has received criticism in the past for not having enough apps available on its platform.

News that an app that is already available on the iPhone, Android smartphones and BlackBerry devices, won’t be arriving on Windows Phone will only exacerbate the situation.

Tags: Apps Windows Phone BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer app on Windows Phone? Not according to the BBC originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:07:00 +0100

You've gone to work, but forgotten that crucial presentation, which is sitting on your home computer waiting to have its day in the spotlight, unaware that it will never come. Well, panic not, because with Wyse PocketCloud Remote, you can simply "dial" in to your home computer, from your Android phone or tablet, and send the file as an attachment.

It works with Windows - via Remote Desktop - and on Mac and Linux machines that have a VNC-based server installed. It might sound like mumbo jumbo, but if you've ever needed to get files off a computer, or access one remotely, it can be a lifesaver.

Wyse PocketCloud Remote

Format

Android

Price

Free (?9.99 for pro version)

Where

Google Play

Of course, the biggest problem with an remote desktop app is that you need the target machine to be turned on. There are some technologically advanced ways of doing this, but it's a lot easier if you leave your machine on. We do this, because our desktop PC acts as a media server in the evenings and is in use as a business computer for most of the day.

What Wyse PocketCloud does is allow you to access any Windows Vista or 7 machine that has the RDP server available. The bad news is, this only applies to Windows 7 Ultimate and some of the business versions of the OS. If you don't have RDP built-in, then there are VNC servers available that work nearly as well.

PocketCloud has been well-designed too. With other RDP apps we've tried it can be a very frustrating process getting the destination computer to do much. The keyboard is good enough, although on a phone, it fills the screen so much, seeing the desktop can be hard work.

Performance is brilliant over Wi-Fi, especially on the same network, but 3G speeds are tolerable and we've certainly had our computer do some pretty advanced stuff while we've been out and about on the road.

We love the custom navigation circle, which you can optionally turn on, because it allows you more accuracy than you'd normally get by stabbing at a touch screen, hoping to hit the right spot. It's much like using a traditional mouse and it's essential for making fine changes to important files, where you don't want to be ham-fisted.

Although this app is free, the limitations are pretty reasonable. You can add only one computer, so additional connections will mean you need to download the original. It's not a big deal for most home users, and business users or IT managers will want the extra security the "pro" version affords.

PocketCloud Remote won't appeal to all, but for those who need an app to control their computer from afar, this is by far the best app we've used.

Tags: App of the day Apps Android apps Wyse PocketCloud Remote

APP OF THE DAY: Wyse PocketCloud Remote (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 20:36:00 +0100

Apple is now recommending new apps to download when users visit its iTunes and Apple App Store as well offering some paid-for apps for free.

This week’s “editors’ choice” includes the recently unveiled Facebook Camera, Extreme Skater, Air Mail and Sketchbook Ink, the last of which is also compatible on the iOS platform for the iPad and iPhone.

The addictive Cut the Rope: Experiments is the first paid-for app to be made available by Apple to coincide with the start of its “app of the week series”.?

It’s unclear how Apple determines what apps to include in its “editors’ choice” list. Perhaps Tim Cook is sitting in some darkened room saying: “That one. Not that one." Or maybe it’s just done on the latest “buzz” applications. Either way it’s a welcome feature in what’s already a daunting marketplace.?

To make sure you have the latest recommended apps of the week such as Facebook Camera, ensure that you are running the most current version of iTunes.

Despite recently purchasing Instagram for $1 billion, Facebook is adamant its Facebook Camera app will be its own entity. At least for the time being.

Read

Tags: Apps Apple iTunes App Store Facebook Camera

Facebook Camera is one of Apple's first ever Editors' Choice in App Store originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:41:00 +0100

Facebook has launched another companion iPhone app today that focuses on picture-taking and sharing: Facebook Camera. It's free and downloadable now from iTunes.

However, while this has prompted many to believe that the new app is directly linked to the company's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram, announced in April, it is more likely that the new application was built as a direct rival to the hugely popular photo filter and sharing software.

For starters, the Instagram deal won't be completed until both companies receive approval by the Federal Trade Commission in the US and, as evidenced by the Google/Motorola buyout, that could take many months, if not a year. Until then, Instagram remains a separate entity.

Second, the average development time for a feature-rich application such as Facebook Camera would almost certainly suggest that the social network would have started the project before the Instagram acquisition was a reality.

That's not to say that Facebook Camera won't borrow key elements and technologies or merge with Instagram when the buyout is completed, just that, for now, the new application is a different thing entirely.

If anything, it's a bigger rival to social network Path, as Pocket-lint has illustrated elsewhere on the site.

Tags: Facebook Apps Phones Facebook Camera Instagram

Facebook Camera iPhone app is not part of $1 billion Instagram buyout originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:57:00 +0100

There's no doubt that Draw Something had us all hooked for a while, but we're a fickle bunch and must admit that it's allure isn't quite so great when the sun is glaring and the outside beckons. However, there's a new reason to hundle around your iPhone and iPod touch (or iPad in sim mode), but preferably not in a public place. Sing Something has hit the iTunes App Store like an X-Factor or American Idol-inscribed bullet.

Borrowing heavily from its art-based chum, developer Cuketa's Sing Something asks you to sign up through Facebook or email and play the turn based game with your chums.

But, whereas Draw Something asked you to sketch a picture for your compatriot to guess, Sing Something requests that you warble, hum or play (on a musical instrument) one of three suggested songs which it records and sends to the other player. Your friend then has to guess what it is using a hangman style interface.

Again, like its OMGPop (now Zynga) crafted inspiration, you earn coins with correct answers for you and your pal, and those can be spent on bombs to swap out the song suggestions for others you may prefer.

In practice, it's hilarious. There's a wide range of songs that pop up.

Even on Pocket-lint's brief test, we had Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, Prodigy's Firestarter and The Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, along with a Justin Bieber number none of us would ever admit to knowing. And as no lyrics are provided in game, the end results can be even funnier than expected. There are video hints - using YouTube - that you can check out to make sure you get the melody right, for example.

Like with Draw Something, we suspect there'll be plenty of cheating, with lyric websites being used heavily, but hey, whatever floats your boat.

Sing Something is completely free and we would put our hats on it being the next massive app sensation, if we had any. You have to download it right now!

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Draw Something Zynga Sing Something

Move over Draw Something, Sing Something has arrived for budding Justin Biebers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:47:00 +0100

Google has now made it possible for app developers to create subscription-based applications for the Play Store.

The move could have a significant effect on the way consumers purchase games, TVs and magazines in particular, with a monthly subscription payment providing access to the latest title, programmes or issue.

The cost of each subscription-based app will be down to the developers themselves, as posted on the Android developer's blog, as will how regularly a payment mud be made - monthly or annually. However, once those boundaries have been set, Google will take care of the rest.?

Of course in order for a subscription-based app to be successful, the price will need to be reduced so as to appeal to the consumer, but it’s an interesting way of providing updated content.

App developers can begin implementing subscriptions now and can check out the terms and conditions by reading the In-App Billing Document here.

Tags: Apps Google Play Applications Android

Google Play introduces In-App Subscriptions for Android applications originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:01:00 +0100

Sports. There's a lot of 'em. Most people follow just one or two but then there are the true sports aficionados who need to know everything from baseball, football and Formula One. This is what ScoreMobile's app is for.?

Or at least that is what it says it can do. A lot of applications promise more sporting gossip and stats than you can shake a stick at but not many deliver. Does ScoreMobile?

ScoreMobile

Platform

iPhone

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

Once downloaded ScoreMobile will ask for your current location. Hand that over and you are pretty much ready to go. The app is very easy to use, operating on a sort of left-to-right swipe approach. Going right will take you forward a day to see fixtures; going left will show games in the past and the relevant scores.?

At the top of the app is a list of every sport it supports. We won't list them all here because there are just too many, but the big ones like the Premiership and Formula One are there, as are things such as the NFL and Ice hockey.?

On top of scores there are four other stats tabs you can pick: standings, news and settings. Most do what they say on the tin, but it's the extra bits of data that make the app worth the download. Say you like a particularly sports player, you can select them and have updates pushed out to your phone specifically related to them.?

The news list, while being just a sports-related RSS reader, offers all you would really want in terms of basic coverage of any sport. There is a lot to get stuck into here for an application that costs nothing. The ability to favourite entire teams also makes it a nice replacement for those looking at one of the more expensive football-related applications. Worth a download.

Tags: Apps Football Formula One iOS iPhone iPad

APP OF THE DAY: ScoreMobile review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:16:00 +0100

The Samsung Hope Relay app for Android, iPhone and Samsung Wave phones allows users to record a distance they travel and will translate each mile into ?1, which the Korean company will donate to charity. You can run, walk, cycle or wheel yourself along - as long as you don't go over 25 miles per hour, it will be registered.

Alternatively, you can do what adventurer and Samsung Ambassador Kenton Cool has done to record his first mile: vertically... up Mount Everest.

Armed with a Samsung Galaxy Note with the app pre-loaded (there's not that many internet caf?s on the slopes of Everest, surprisingly), Cool plans to climb to the peak of the mountain and will document his progress using the phone, including some exclusive pictures he sent Pocket-lint yesterday (23 May).

He has also made a documentary video of his first Samsung Hope Relay mile, which we also present to you exclusively. He's faced some extreme weather conditions on the way, and you can see in the clip that his mile could well be one of the hardest faced.

The Samsung Hope Relay is active in the UK now and will end on 12 August. It will also be available in a further 17 countries soon. All monies raised will be distributed to charities including the?London-based Kids Company, London 2012's international sports legacy programme, International Inspiration and an IOC-designated charity.

To find out more, check out Samsung's dedicated webpage or download the app from Google Play?(for Android), iTunes (iOS) or Samsung Apps?(Wave, Wave II and Wave 3). It's free and you can even help donate even when going to work.

Tags: Samsung Apps Phones Samsung Galaxy Note Samsung Hope Relay Kenton Cool Mount Everest

Adventurer Kenton Cool climbs Everest for his Samsung Hope Relay (video) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:00 +0100

Top-down racers are a thing of beauty and today’s App of the Day on Pocket-lint is another great in a long line of classics. So, if you’re a fan of Supersprint, Badlands, Micro Machines, Reckless Racing and the like, then it’s time to get your wallet out and get downloading.

Mini Motor

Platform

Android/iPhone/iPad

Price

?1.25/?1.49/?2.49

Where

Play/iTunes/iTunes

Mini Motor is a familiar kind of game. It’s a top-down, non-realistic, lap racer with all the usual power-ups, car upgrades and track, cup and vehicle unlocks. A quick glance at all the padlocks on the menus is a good sign that there’s plenty of gameplay to get through; certainly enough for your ?1.50 outlay or thereabouts, anyway. What’s also interesting to note is that, even though there is an iPad-friendly HD version, it plays just as well on a smartphone.

Generally the game is pretty standard fare. You choose your car, you choose your track, you get behind the wheel and you get racing. The only real choice is your method of control and, if you can manage the default steering wheel option, then you’re a better (wo)man than we are.

What really sets Mini Motor apart - and, ultimately, makes it worth downloading - is the stunning graphics and smooth way that the game is put together. It’s a treat to watch each menu roll seamlessly into the next and, once you get driving, it’s as much a pleasure to enjoy the sights and sounds of the environments as it is to screech, skid, boost and bump your way around the bends.

Perhaps the only real shames, so far, that we’ve discovered are that, first, it’s possible to unlock everything by the means of in-app payments, and that’s just a bit nasty. Of course, that’s totally understandable. Developers want to get paid and fair enough, but it does leave a nasty taste in your mouth and might just make a difference when it comes to the multiplay mode - and that, incidentally, is the second pity.

Multiplay is a great idea. You enter you handle and then wait to join a game or, indeed, select options like cars, tracks and laps and host one all of your own. The trouble is that we couldn’t actually find enough players online to get a multiplay game going. Hopefully that’s something that will improve once the app gains traction, so to speak.

In all, if you like this kind of title, then Mini Motor is a must. Sure, it’s derivative but it’s derived so well that it would be a real shame not to.

Tags: Apps App of the day Mini Motor Android apps iPhone apps Gaming Racing games Driving games iPad apps

APP OF THE DAY: Mini Motor review (Android, iPhone and iPad) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Anyone who fancies himself or herself as an Angry Birds expert can now put their claims to the test, as Rovio announces a new competitive edge to proceedings.

Angry Birds Friends enables Facebook users to compete against each in weekly tournaments. Power-ups and gold trophies are achieved by beating your social networking buddies.?Rovio has also announced that new levels will be added to Angry Birds Friends on a weekly basis.

Rovio made the announcement of Angry Birds Friends with an official video trailer, while the game itself is now available to play as an application through Facebook.

According to Rovio 20 million people already play Angry Birds via Facebook a popularity that has culminated in a theme park opening in Finland on 8 June.

Rovio recently made it possible for websites to embed Angry Birds levels into their sites allowing visitors to try and beat the top score.

However, Angry Birds Friends is the first time gamers will be able to compete directly with one another.

The Angry Birds Friends application for Facebook can be downloaded by clicking here.

Tags: Angry Birds Rovio Facebook Angry Birds Friends Apps

Angry Birds Friends brings a competitive edge via Facebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:31:00 +0100

GREE, the largest social network in Japan, is coming to Europe and has just launched in Open Beta mode for developers to get a taste of what it can offer. The service, when fully live, will allow iOS and Android gamers to interact online, and be a worldwide community for mobile gamers.

It's a bit like Apple's Game Center, but cross-platform and run by an independent company. It promises a greater variety of social interaction features too.

Game application developers are now urged to download the new?platform SDK (3.0.0?) and build into their software the social tools required to work on the network. It also takes into account the OpenFeint infrastructure the company acquired in the past year.

When launched for the consumer, GREE will have more than 60 compatible games available to download and play. It will be accessible in English and Japanese, with 14 other languages to follow. It currently has a user base of 230 million gamers, but that is expected to rise rapidly.

There's no indication as to when the final version will be available to iPhone and Android smartphone users, but the second wave of languages is scheduled for September, so the initial launch will be before then.

Tags: Gaming Apps iPhone apps iPad apps Android apps GREE

GREE, the social mobile gaming platform for iOS and Android, to launch in UK - goes open beta originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:50:00 +0100

Windows Phone devices must now be running on the latest 7.5 Mango software in order to download, buy, update or review applications from Microsoft’s Marketplace.

Microsoft warned us in April that it was making some fundamental changes to the way apps could be purchased, including making it no longer possible to get apps via Zune.

These changes have now been implemented, with users needing to upgrade to Windows Phone 7.5 Mango if they wish to continue accessing what apps are available.

Anyone who tries to download an app or update an existing one they purchased from the Marketplace will now receive an error message. Microsoft has said it may take a couple of days for the update to become a prerequisite on all devices but ?- if you haven’t already - you’ll want that update sharpish?

To update your Windows Phone to Mango 7.5 simply plug your device into your computer.

Tags: Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Microsoft Apps Zune

Windows Phone 7.5 update now a must if you want to download apps originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 +0100

It didn’t take long after the iPad arrived to see that young children could use them. In fact, so simple and so compelling is that large, glass, iOS interface that even small pets were getting in on the action. So, while games have been the first big battleground for the app developers, it’s not hard to see why there’s been a boom in the education section - especially those aimed at little ones.

With tablets just as good for learning as they are keeping the younglings entertained, people are prepared to pay for the privilege, so anyone who can really deliver on the promise of the combination of the two is in for some big business.

One such company trying its hand in the sector is Mindshapes. Based in the UK, it's made up of a team of teachers, educators, linguists and scholars who worked at Sony, Sega, CBeebies, Sesame Workshop, HarperCollins and the social games company Playfish. Its mission lies in the game-ification of learning.

“It’s not the easiest of spaces to play in,” admits David Begg,?Mindshapes CEO.

“Lots have tried and failed but, if 5-10 per cent of users are there not to learn but to play, then we’ve succeeded. That way we’ll know it’s fun, irrespective, and that’s one of the goals.”

The game in question is the first from Mindshapes known as Magic Town. Magic Town is a web - and soon to be tablet iPad and iPhone - application aimed at the 2 to 6-year-old age group with literacy the focus.

The town in question is a virtual countryside populated by a choice of different houses that the children can visit at the click of a mouse or tap of a finger, and each of these houses represents a different series of stories from popular publishers. So, you’ll find a patchwork residence to represent Elmer the Elephant, a pink castle for the Little Princess and so on. Once inside, there are books to read as well as games to play. Some carefully designed characters guide your children through it all and even provide a call to action to get out of the virtual world and into the real one.

As Begg explains:?“Every game is a learning-based game but we have games that take place in the real world too. The idea is to have an hour on-screen and an hour off-screen, so you might find yourself hunting for objects in the woods.”

As a resource for parents, the all round offering sounds undeniably compelling but it’s the Livebook - the core of the experience - on which Magic Town will almost certainly be judged.

The Livebook is the interactive, animated eBook structure on which each storybook is presented and it works in four different ways. The first mode "Watch" is a simple automatic playback of the pages in animated style with the words read out; the second "Play" provides some interaction on top of that; "Explore" offers back questions and games based on the books; and ?in "Read" the child and parent can read together.

“It’s all centred around typical pre-seven things to learn to set children up for life - morals, creativity, linguistics, problem solving," Says Begg. ?"These are most effectively told and taught through stories; through a character and explained with a moral context and society and social situation.”

Of course, if this is the case, if stories are of such importance and if, as Begg says continually throughout our meeting, "reading is sacrosanct to the process", then is Magic Town, and the subscription paid to be part of it, really necessary beyond over pure, simple books?

“Books are great,” Begg concedes, “but we need more. Cartoons are enjoyable but too linear and exclusive, and apps are interactive but the narrative is broken. We sit in the middle of these.”

While Mindshapes aims at a deeper engagement, the company doesn't stretch so far as to measure levels of learning or, indeed, promise that you'll see educational benefits of any sort. Nonetheless, sitting down in front of the PC with 2-year-old Toddler-lint, there’s certainly some appeal as far as the target audience goes.

Turning the pages with clicks of the mouse and activating the odd tractor to roll its way across the virtual page is an obvious source of enjoyment but it still seems very early days for Magic Town just yet with the experience, so far, not feeling quite what it's been promised to be.

Its chance to really come to life will be when the application is brought to the iPad, which overlaps the niche of a book far better than something anchored to a desk, keyboard and mouse. The second crucial factor is going to be expanding the library of titles so that every children's favourite can be accessed at the touch of a screen.

“We have 100 hours of content from launch with 42 titles and we’re looking to add a further 10-15 per month,” says Begg.

The likes of Winnie the Witch, Aliens Love Underpants, World of Happy and Elmer the Elephant are certainly a good start, but there’s a whole heap of classic gaps to plug.

“We’ve spoken to all the publishers and they’re very excited,” Begg says and perhaps that’s not so hard to imagine, given the ?7.95 a month subscription that the parents need to stump up for unlimited access to all that Magic Town has to offer. With plans to come to the Kindle Fire when it hits the UK as well as a pay-as-you-read payment system, Mindshapes has certainly got it all heading in the right direction. And, if this system does take off, will that be the end of children's books as we know them? Apparently that's not what Mindshapes has got in its sights.

"We're not here to replace books or even TV," Begg reassures. "That said, if we do end up stealing from TV, perhaps that's not such a bad thing."

Tags: Apps Books ebooks Dad iPad apps Magic Town Mindshapes Features Interviews

Magic Town: the app aiming to bring children's books to life originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 23 May 2012 11:49:00 +0100

If you live anywhere but the UK, you might not know that the skies over our green and pleasant lands have been grey and full of more unpleasant moisture than an AC/DC mosh pit. Summer may have started, but we wouldn't have known over here.

However, in the last day or two the sun has come out, children are skipping gaily in the streets, and the average Brit is complaining that it's too hot. Never mind, it's bound to change soon enough so we'll have to keep our raincoats on standby. Thank the heavens we'll have plenty of pre-warning now that there's an updated version of....

The Weather Channel

Format

iPhone, iPod touch

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

The Weather Channel iPhone application has been around for a while, having even made it into Pocket-lint's "best weather apps for iPhone" feature back in 2010. However, it has just had an update that is far more than an aesthetic lick of varnish - The Weather Channel v5.0 is almost a completely new beast altogether.

Naturally, its core is the same. It takes the weather information found on weather.com and presents it in a format best suited to a mobile device. But it is the presentation and the integration of social networking features that improves the experience no end.

You can now choose several different locations to keep track of, including a home location. Plus, the app chooses your current location using its TruPoint local forecasting technology. You can then swipe through all of the different areas and forecasts, which is really handy if you are travelling around.

There are also massive improvements to the way icons and buttons are laid out. The settings button is now on all screens throughout the app so that you can chop and change as you go, without having to return to the root screen.

You can take your own photos to be used as backgrounds for different weather overlays, and the detailed weather data can be collapsed to make the screen less cluttered.

The biggest change, though, is the way that you can now relay your own weather circumstances through a variety of social sharing sites. You can take a picture and share it, including the current weather details, on Twitter, Facebook and through iWitness. You can also record video to post on to iWitness too, or view those posted by other users.

In fact, reading the simple weather forecast is probably only a small fraction of what you'd use The Weather Channel for.

There's only one small gripe. In order to keep the app free, it has an advertising bar that runs across the top of the screen, which looks clumsy. But hey, what would you rather have? A one-off payment, or a perpetually free service?

We thoroughly welcome this new version of our favourite weather application. If you haven't tried it out yet, or tried it before and didn't like it, give it a whirl.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iPod Touch apps App of the day The Weather Channel

APP OF THE DAY: The Weather Channel review (iPhone / iPod touch) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

A pint glass that reveals a QR code when filled up with Guinness has been unveiled by the iconic brewery.

Designed by BBDO New York, once topped up, the black stout liquid fills out the code that has been crafted into the glass container. The QR code can then be scanned with a mobile device, which will in turn unlock content.?

This can be in the form of downloadable coupons, promotions and other exclusive Guinness news and merchandise, while the code will also tweet what you’re doing, update your Facebook status and check you in via Foursquare.

It’s a novel way of letting your friends know you’re enjoying a pint of the black stuff and scanning the code will even invite them down to join you.?

The specially designed QR code pint glasses only work with Guinness, so there’s no point in trying it with any of your lagers or bitters.?

Of course if you’re after a crafty pint after work before going home to the wife and kids, you might want to refrain from giving the game away by opting for a more traditional glass.

Read

Tags: Social networks Guinness QR codes Apps

Pint of Guinness reveals scannable QR code originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 22 May 2012 17:14:00 +0100

Sony has made its Music Unlimited streaming service available on both the iPhone and iPod touch, as it looks to take the fight to the likes of Spotify.

The app is currently available only on the iOS platform in the US, though a UK arrival seems imminent. The app itself is free though with a subscription charge that starts at $3.99 a month, while early birds can enjoy a free 30-day trial of the premium service.

Sony’s Music Unlimited service has a library of more than 15 million songs and playback features, having already been available on the Android platform as well as on Sony products such as the PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray players.?

The premium service, once your free 30-day trial is up, will cost you $10 a month but will enable you to play music offline, create playlists, view chart lists and access new releases which are added on a weekly basis.?

Though Sony’s Music Unlimited app will work on the Apple iPad, there’s no optimised version for that specific platform, something Spotify has now addressed.

UPDATE ?Sony has now announced that its Music Unlimited App will be available to UK users from the Apple App Store from Friday 25 May. A basic subscription will cost ?3.99 a month where as the premium will be ?9.99.

Read

Tags: Apps Music streaming Sony Spotify

Sony takes on Spotify with Music Unlimited iPhone app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 22 May 2012 13:54:00 +0100

Smartphones are great for keeping in touch, be that with friends, family or colleagues. It really doesn't matter what device you have, there are plenty of options available to you.

SMS and MMS messaging is great, but sometimes you want something more immediate, you want to have a discussion, and importantly, you don't want to run up charges for messaging, especially if you're roaming.

There are a number of data-based solutions and today we're looking at an app that's proved it's worth and has plenty of users. If you've never heard of WhatsApp, it might be something you should consider.

WhatsApp

Format

Android (version tested), iPhone, BlackBerry, WP7, Symbian

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

WhatsApp is a cross-platform messaging app, which will let you send instant messages to your contacts. In this it is nothing unique: iMessage, BBM, Skype, GTalk, Facebook Messenger and so on, also offer the same sort of functions, but as a standalone app, WhatsApp has a lot going for it.

The first important point is that it is cross platform. This means you can, for example, contact people on iPhone or BlackBerry from your Android device. It isn't constrained like device specific services - BlackBerry Messenger or iMessage for example.

This makes it great in the real world where the people you know all have a different type of phone. Sure, services like Skype offer a similar experience, but WhatsApp has a lighter footprint: it doesn't use much data and it doesn't draw heavily on the battery either (if the stats from our test HTC One X are typical).

Of course, BlackBerry users will argue that BBM is better and perhaps they're right; Apple users are right to like iMessage, but in a world where simplicity in communication makes it easier for everyone, WhatsApp has a very valid place.

When it comes to use, we've been testing WhatsApp across devices, but this review is written principally of the Android version.

?

As soon as you register your phone number within the app, you'll see those contacts that have WhatsApp. It's great, because you're able to get started without any messing around - as long as you have the right phone numbers for people.?

WhatsApp is a messenger app, so it doesn't go as far as offering voice or video calling, but it will let you send various types of additional content as well as words and the all-essential emoticons.

Tapping the attachment icon will let you include pictures or video (either from the Gallery, or captured for the purpose there and then), audio (music or recorded voice), your map location or a contact card. Other apps play in here too, so if you use Google Music, for example, that will be offered as a source of music.

As such, there is a lot you can do with it. Of course, sending messages uses very little data, but if you start flicking video back and forth, it's going to cost you unless you're sitting on Wi-Fi, which WhatsApp is happy to do.

Everything works smoothly and the messaging process is fast enough to be able to have a coherent conversation, so long as both parties have a data connection. We get the feeling that BBM copes better with lesser reception, which seems to be an inherent BlackBerry trait, but otherwise we're impressed with the performance.

You also get nice options, such as groups, so you can have a specific group of friends in one chat, perfect for coordinating people. We also like that you can drop a shortcut for a contact, so if you regularly chat to a particular individual, you can have them with a tap of the finger. Naturally, this being Android, WhatsApp will be integrated into your contacts and sharing options too.

You can also broadcast messages, letting you send a message to a selection of people you choose off your contact list, for example, that important "It's a boy!" announcement, or "I'm single again!".

Notifications are also nice and customisable on the Android version, so you choose how you are alerted, with different settings for groups, if you want them.

WhatsApp is also free and we've found that it has been very stable, with the somewhat cumbersome approach that something like Skype comes with.

If you're interested in messaging, coordinating groups, or just staying in touch whilst away from your PC, then WhatsApp is well worth trying out.

Tags: Apps Android apps BlackBerry apps iPhone apps WP7 apps WhatsApp

APP OF THE DAY: WhatsApp review (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 21 May 2012 20:07:00 +0100

It's the Chelsea Flower Show in London at the moment and while the arrangements and gardens involved are stunning, they always seem like a bit too much hard work for us here at Pocket-lint. We may have yearnings to be green fingered, but would rather use them to swipe across a smartphone screen.

That's where Koubachi comes in with its Wi-Fi Plant Sensor. It's a device that you stick into the pot of one of your plants to measure the soil moisture, temperature and light levels of the room. It then talks to the cloud and, through a free iPhone or web application, let's you explore exactly what care your greenery needs and when, based on scientific care models.

Thanks to some clever jiggery-pokery, the one sensor can also be used to monitor all of your plants from just the one pot. You give the app information on the types of plants you own and it creates a detailed plan.

From the application, a user can find out how much water to give a plant, what temperature is most suitable (and whether your environment is too hot or cold), the light intensity, whether you should fertilise and if you should mist that particular species.

"The Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor is the first device ever that enables real-time monitoring of a plant’s vitality," said Philipp Bolliger, CEO and inventor of Koubachi.

He named it after the Tamagotchi electronic pets that were extremely popular in the mid-nineties. Hopefully, it'll help plants end up in a better shape than our Tamagotchis, which, we found out, die if you stamp on them repeatedly.

The Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor is available for ?99 and includes a?lifelong free subscription to the Koubachi system, including regular updates of the apps and the plant library. It is available from www.koubachi.com.

Tags: Home And Kitchen Koubachi Koubachi Wi-Fi Planet Sensor Apps iPhone apps iPhone accessories

Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor hits UK in time for Chelsea Flower Show originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:52:00 +0100

A pop-up warning that has appeared with the latest build of iOS - 5.1.1 - hints that Apple is soon to introduce the possibility of making FaceTime video calls over 3G, perhaps for iOS 6.

Since its launch, FaceTime has been restricted to Wi-Fi use, meaning that video calls can only be made when iPhones and iPads are logged on to a broadband network. However, when trying to switch off 3G during a FaceTime call, a message now warns: "Disabling 3G may end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 3G?"

This would suggest that Apple is at least trialling the service over a 3G network, and may be about to release the feature for public consumption.

In the UK, however, this could cause problems as many users are not signed up to mobile network packages with all-you-can-eat data plans. Using FaceTime video calling over 3G could seriously munch into the amount of data you have available and end up costing a fortune in overspill fees.

In addition, carriers themselves may be concerned at the demands 3G FaceTime use may put on their networks. They may even block or restrict its use.

As we expect to hear more on iOS 6 at the forthcoming WWDC in the middle of June, we shouldn't have to wait too long to find out.

Read

Tags: Apple Phones Tablets Apps FaceTime iPhone iPad

3G FaceTime coming in iOS 6? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:17:00 +0100

Yep, after all the shouting, the London 2012 Olympic Games are almost upon us. The thought will have some running for the hills, others frothing with excitement, and it is the latter that app developers are hoping to cater to with a swarm of applications, practical, whimsical and playable.

Today's Pocket-lint App of the Day is from the playable gaming camp, but features no less than Team GB poster boy and the youngest person to have represented his country at an Olympics since 1960. It is, of course...

Tom Daley Dive 2012

Format

iPad (version tested), iPhone, iPod touch

Price

Free (+69p in-app purchase to unlock more dives)

Where

iTunes

There's one thing you can absolutely guarantee every two years, summer and winter alternating, and that is that there will be a host of videogames that feature some form of Olympics-themed sporting events. Ever since Track and Field back in 1983, there have been button mashers and joystick wagglers that share the same gameplay DNA.

However, while Tom Daley Dive 2012 shares some of the play mechanics of such titles, it delves far deeper into the teenager's own sport, diving, than any before it.

The game has been developed by the London-based Chelsea Apps Factory which has previously focused on enterprise applications, so comes at it from a unique angle. Its experience outside of the games industry is certainly apparent in this particular app's presentation, and there's plenty of content and features to explore.

Core gameplay is a gesture-controlled diving simulation, where strokes of the finger equate segments of a dive, successful or otherwise, but splashing down into the water isn't the only goal. To begin with, most of the individual dives in the game are locked, with well-received and executed ones needed to make others available.

There's a tutorial to help you learn the basics, and each dive can be viewed beforehand with the virtual Tom showing you the perfect positioning and timings needed. A multitude of camera angles are on offer too, so if the timing is hard to get from one viewpoint, you can always switch to another to see if that helps.

The practice/qualification levels allow you to take on individual dives in order to unlock others. And, when you've opened up enough of them you get the chance to compete in championship mode too, with new locations to compete in: Beijing, Barcelona and London.

Photos of Tom Daley can also be unlocked through completing different achievements, and the whole app?links up to Game Center for you to log your scores.

Tom Daley Dive 2012 is free to download, and is a universal app, so runs on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Not all the dives are available in the free version, however, and to access them all, you'll have to pay 69p as an in-app purchase (which pops up when you try to perform a paywalled dive). This is extremely cheap though, and at least by that point you'll know whether you liked the game or not.

We certainly do.

Tags: Apps iPad apps iPhone apps iPod Touch apps App of the day

APP OF THE DAY: Tom Daley Dive 2012 review (iPad / iPhone / iPod touch) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Team GB diver and Olympic medal hopeful Tom Daley stars in Tom Daley Dive 2012, his own iPad, iPhone and iPod touch game, released today. The app, which is free to download, allows you to use gesture movements in order to perform Olympic-standard dives from a variety of locations.

Several of the dives are available in the free version of the application, while others can be unlocked through a one-off in-app purchase of 69p.

Pocket-lint has been told that 17-year-old diver Daley was involved in the game's approval process throughout its development. London software company Chelsea Apps Factory worked closely with the teenager, and have highlighted the fact that he has a staggering one million Twitter followers in China alone as good cause to get a dedicated title out there.

There are plenty of features in Tom Daley Dive, including Game Center-based leaderboards, Practice and Championship modes, an unlockable photo gallery,?achievements, and a chance to view the virtual Daley perform each dive perfectly before you attempt it. There are also several camera angles to play in, including one from above.

"Apps are one of the best things about having a phone, and I jumped at the chance to create my own," said the Olympian.

"There are no good diving games out there and I love how this game has turned out: it looks great and feels very realistic – although I’m a bit nervous my own score won’t make the online leader-board!? If the game helps raise awareness of diving and gets people excited about the Olympics this year, I’ll be really pleased."

You can download the universal Tom Daley Dive 2012 from iTunes for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch now.

Tags: Apps iPad apps iPhone apps iPod Touch apps Tome Daley Dive 2012 London 2012

Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:15:00 +0100

It’s emerged that Microsoft has applied for a patent on a service that enables applications from rival platforms such as Android and iOS to be migrated to Windows Phone.

The service would at first suggest similar Microsoft endorsed applications to the ones Android and iPhone users have on their phone. If there are none - let’s be honest, the current selection is pretty barren - then similar third-party applications will be suggested.

However, should neither prove fruitful, the migration service would then aim to transfer apps from rival operating systems to a Windows Phone, meaning consumers who purchased a Windows Phone for the first time wouldn’t lose their apps.

As great as this is in theory, a number of questions about the perspective service remain.

Firs, the technology would surely rely on Android, Apple and any other OS platform for that matter agreeing to the migration, something neither currently allows. Second, would the consumer be expected to pay for the apps a second time around?

The fact the patency was applied for in November 2010 suggests these are just some of the hurdles Microsoft is trying to overcome, but it’s an interesting take on how Microsoft is trying to combat the perceived notion that it doesn’t have enough apps available on its Windows Phone platform.

Read

Tags: Apps Microsoft Windows Phone Android iOS

Want to transfer Android apps to a Windows Phone? Microsoft would like to help originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:49:00 +0100

Travel apps are all the rage, especially when it comes to getting around in the Big Smoke. There are bus checkers and train finders coming out of our app store ears, but the most recent trend has been for getting about in the privacy of a car hired just for you. Yes, we all know about the executive car app for Addison Lee, we very recently met the Hackney Carriage end of the equation with GetTaxi, but today it’s all about minicabs.

ubiCabs

Platform

Android, iOS, browser

Price

Free

Where

iTunes/Play/web

If there’s one thing that ex-Googler Jay Patel and his co-founders at ubiCabs hate, it’s inefficiencies. Minicabs are stationed by a local controller and, when you hire one, it’s either going to pick you up from, or take you to, an area where it’s not going to be able to get another fare. Worse still, in cities like London, the transport agency forbids minicabs getting customers off the streets, so the drivers and the companies that dispatch them end up having to pay for the petrol of one leg of the journey on their own, ie, without a passenger in the car.

That’s where ubiCabs comes in, according to Patel. The service acts as a booking agent for as many minicab firms as it can get. The idea is that customers then request taxis through either an Android or iPhone app, or by using a web interface. The ubiCabs system will then instantly search and access all the minicab controller information to assign the nearest, available and - most importantly - the cheapest car for your needs.

The app itself is fairly familiar to the others we’ve seen. As with most of these systems, ubiCabs tracks your position by GPS or you can add your pick-up point manually. The selection of what kind of car, how much luggage you have and how many passengers is nicely handled, as well as the way you can track your cab’s journey to you on a live map. So, no more waiting around and wondering.

While the main idea behind it all is obviously to get taxis at your convenience without having to pay Black Cab prices. One would also hope that both the added petrol efficiency and the behind-the-scenes price bidding system might result in minicab costs going down. Sadly, this doesn’t yet seem to be the case with all the journeys we’ve been quoted so far being pretty much what we’d expect to pay normally.

Still, with the added convenience on top, it’s well worth a try. Sure, it’s not much different from picking up the phone if you’re looking to get from your home to a night out, but it’s just the answer for those tedious queues when you’re on your way back from the middle of town.

At the moment, ubiCabs covers just London within the M25 but, so long as it can stay ahead of the competition, expect to see the service rolling out to a town near you soon.

Tags: Apps Cars and GPS iPhone apps Android apps App of the day Ubicabs GetTaxi

APP OF THE DAY: ubiCabs review (Android & iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 17 May 2012 18:21:00 +0100

Sometimes free apps can be better than their paid-for equivalents. The world of fitness on the iPhone is undated with all sorts of accelerometer and GPS-integrated applications designed to help you lose the pounds. Problem is, the majority of them cost.?

Strava cycling is different, it offers a comprehensive smartphone based aid for the hardcore cyclist, be they road, off-road or indoors.

Strava Cycling

Format

iPhone

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

First up you are going to want to sign up with Strava. We opted for the direct Facebook linkage approach, which sped up the process no end. Either way it costs nothing. From there you are sent straight to the app's home screen, which works like most iOS apps in that it has a menu selection laid across the bottom.?

You can opt for a new ride, which will record just your timing, speed and distance. It can be paused at any time and, once finished, will build up a big set of details on your ride. A large map view of the exact route you took is recorded, as well as things such as average speed and elevation. A full-screen map of the exact route is also obtainable and integrates itself with Google Maps on iOS.?

A particularly nice touch is a sort of Xbox-style achievements list. Things like best times for individual segments will show you when you do your quickest section. You can even compare your times with others who have done the same route.?

Adding even more value are the built-in routes. The explore option will show you different cycle routes based on your location, even listing things such as elevation and distance. On top of all this, a global stats page with all your running and cycling efforts overall is kept constantly updated.?

A lot to get stuck into with Strava and especially given it's free. Serious cyclists in particular will find it hugely useful as it is a very comprehensive training aid.?

Tags: Apps App of the day iPhone Apple

APP OF THE DAY: Strava cycling review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 16 May 2012 18:01:00 +0100

You might use the default Android SMS app, you might use one provided by your handset manufacturer. The problem is, there's no consistency in Android SMS clients, and most of them are ugly and don't have much in the way of functionality.

GO SMS Pro is different, and that's a really good thing. It's got a lot more going on than just sending SMS messages. There are add-in apps, which extend the functionality, and lots of online services too, such as group chat and Facebook integration.

GO SMS Pro

Format

Android

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

Perhaps the most important feature, however, is integrated backup and restore of your SMS messages. If you, like us, horde your past text messages then you'll want to be able to keep them safe and sound. Backups are stored to your SD card, and it just takes a couple of button pushes to make a backup, or restore from one. There is also an automatic service, which offers to make daily, weekly or monthly copies of your messages.

If you like to keep secrets, or you're worried about losing your phone, you can set up a private box. This allows you to keep password protected messages on the device, which will be inaccessible if your phone gets nicked or left in a pub. This should be a must for celebrities, especially if they're in the habit of sending naked pictures of themselves to friends.

There are downloadable themes too. The default one is pretty naff, but there are some that ape the iPhone look and feel, and some nice dark themes and even one in the style of Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

If you're a Facebooker, there's also access to its chat service, directly from the app. This - along with some other apps - requires that you install an extra plugin, but it takes mere seconds to do. You authorise the app via the Facebook API, so there's no real security risk here. The chat works well too, and is as simple to use as you imagine.

If you're prepared to sign up for another service, there's a GO Chat app included too. Here you can share doodles with your group as well as voice messages. This is all well and good, but obviously requires all your contacts use GO SMS. Something we think would be great, but a little unlikely.

We like the fact that you get a folder list too. Here you can see your inbox, outbox and sent messages along with drafts, MMS messages and even make your own folders. This is a nice feature, and will appeal to high-volume texters, we're sure.

GO SMS Pro costs nothing, and adds loads of functionality to your text message system. We love it, and have been using it for a long time now. It makes sense, especially with the amount we change phones, but we're pretty sure everyone will get some benefit from this handy app.

Tags: Apps App of the day Android apps GO SMS Pro

APP OF THE DAY: GO SMS Pro (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:31:00 +0100

Kopparberg cider is introducing a new music app that means you can enjoy this summer’s musical festivities direct from your computer ?

The Kopparberg Festival Player utilises both Spotify and Last.fm to produce playlists of musical acts which will be playing at this year’s UK festivals, before being played via Facebook. ?

Through Last.fm, the app will provide a who’s who of festival performers this summer, from the headliners to relatively unknown acts. Users can then choose up to three artists before a playlist formed of their music is automatically created from Spotify’s library. ?

Any playlist you create will be posted on Kopparberg’s Facebook page so visitors can share and discover new music with each other as well as help them plan what festivals they should attend and who to see. ?

The Kopparberg Festival Player app will also give users a chance to win tickets to a host of UK festivals, including Field Day and Secret Garden Party. ?

The Kopparberg Festival Player can be downloaded from the Kopparberg UK Facebook page from 16 May.

Tags: Apps Facebook Kopparberg Spotify Lastfm

Spotify and Last.fm join forces for Kopparberg festival app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:42:00 +0100

Apps that make it easy to do something clever will always be popular. Plenty of apps have picked up on the retro imaging trend and that doesn't appear to be slowing up.

Today we're looking at an app that might achieve great success, but its very nature requires a little more creative input than its similar-sounding namesake Instagram. Today we're looking at moving pictures.

Cinemagram

Format

iOS

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

Cinemagram, as the name suggests, is all about movement. But before you think this is a video app, it isn't, even if video is a large component of what Cinemagram is all about.

Anyone who has spent any time on the internet will know that the right GIF, at the right time, is worth it's weight in gold. Perhaps not real gold, but certainly comedy gold. The surprised cat, the panda on the slide; a short animated clip can do things that a picture can't.?

Cinemagram isn't all about creating comedy memes, however. It has its sights set very much on the community feel of Instragram. It wants to provide a platform for creation, sharing and community appreciation, with comments, followers and sharing.

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Of all these things, we're more interested in the sharing than the community, because we know more people in the wider world, Facebook or Twitter, for example, than we do in other services.

So how does it work? Well, it uses a clever system of video capture and masking to allow you to create an image, or a "cine" that has some still elements and some moving elements.

You simply capture a short piece of video, mask the elements where you want to keep the movement and the remaining areas are frozen. You end up with a hybrid photo and video.

The results are somewhat alluring and very clever. Importantly, it opens the doors for a huge amount of creativity and the imagination of the creator can shine through, more so than you get from a straight set of vintage filters.

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Naturally you get those vintage filters too, so you can have retro effects applied to your cine if you wish, and many do, judging by the selection showcased within the app.

Browsing through other users' work can be both amusing and inspiring. This isn't just a showcase of images, it's something more. Some are amusing, some are clever, some are very creepy. People are really thinking about how they can use Cinemagram to create something engaging, so it's great just browsing.?

The creation process is easy, but you soon learn that some scenes don't work well, which will keep you coming back for more. We'll bring you some of our own creations shortly...

Importantly, Cinemagram is free. Because of its creative nature, it might never be as widely used as Instagram, but it's definitely worth playing with.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iOS apps App of the day Cinemagram

APP OF THE DAY: Cinemagram review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

O2 is turning to crowd sourcing as it looks to bring its customers the deals "they" want through its Priority Moments scheme.

The operator is inviting its customers to tell them on which brands they would like to receive discounts and deals via various social platforms.

Previously, customers have been able to take advantage only of deals selected by O2 and while, ultimately, this will still be the case, customers will be able to have more of a say in what they want from the free downloadable application.

O2 will use the crowd-sourced results to approach the brands most popular with its customers.

Suggestions can be made by tweeting the name of the brand or deal you would like to see offered, with the hash tag #o2prioritymoments or by writing a suggestion on the O2 Facebook page.

Since being launched in July 2011, O2 says, Priority Moments has saved its customers more than ?7.5 million.

Priority Moments can be downloaded for the iPhone or any Android smartphone, while O2 customers with a WAP-enabled device can access the service via O2’s mobile website.

Tags: O2 Apps Priority Moments Facebook Twitter

O2 customers to decide what deals occur on Priority Moments originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:13:00 +0100

Samsung has teamed with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and British Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton to launch an application for Android, iPhone and Samsung Wave handsets that donates ?1 to a host of charities every time you run, walk or cycle a mile.

The Samsung Hope Relay app is free to download and uses the GPS in a smartphone to register how far you have travelled, posting the figure on Facebook or another social network (if required). Samsung, as a worldwide partner of the London 2012 Olympics, is then committed to adding ?1 to a pool of money that will be distributed among the?London-based Kids Company, London 2012's international sports legacy programme, International Inspiration and an IOC-designated charity.

This, as Pocket-lint was told by UK managing director of Samsung, Andy Griffiths, could raise up to $1 million. "We're hoping to raise a million," he said.

Ambassador for the Samsung Hope Relay, Oliver told us that the initiative is a way of getting everybody around the UK involved in the Olympics. "It's really important to get people to take part in the Olympic Games in some way," Oliver said.

The application allows you to create an avatar of yourself - using a photo of your face stuck on top of a runner's body. This figure will then appear in any social networking communications and could even, if you opt in, appear on the side of the Olympic Torch Relay coach or on Samsung advertising billboards.

You can also form a team of runners who can gee each other on, and can record messages of encouragement. There are also portals in the application to find out more about Samsung's other initiatives for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

There are some rules to using the app. For starters, you can't go more than 25 miles per hour or the mile will not count, so don't try using it on a car journey. Also, there is a limit to how many miles you can register per run - 26, according to Griffiths.

The Samsung Hope Relay application is available on Google Play (for Android) and Samsung Apps (for the Wave, Wave II and Wave 3) now. It will be available on iOS later today. You have until 12 August to register your miles. It will be released on a wider, more global scale - 18 countries in total - in the coming weeks.

Tags: Samsung Phones Apps Charity London 2012 Olympics Samsung Hope Relay

Jamie Oliver and Victoria Pendleton on hand to launch Samsung Hope Relay app for Android and iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:25:00 +0100

The new iPad is a seriously sweet piece of kit. No one is going to argue that the crazy resolution of its Retina display doesn't make for some pretty sweet app viewing. None more so than the new Leonardo Da Vinci Anatomy app, which is as good looking as it is educational.

Leonardo Da Vinci: Anatomy

Format

iPad

Price

?9.99

Where

iTunes

The application works as a sort of extension of iBooks, more like an interactive reading experience and less like turning pages. Snippets of Leonardo's groundbreaking work are combined with 3D anatomical models and as well as interviews with those in the know explaining just how impressive his ideas were.?

More than 250 pages of drawings, split over 11 different chapters, are brought to life using the iPad's lush screen and highly detailed models. You can swipe typesets between the application to read either Leonardo's original Italian writing or have it translated into English on the page.?

A human body is used as an interface to navigate all the different picture collections within Leonardo's body of work. There is tons of content here and just about all of it is fascinating. It also looks fairly incredible, thanks to the whole thing being retina-display compatible.?

At ?10, the application isn't exactly cheap but you are getting a lot to play with for your money. The drawings alone are impressive enough once you really get exploring, but the slick design makes the whole experience that much better.?For those interested, the money is worth it.?

Tags: Apps App of the day iPad Apple iOS

APP OF THE DAY: Leonardo Da Vinci Anatomy review (iPad) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 11 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

We all remember putting through those calls: "Hello, when is the last train from Waterloo…?". Timetables are one thing, but being able to talk to a human being who can answer your simple questions was one of the charming things about phoning National Rail Enquiries.

Of course in this day of apps galore, there are plenty of travel apps out there. One of the nice things about having a smartphone is being able to get live information into the palm of your hand. Today we're looking at the app that brings national rail services to your phone.?

National Rail Enquiries

Format

Android

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

Some rail apps are based around buying. They will let you browse and buy tickets, which is useful to a point: they show schedules. However, the premise of the National Rail Enquiries app is better suited to creatures of habit.

One of the first things you are prompted to do on opening the app is enter your home and work stations. You simply select your local station so you have access to it as soon as you open the app.

There is also a big button on this opening screen that simply reads "Get me home". It's the button that gives you the instant information you need when it really counts.

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You're standing in a bar in central London. You said you'd be home by 9pm. It's just gone 11. You have no idea when the last train is, how you get to it, or if you'll make it home. Mrs Pocket-lint is sending you messages asking when you'll be back.?

"Get me home" is a lifesaver. One press and you'll get the information you need. Perhaps you've missed the last train, in which case you might as well get back to the party and get a taxi at 3am. Or, you might just have time to run to the station and get yourself home.

For many, of course, the National Rail Enquiries app will be most useful for the live results. You'll be able to see when there is a problem so you can alert those you're meeting that you'll be late. You can also plan routes so you know where you're going.

The thing we really like about the way the information is displayed is that you get a list so you can easily see what your options are. You can plan journeys setting departure or arrival times. If you're a regular rail user, there is a lot of useful information to be had.

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Or you can simply dive into the live train times and see how services are running. Expecting a visitor? You can see when their train will arrive so you can collect them from the station.

Of course, we've only been able to test this within the confines of our own travel over thepast week, where it has performed well. Although this version is free, it is ad supported, with an?exorbitant??4.99 requested for the ad-free version.

Freed from the clutter of ticket sales, the National Rail Enquiries app didn't have to do much to win a place in our hearts. Like a suburban rail service train, we've been waiting for this to arrive for some time.?

Tags: Apps Android apps Trains National Rail Enquiries

APP OF THE DAY: National Rail Enquiries review (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Spotify is launching two new apps that aim to find your perfect partner by matching your playlists and favourite artists with other subscribers.

Do you dream of the day when you might find that special someone who shares the same love of German underground punk-cum-dub step? Just us then?

Tastebuds and Fellody suggest friends and what Spotify calls “potential partners” according to your music tastes.

Tastebuds strips down the artists you listen to most on Spotify, be it via albums or playlists, and finds other Spotify users (who use the app) before introducing you to each other, albeit virtually.

You can filter down your search by designating gender, age and locations before messaging them directly. You’ll then be able to share playlists and who knows, maybe more.

Fellody is the second app Spotify is introducing and again uses your playlists. By dragging and dropping a Spotify playlist into the app, Fellody will bring up a list of other people who share your liking for Curtis Stigers (again, just us?) for example.

Find a potential match and you’ll be able to send a "flirt" which could lead to a lifetime of happiness and bad music.

Both Tastebuds and Fellody are available through the Spotify App Finder. ??

Tags: Spotify Spotify apps Apps Music streaming Dating

Spotify launches apps to help find your perfect partner originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:51:00 +0100

Britain’s Got Talent fans will be able to use music tagging app Shazam during the advert breaks for the series final for a chance to win a selection of prizes.?

By tagging the Pepsi Max and Cadbury Unwrap Gold advertisements with the Shazam app, users will automatically be entered into a prize draw for tickets to summer festivals, the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics and a host of other Pepsi and Cadbury merchandise.

Those that use the app on the Pepsi Max advert will also receive a link to the Calvin Harris track “Let’s Go” featuring Ne-Yo via iTunes, which just so happens to be the backing track to the advert. Cunning.

It follows the announcement that Shazam was partnering with ITV to exclusively add its functionality to adverts shown on the channel.

Available to download for free to Apple, Android, BlackBerry, Windows and Nokia devices, Shazam will be hoping to cash in on the millions of people expected to tune in to the finale of Britain’s Got Talent when it airs on Saturday 12 May.

Tags: Shazam ITV Television Apps iPhone apps Android apps BlackBerry apps

Britain's Got Talent final to have Shazam-enabled adverts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 10 May 2012 12:21:00 +0100

ALK Technologies has released a free GPS app for Apple and Android devices that works even when you have no mobile signal.

CoPilot GPS stores its maps on board your smarpthone or tablet so you have access to them at all times.

You can select your destination manually or via one of the pre-installed points of interest – the usual fanfare of nearby restaurants, hotels and shops – and CoPilot GPS will map out the best route for you complete with distance and expected travel time, be it via car or foot.

If the suggested route doesn’t take your fancy, you can choose from another two possibilities and you can also drag and drop the route if you wanted to go via another destination.

You can alert your social media buddies to your whereabouts with one-click access to both Facebook and Twitter, while Wikipedia is also integrated to help you discover a little more about the places you frequent.

We need to be clear that CoPilot GPS is not a sat nav. Of course ALK does that in other forms, namely CoPilot Live and CoPilot Live Premium HD.

Think of CoPilot GPS more as an alternative to say Google Maps - and, with its offline functionality, a rather good alternative for that matter too.?

The CoPilot GPS app is available now for free from both iTunes and Google Play.

Tags: Apps CoPilot ALK ALK Technologies GPS

CoPilot GPS app enables offline guidance originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:08:00 +0100

Facebook will soon have its own application marketplace enabling users to discover and download apps from one social hub.

The likes of Draw Something, Spotify and Pinterest will all be available from the App Center that itself can be accessed through Facebook’s website or through its iOS and Android app.

Only the cream of the crop will feature in the App Center, with Facebook collating user ratings to determine what applications are listed.

Though Facebook’s App Center will list what applications are available, should you wish to download one to your smartphone you will need to use Apple’s App Store or via Google Play, though the App Center will take you directly to the relevant link.

Each app listed will include a detail page, which must be provided by the developer, including screenshots, how many people are using the app on Facebook, what platform it’s available on and the user rating.

Facebook is expected to roll out its App Center before the end of May.

Tags: Apps Facebook App Center Facebook applications Facebook apps

Facebook launches social App Center originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 10 May 2012 09:05:00 +0100

The Orange TVcheck app has landed in the UK, with the aim of making the "second screen" (that's your phone) an interactive TV partner.?

After a successful launch of the app in France in September 2011, the TVcheck app will automatically detect which programme you are watching on the goggle box and offer you a range of associated features.

The aim is to make your phone a social companion for the programme you're watching. Of course, through the likes of Facebook and Twitter, it already is, but TVcheck aims to cultivate these social networks specifically for the programme you are watching.

The automatic recognition is clever, because you simply press the "Check-in!" button, point the phone camera at your TV and it will identify your programme. Of course, it's pretty simple, because the TVcheck service knows the schedules for 25 major UK free-to-air channels.?

Once checked-in, the content of the app can be tailored for the programme you are watching. That means, for example, you can view associated tweets and share your own thoughts and reactions to the programme.

You'll also be able to use the app to see what is showing on TV and which programmes are the most popular, so you can dive in and see what all the fuss is about.

Where TVcheck is looking to bring something unique is in its challenges, quizzes and badges. To prove you're the biggest fan of a show, you'll be able to compete for "top dog" status, earning points by checking-in to watch a show, for example.?

The challenges and quizzes aren't all dumb either. In some cases it will be editorially controlled (ie, by real human beings) so unique content can be supplied in reaction to events in a programme, including live shows.?

As an added incentive to get involved, there will be a crossover into the real world. Orange today told us in a private demo of the new service that prizes such as tickets to a show or the chance to meet the director were being considered.

Currently the app will identify only programmes running on the broadcast schedule, so content on your PVR won't be recognised. However, Orange is in the process of negotiating various deals with some high-profile shows, which will enable anytime recognition of what your watching, as well as other benefits.

The downside to this programme-related refinement of your social networks is that you may well miss something else exciting happening on another channel... how would you know about that problem back passage on Embarrassing Bodies if you're only getting tweets about Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge?

You can download it here and get social with The Apprentice right now. Did you know Pocket-lint was featured in the last season of The Apprentice? Perhaps that will be one of the quiz questions...

The Orange TVcheck app launches initially on the iPhone, with plans to roll out an Android version in July. It is network agnostic, so although it was developed by Orange, it's open to everyone.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Orange TV TV apps Twitter Facebook Social networking

Orange TVcheck app auto recognises programmes, makes TV social originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 09 May 2012 21:01:00 +0100

The end of the football season is nearly upon us but before we hear the last squeaks of the bums the country over, we wanted to bring you just one more app for lovers of the beautiful game. It’s an iPhone-only affair at the moment but it should be on Android before the Euros began and all are free to try the web version whenever they choose.

Bantr

Platform

iPhone & web

Price

Free

Where

iTunes/Web

Bantr is a social network and interactive sports service that uses Facebook as the backbone for your friends and your log in credentials. Allowing Bantr access is all you need to do to register and, after that, you have two simple questions to answer before you’re all set up - what team do you support, and do you have faith in your manager??After that, the app is your oyster.

You can choose to beef up your profile with your favourite XI, your formation of choice and, ultimately, whether or not your players are fit to wear the shirt, and all that information is then collated among fans of your club to see how popular players are and what those who watch from the stands think should be the way it works on the pitch.

The big question, of course, is whether football fans actually know anything at all. Are their opinions really worth all that much or is that the reason why Redknapp, Fergusson, Mancini and co. are paid the big bucks?

“I don’t like the way that football is going,” says the man behind the app, Peter McCormack. “I don’t like the way that they get away with things and I wanted to do something about that. I want to let the fans back into football.”

Citing the Venkys at Blackburn and the way that fans of the club have been saddled with both a structure and a manager that’s seen them suffer the pain of relegation, McCormack is looking to add a board approval index to the system and hopes to harness a more powerful, unified voice to fan opinion.

“It’s no different from the Chelsea fans chanting, ‘There’s only one Jose Mourinho’ but we’re taking out the mob mentality and giving it structure.”

“It’s a way of crowd sourcing opinion and, for us, the ultimate is for pundits to use it. Alan Green quoting our approval ratings on his commentary is what we’re after.”

McCormack is at the same time realistic about the effect that even an organised fan voice might have. It’s not going to cause managers to choose a different XI but you can bet that club owners and board members will take a successful version of Bantr far more seriously than the cat-calls on Twitter and the slanging of the web forums.

Beyond its higher purpose though, there’s still plenty about Bantr to enjoy. A football service of this nature would be nothing without a live game experience and that’s exactly what you get. Users can check into a game and add minute-by-minute style comments on the action to sit alongside updates coming in from live Opta information. Did Bale dive? Should Terry have got a red? You can pose just those questions in an embedded, on-the-spot poll at any time during the action.

After the final whistle, you also get the chance to rate the players with a simple thumbs up or down, so no need to agonise over whether they quite bridged the gap between a 6 and a 7. When there’s no ball in play, you’re welcome to predict the outcome of future fixtures, check out a news stream of activity on the whole network or just drill down to the talk on your club.

The price you pay for all the fun is that, being based on Facebook, it does mean Bantr has access to the anonymous version of your information - your likes, dislikes, age, rank, serial number and all that jazz - but that’s modern social networking for you, and the bottom line is that it’s much better to give it up for something you’ll enjoy rather than a one off Facebook quiz.

There’s still plenty of distance for Bantr to travel. It’s brand new and consequently a touch buggy but we like where it’s going. Looking to connect with some cultured fan opinion? You may just have found it.

Tags: Apps App of the day Bantr Football iPhone apps

APP OF THE DAY: Bantr review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:19:00 +0100

Following the success of the iPhone version, Findaproperty.com has released an app for the iPad.

Once downloaded, it uses the iPad’s GPS functionality to search for nearby properties before using the tablet’s mapping credentials to navigate there.

Should any particular property strike your fancy - you know that dream home you’ve been after – then a host of screen shots of the premises can be viewed with the option of adding it to your list of favourites.

When you’re ready to make the next step, you can contact the relevant estate agent directly – yes, sadly, it doesn’t remove all the pitfalls of buying a house.

If you want to narrow your search, then you can enter in certain criteria such as the number of bedrooms you require or a maximum and minimum asking price.

With pinch-enabled floor plans as well as the screen shots of the property to view, we feel the Findaproperty.com app for the iPad, with its bigger screen has probably found even more of a right fit than its iPhone sibling.

The Findaproperty.com iPad app is available to download now free from iTunes.

As for Android users, well you might want to take a look at the Rightmove app, a review of which can be read here.

Tags: Apps iPad apps Apple

Findaproperty.com iPad app taking the stress out of moving house originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:34:00 +0100

Pocket-lint is hearing from all manner of content providers and broadcasters that a massive focus for them at present is coming up with the correct way to present a second-screen experience. Many of their viewers and subscribers now watch TV, movies, etc, with mobile device in hand, ready to interact in ever more immersive ways.

At the moment, that mainly means a flashed hashtag or two on screen that programmers expect you to attach to relevant tweets. Or a button you prod in order to vote or play along. Thankfully though, there are also those who get it spot on, like Warner Bros with its...

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie App

Format

iPad

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

Although the latest Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray (which comes out on 14 May) is not the first to sync with a companion application, allowing you to enjoy the film and bonus material on a second screen simultaneously, it is the first that puts the app at the forefront of the experience (in the UK at least - Warner's own Happy Feet Two featured similar in the US).

In fact, as the studio's own executive director of Creative Services, Donnie Roach, told us, you could even consider the iPad loaded with the Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie App as your primary display and the TV playing the Blu-ray as the second screen.

That's because, instead of playing the movie and having the app keep up with each scene - as with Monty Python: The Holy Book of Days - this specific application presents copious amounts of information like a content-rich eBook, and allows you to play specific clips and scenes on the big screen through tapping icons in the app. At all other times, the Blu-ray shows a holding screen, so as not to be distracting.

That's not to say the iPad app is not a fully featured bundle of information in its own right. It has plenty of video within that doesn't need the Blu-ray to work.

There are interviews with experts and cast members, including Stephen Fry who can be considered both. There are rendered animations that were used by the film's production team to visualise scenes before shooting. And there are bundles of scripts, storyboards and location maps. Plus, if you're not able to access the Blu-ray (and you won't be until Monday), even the triggers scattered about offer 10-second previews when not synced or connected to the internet.

We also like the application not being dedicated solely to Guy Ritchie's sequel, but having an entire section focused on the Sherlock Holmes myths and author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This includes a timeline of events that explains the most important moments in the great detective's lifespan, and there are nods at other, older portrayals of the character in TV and film.

The app also allows you to share information learnt through Facebook and Twitter, ensuring it ticks social media buttons. And each cast member has his or her own section, with a gallery of pictures that can be placed anywhere you like on screen, rotated and expanded like a virtual scrapbook.

There's certainly plenty to like and do, even if you have no desire to buy the Blu-ray, but that'd be a shame as it becomes so much more if you do. You needn't even worry about having an internet connection in your home (or one that both the Blu-ray player and iPad are hooked up to at the same time) because you can also sync video playback through a code system that's included. It's more clunky and requires you to input three-digit numbers every time you want to see a clip, but it works and would allow someone on, say, a plane to get the full experience too.

If we were to be honest, this is not an application you'll want to delve too much into if you haven't seen Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows yet - it's a hornet's nest of spoilers - but it will definitely give you plenty of reason to revisit the disc long after you've watched the film itself.

Tags: Apps Warner Bros Movies Home Cinema iPad apps App of the day

APP OF THE DAY: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie App review (iPad) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:00 +0100

Taking a black taxi in London is not cheap but now it can at least be convenient, thanks to good old technology. The app revolution has hit one of the oldest professions and one of the company’s that’s causing the biggest disturbances in the market is GetTaxi. Pocket-lint went for a ride with Neal Fullman, the?company's CEO, ?to find out how it works.

It’s a soggy day in London and our plans to put this phone-based taxi service to a real-world test have become a washout. The idea behind GetTaxi is that it hires certified black cab drivers on a job-by-job basis. Customers then have access to ?- at the time of writing - a 1,000-strong fleet at the touch of an app button, which of course reads “Get Taxi”. Instead of testing out the software as we wait to see how quickly and accurately the drivers would respond to our GPS-enabled hail, we settle for a Hackney Carriage as our mobile meeting room, parked outside Russell Square station, rather than face saturation and a sure-fire cold. The rain pitter-patters on the roof of the cab.

“Our whole philosophy is to give as much of this away to as many people for free as possible,” says Fullman, as he outlines the business model.

“We give the taxi drivers the unit, which is worth ?200. We don’t charge any subscription fees, unlike cab companies who charge ?50-60 per week to be on the books. We just charge a pay-as-you-go 10 per cent on all account work and ?1 on all cash jobs. No sign-up, no contracts.”

At the same time, these drivers are free to pick up their usual work from the streets or other accounts that they have, whenever they choose. The only addition is the GetTaxi device itself which Peter, our cab driver, kindly shows us. Very much a standard-looking satnav device, it’s only use is to run the dedicated GetTaxi software and connect to the network through the 3G SIM, the data of which is, again, paid for by Fullman’s company.

“It’s risk free for the taxi driver, and the typical ride value is ?20-25 where on the street from a hail is normally ?7-13 according to TfL figures.

“Late at night, there’s also the issue of the customer and whether they’re going to end up throwing up their kebab over the cab floor. The type of work that they get from us tends to be better quality.”

With a minimal percentage to pay as compensation and the choice to pick and choose the GetTaxi work whenever they feel, it certainly seems to be a win-win situation for the drivers, but what about the customer?

Well, the app is free and there are no hidden charges in the taxi tariff for using the service. The software is simple and effective. Naturally, it’s a slightly better experience on iPhone than Android but it’s smooth enough either way.

The user has the choice of either letting their phone’s GPS do the work or entering an address manually. You also get the option of adding notes for a more precise pick up point. All of the information, including your phone number, then gets sent out to the nearest taxi driver the minute you hit the "Get Taxi" button -- at which point you’ll find out how many minutes you have to wait until your car arrives. When it does turn up, you get a text notification to confirm. Easy.

“The idea is to offer you as many options as possible to get a tight fix of where you are,” says Fullman, with confidence in the system that became an overnight success when it was first trialed in Tel Aviv in 2010.

“It can be as simple as a one-click solution where you just open the app and hit 'Get Taxi'."

The algorithms at the heart of the service go a little deeper than the customer might realise, though. Drivers are ranked both according to reviews they get from the users as well as their accuracy at predicting how long they’ll take to get to each pick up. And the higher a driver's ranking, the more likely he or she is to be chosen for a job the next time.

“We want our customers to get the very best taxis in any situation. Very best could mean location; it could mean distance, in terms of time; or rating or a whole variety of things and we improve the algorithm every week," says Fullman.

“When your fare gets allocated, we send you the driver’s name, car registration number, ranking, one-click to phone them, estimated time of arrival and their distance from you. You can actually see them getting closer live on a map, too.

“So, there’s no more hanging on the phone to a stroppy call centre getting told he’s just around the corner but 20 minutes later you’re still waiting. It’s like dispatching the taxi yourself.”

The chain is completed by the GetTaxi payment system which allows for credit card payments and payments on account as well as cash. What’s more, you can have multiple accounts under the same credentials so that there’s room for rides which come under work expenses on top of those that perhaps you can’t quite get away with.

“We get more people using cabs because of the credit card situation,” says Darren, a black cab driver who’s been on GetTaxi’s books for five weeks, who joins us in from the rain.

“Those customers that want to pay by card or have a private account, they wouldn’t normally hail on the streets because lots of cab drivers don’t take credit cards. People would just use a minicab firm that won’t moan about taking cards or opening a small account.”

From either side of the equation, it’s very hard to fault the system. On the one hand, customers get to be the controller with all the information at their fingertips, an easy way to pay without having to find a cash machine and access to a fleet of the most knowledgeable drivers in London. On the other, the drivers get a steady stream of extra work with high-quality pre-paid fares at little extra cost. As ever, though, there is just one small problem.

“Black taxis are often cheaper than minicabs," argues Fullman when we bring up the issue of price. "There’s been a lot of miscommunication of pricing in the taxi versus minicab world.”?

“If you’re going just over the border of two adjoining postcode, you’re going to pay the same in a minicab as if you went from the furthest reaches of that postcode to the furthest reaches of the other. So, typically the average minimum fare is ?10,12 or ?15 in Central London, whereas in a black cab it’s ?2.40.”

That ?2.40 will only get you to the end of the road, as Fullman admits, but convenience could drive you to choose the far more expensive black taxi ride over a minicab if you were looking to get from the middle of town to anywhere outside of Zone 1.

“Sometimes that meter can run away with itself a bit, like when you’re stuck in traffic, and that can be frustrating for customers,” adds Darren, whose job it’s become to educate other taxi drivers to thinking differently about the way they earn their money, but whether or not cabbies would take to the more consumer-friendly fixed pricing remains to be seen.

“We’re looking a fixed pricing," says Fullman. "We’re starting to offer them for airport runs and we’re prepared to do them for longer journeys,” but it’s not hard to hear in the GetTaxi UK CEO’s tone that it’s probably not something that will ever make it down to the standard fare level.

Instead, the most compelling argument for using the service over burgeoning minicab alternatives, such as ubiCabs, is the events of the summer and the Olympic Games. Not only will GetTaxi be guaranteeing a certain amount of cabbie time to make sure that customers have access to rides when they need them but, more importantly, it’s only black taxis that will be able to use bus lanes at busy times with all other minicabs and motorists alike set to suffer in a season of congestion.

Ultimately though, the best reason Pocket-lint could see for using GetTaxi is because it works. The app is well designed, the system faultless and the service slick. If you can order a cab without having to stand out in the rain, if you can wait in the warmth while you watch your taxi pull up outside and if you can have the peace of mind that you know you’ve got one of the best drivers around without even needing worry about whether you’ve got any cash on you - well, that sounds like it’s worth the extra to us.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Android apps Taxis GetTaxi Features Interviews

GetTaxi: the smartphone app that brings the cabs to you originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 08 May 2012 11:46:00 +0100

If you could earn points to spend at the cinema, or in your local Marks & Spencer store, if you opted to walk to work rather than take the train, would you?

That's the carrot that Transport for London and Recyclebank is planning to dangle in front of you with a new app, called re:route, launching shortly in the App Store.

The idea is to reward people for walking around London.

The scheme, backed by the Mayor of London, is tied into an iPhone app (Android and other platforms are on the way). Using the phone's GPS signal allows the app to track your movement - and make sure you don't cheat - when you press the go button.

At launch, every journey you make will earn your five points ?and the people behind the app believe that walking to work every day should earn you about ?250 across the year if you stick with it.

So far the Recyclebank has a multitude of companies signed up to give rewards including Marks & Spencer, Champneys, Classic British Hotels, Haven Holidays, Cineworld and Jojo Maman Bebe.

To increase the urge to walk rather than get the Tube, Recyclebank plans to motivate people in different ways and eventually let you earn more points for walking further.

"Travel in London will be difficult during the Olympics, and with this app we could potentially reward people for avoiding hot spots," Rob Crumbie, marketing director for Recyclebank, told Pocket-lint - walking us through the app before its official release. "We are planning on motivating people in different ways."

Recyclebank is already operating a similar "carrot" reward scheme with local councils in the UK. In the same way, Blue Recycle bins fitted with chips reward homes that recycle more with vouchers.

Following the successful trials in places including Windsor and Maidenhead, ?TfL turned to the company to see if it could create a similar incentive to get people out of their cars and off the already overcrowded London Underground and walking instead.

"There are 109 journeys on which it is quicker to walk than take the Underground," adds Crumbie. "Those journey's will be plugged above other alternatives."

But the app, which you can connect to via Facebook, isn't just about encouraging you to walk rather than taking the Tube, but also a way of helping you get around the capital quickly.

Using TfL live data - trains at first, but buses are promised - the app can tell you the quickest routes available, the time it will take and - more importantly - if there are any delays on the route you are planning on taking.

A quick play of the app and it all looks very simple to use and easy to manage your journeys. Those planning on taking the same journey over and over can set favourites for quicker access and at the end of the journey you are told the points you earned, calories burnt, miles covered.

Those stats can then be shared with friends and in future versions there will be group challenges and leaderboards so you can see how you measure up against them.

Once you've collected enough points you'll be able to cash them in, and as an incentive you'll get 75 points just for joining the scheme. As an example, 30 points gets you a free muffin at Java&Co or two medium extra-value meals at McDonalds. Save up to 300 points and you'll get a two nights for the price of one at Classic British Hotels. The rewards aren't to be sniffed at.

The app currently services Greater London, but there are already plans to expand the coverage further.

"London first, but New York is also interested in how the app goes," Crumbie tells us.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Recyclebank TFL

Re:route: The app that rewards Londoners for walking to work originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 08 May 2012 00:01:00 +0100

Today is a bit of a first on App of the Day on Pocket-lint. While the bread and butter of our 6pm slot is most often applications for mobile phones, it does include any kind of application whatsoever. So, we've had the odd web app, some computer desktop ones and even some for TV platforms but today is the first time we feature an app specifically for your browser; a plug-in, and this is no ordinary plug-in. It's a plug-in that's got you covered.

Scrambls

Platform

Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safar, FF Android

Price

Free

Where

Scrambls website

With more and more examples of ISPs and social networks threatening to give up your details as required, Scrambls is one of the consumer’s answers. Scrambls is a plug-in for your web browser that automatically turns your posts and messages into gobbledygook that not even the people working for the social sites, upon which you post, can read.

Simply sign up for a free account with no information required, other than an e-mail address, and download the extension for your major browser of choice. Whatever you write on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn will then be converted through a custom algorithm which can only be read by anyone else who has Scrambls installed. Beyond that, you can make your own custom groups so that it will only decode for certain users of your choosing.

The Scrambls code doesn’t claim to be the most secure encryption on the planet. Ultimately, it would be pointless if it were because, if push comes to shove and the government wants to find out what you’re writing, then Scrambls will most likely have to hand over the keys. Where the software does come in useful is if you either, a) wish to share certain things on your social networks that perhaps you don’t want all of your friends and followers to read or b) if you don’t want that which you’re talking about to be used by the apps and advertisers looking to scrape your data.

If you think you like the idea of Scrambls, then do give it a try because, in practice, the service is incredibly smooth. The sign up is quick, the concept is straight forward and the interface is not only minimal and light but also very usable. It requires almost zero maintenance, save setting up or trimming your groups.

Scrambls is free for now but expect some premium features to follow at some point. The system already works on Android and is set to come to other mobile platforms in the future.

Tags: Apps App of the day Scrambls Social networking Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

APP OF THE DAY: Scrambls review (browser) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 07 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

One of the great things about Android, is that it has a flexibility - especially with regard to the file system - that you don't get on iOS. It is, for example, perfectly possible to drag and drop video and music files over USB on to the SD card or internal storage of your phone. The problem comes when playing those files back. For music, the Android player is fine; for video you might want something more.

So look then to MX Player. It does one thing, and that's play your media, but specifically, videos.

MX Player

Format

Android

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

While there are quite a few video players on the Google Play, it's hard to pick the one that has a good range of format support, while still being both free and easy to use. MX Player couldn't make less of a fuss about itself if it tried.

It supports various hardware configurations too, so your phone will very likely be supported. It's able to use hardware or software decoding, which gives you two ways to get the best video performance. We found hardware decoding on out HTC One X - the US, Qualcomm powered version - was not great, but software decoding worked a charm.

Some phones need an additional codec pack too, but the software will ask you to download this, should it be needed. We have never needed to on any of our devices, and we've always been able to get video playing without any hassle.

Subtitles are also supported, so that's handy if you're watching something foreign, don't have great hearing, or just want to watch without disturbing anyone - or have forgotten your headphones. You can move and resize them too, which is handy, especially with every device having a different size and shape screen.

Quality was great too, although the HTC screen is fabulous, so that helped, but MX Player didn't do anything to rain on the parade, and that's all you can really ask of a video player.

We tested it on Ice Cream Sandwich, and it worked beautifully. The developer also claims that it's the first player that supports multi-core video decoding. As we've said, the quality is superb, so we believe them when they say it's using all the potential processing power of the phone.

And all this for free. What are you waiting for?

Tags: Apps App of the day Android apps MX Player

APP OF THE DAY: MX Player review (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:18:00 +0100

With so much going on in the app space, it's easy to overlook games. So today we look at something that's been around for a while, but it well worth playing if you haven't seen it before.?

It takes a slightly different approach to gaming, offering up a huge range of variety in a collection of mini games, all based around the same ominous character, the frog.

Tap the Frog

Platform

iPhone

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

Tap the Frog takes a frog as the main character and then sets you a number of different mini games to challenge you.?

Most of what Tap the Frog is about is speed. Pop as many frogs as you can in the time limit, see how fast you can make the frog eat the flies, or see how fast you can get three frogs on the shelves.?

As the title suggests, it's often about tapping. Tapping the frog five times to make it change colour, tapping to throw snowballs at frogs.

It sounds, on paper, like it could be repetitive. But in reality it isn't. The games change so there is always variety and the games are over in a flash, so you barely have time to get bored. Before you've realised what you were doing, you're off to something else.

It's not just random tapping either. There are reaction games, tap the frog when it turns blue; and those that need more concentration, such as tapping the frog that matches the colour named; or maths puzzles.

Each level is awarded points and you win stars, levels unlocking as you proceed. Some of the games are so frustratingly simple, you'll find yourself going back to play them again and again because you're desperate for a proper score.?

There are loads of achievements to be had and integration with Game Center will let you see just how poor your performance really is and keep you coming back for more.?

Tap the Frog might not change your mobile gaming world, but to waste 5 minutes there is plenty of fun to be had.

Tap the Frog is free, but there is a newer version, Tap the Frog 2, which will set you back all of 69p and the iPad version, Tap the Frog 2 HD is ?1.49.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iOS apps iPad apps Tap the Frog

APP OF THE DAY: Tap the Frog review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

The BBC is kick starting its companion screen plans with an application for PC, tablets, mobile phones and the BBC Red Button that will allow fans of Antiques Roadshow to play along with the programme when it returns to the screen in September.

Announced by?Victoria Jaye, the?corporation's?head of IPTV and TV Online Content, during the Connected TV Summit in London, the app will allow viewers to guess the value of antiques before the experts reveal their estimations. It will work with both the live broadcast and when it is played through on-demand catch up TV - presumably via BBC iPlayer.

The companion experience will also include information on featured antiques shown on the Antiques Roadshow, with a stack of extra content created by the show's experts and BBC production team.

More companion, second-screen applications are planned as part of a wider strategy, and it has been revealed that the BBC has been running closed trials with Frozen Planet and Secret Fortune, both of which are now completed.

"Antiques Roadshow is a perfect series to develop a companion experience around," said Jaye.

"We’re tapping into existing audience behaviour - viewers have been shouting at their TV screens for years, guessing the value of items featured in the programme. We’re also taking viewers on a journey beyond where the broadcast programme can go, providing in-depth content about the stories and the history behind featured antiques in the programme, drawn from across BBC Online and other trusted sources.

"It’s a great example of how we can creatively renew our audiences’ enjoyment of watching a much cherished BBC programme."

The applications will be free to download and use.

We also suspect that the iOS app will definitely work on the first iPad, it being an antique itself.

Tags: BBC Tablets iPad apps iPhone apps Apps

BBC chooses Antiques Roadshow for second screen companion app action originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:09:00 +0100

BlackBerry users with an NFC-enabled handset can now share apps with their friends by simply tapping the two phones together.

BlackBerry Share was demoed at BlackBerry World in Orlando, Florida and brings a social element to downloading applications.

By tapping two NFC-enabled BlackBerry devices, each user will receive a list of the apps their friend has downloaded from BlackBerry App World. Just press the "Share" option when you’re in the application store itself.

BlackBerry Share will only deliver names of applications that are compatible with your handset and there’s no way of filtering what apps you share should you have any embarrassing applications hidden away on your phone.

By using BlackBerry Share you won’t actually be able to transfer fully installed apps to each other, but it does provide a one-press access to BlackBerry App World where you can download any application that catches your fancy.

BlackBerry Share is available now and is compatible with any BlackBerry NFC enabled device.

Tags: BlackBerry Apps BlackBerry World BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry Share uses NFC for app discovery originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:06:00 +0100

Fess up, you like to drive fast don't you? Perhaps fast enough to break the speed limit from time to time? Naughty.

Helping you try to avoid speeding tickets and points on your licence, TomTom has launched the TomTom Speed Cameras app, that helps you stick to the speed limit if the road signs aren't being that helpful - and, more importantly, detect speed cameras ahead in the road.

Speed cameras save lives but they are also the bane of motorist's lives and, some might think, are there solely to raise cash for the police force's Christmas ball. Either way, there is nothing worse than a car in front braking suddenly because the driver hasn't noticed the camera and was going too fast.

In drives the TomTom Speed Camera app that sits on your iPhone for you to plonk on your dashboard, giving you a clear indication as to what speed you are doing, what the speed limit of the road is, and whether you are breaking the law.

In addition to letting you keep an eye on your speed, the app will also tell you when a speed camera is coming up. It will also detect mobile cameras so you won't get caught out.

The app tracks and displays fixed cameras, mobile cameras, average speed checks and red light cameras, and you can select a 10, 15, or 20-second audio warning depending on how much time you think you need to hit the brakes.

When there is a speed camera coming up on the road ahead the app's graphics change, giving you a visual cue as to what is coming, and as long as you've got an eye on the phone it's very easy to spot.

The app also lets you report a camera at the touch of a button if it isn't on the system already and you've spotted it.

In practice and the app does what it says it will do: keeps an eye on your speed and warns of oncoming cameras so you've got plenty of time to plan accordingly rather than just slamming on the breaks.

We tested it on an iPhone 3GS, although the app will work on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. As you can see from our pictures we had our phone in the TomTom iPhone GPS cradle, although this isn't necessary.

To get the full benefit of the app you will need to join TomTom's subscription service, at an introductory price of ?1.49 a month, increasing to ?3.99 in the future. If you opt against paying this you'll just get the speed data and not the speed camera warnings.

Also worth noting is that to ensure you have the most up-to-date information about the latest locations of speed cameras around the country you need to be connected. We tried the app with and without a connection and didn't notice any difference, however. We also weren't able to confirm how much data the app uses and how often the app needs to update itself.

If you drive a lot, don't know the whereabouts of the speed cameras and are fed up of being caught, ?1.49 is justifiable; at ?3.99 we aren't so sure.

We aren't sure because we don't know who this app is for exactly, aside from TomTom trying to eek out some extra milage on the services that it already offers.

The app works, but we've yet to find any of the people we asked who think it is a must. Those who don't know where they are going will use a sat nav with the speed camera data already in it, and those who do will surely know where the speed cameras are.

Also, unless you have a docking cradle for powering the phone, the constant need for a connection (GPS and data) means your battery life will be affected. The iPhone battery isn't great as it is, so abusing it in this way probably won't be ideal for many.

What do you think? Would you use the app? Let us know in the comments below.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps TomTom Car And GPS GPS

TomTom speed camera app hands-on and pictures originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 +0100

The best iPhone apps are often the games. It's probably the largest category in the App Store and they're the one's that seem to come and go on our handsets more frequently than any others as in turn each is downloaded, mastered and discarded. The bottom line is that you're going to need a lot of them, which is why we at Pocket-lint have compiled a list of what we think are the very best iPhone games.

Naturally, that list is absolutely enormous so today is the turn of the best iPhone driving games. If it's got wheels and goes on your phone, then you'll find it here.

Mini Motor

Mini Motor is a familiar kind of game. It’s a top-down, non-realistic, lap racer with all the usual power-ups, car upgrades and track, cup and vehicle unlocks. A quick glance at all the padlocks on the menus is a good sign that there’s plenty of gameplay to get through; certainly enough for your ?1.50 outlay or thereabouts, anyway. What’s also interesting to note is that, even though there is an iPad-friendly HD version, it actually plays just as well on a smartphone.

Generally the game is pretty standard fare. You choose your car, you choose your track, you get behind the wheel and you get racing but, what really sets Mini Motor apart - and, ultimately, makes it worth downloading - is the stunning graphics and smooth way that the game is put together. It’s a treat to watch each menu roll seamlessly into the next and, once you get driving, it’s as much a pleasure to enjoy the sights and sounds of the environments as it is to screech, skid, boost and bump your way around the bends. Read more

iTunes:?Link

Price:??1.49

Rating: 4/5

?

Zombie Highway

Developed by Renderpaz, this game consists of driving down said zombie highway while dodging, and using, various upturned cars and lorries to knock zombies (who leap from the side of the road) off your car.?Fortunately, there is a decent array of weapons as well, so you can mete out justice the good ol' fashioned way - with a shotgun.?

There are three levels - Clasic, No Weapons and Hard - to keep you busy and a good variety of zombies on offer with varying degrees of toughness. Get as far down the highway as possible to earn weapons and be awarded with either the gold, silver or bronze award. A great game. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 4/5

?

Shine Runner

“Yeeeeehaaaw!!!” is the common parlance one might use to describe the fun you get out of playing Shine Runner. The shine referred to in the game's title is moonshine, essentially, and the running it is where you and your thumbs come in. You play some nameless, faceless hero of a sort in the Deep South. Your job is to drive one of those swamp, fan-powered, hovercraft things - as made world famous by the series Gentle Ben - from A to B around a basic map delivering and picking up cargo at each stop.

The other side of the experience is the buying and selling of the commodities, which fluctuate in price, at each stop and doing your best to make as much cash as possible. In a way, it’s rather like a very rudimentary, redneck version of Elite. However you want to think of Shine Runner though, what’s very clear is that it’s an absolute treat for anyone to play. We’re not convinced that the lasting appeal will hold any longer than a few weeks but it’s well worth it all the same.

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating:?4/5

?

Cars & Guns 3D

Cars and Guns 3D does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, minus the 3D. It's a cardboard cut-out, PaRappa the Rapper-look, road rage racer where you can buy and sell vehicles as you complete different types of missions and buy tune-ups along the way. Get a little bit further into the adventure and one of those optional extras you can pick up turns out to be guns.

The cars obviously handle very differently from one another, with a more expensive model not necessarily guaranteed to bring you better results, but it's probably the on-screen touch controls that unintentionally add a little extra. The?lack of polish doesn't take anything away from this title though and it's possibly not the easiest app to use on the back of the bus but certainly well worth your 69p. Read more

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 4/5

?

Real Racing 2

Real Racing has long been the smartphone's answer to Gran Turismo. It has pushed the graphical prowess of whatever platform it has appeared on. Now it's the iPhone 4S's turn to get some Real Racing action, in the form of Real Racing 2 which underwent quite a?significant update?for the handset's launch. This game is graphically a stunner and?the racing feels quite simply well ... real. The iPhone 4S version benefits from an enhanced lighting engine and improved textures as well as the ability to run the game at 720p on a television via AirPlay. You can also go split screen against another three different players.?

You race against a different array of cars, initially small hot hatches but later on full-blown supercars and racers.?As the game goes on you get the ability to upgrade various aspects of your car, including things like suspension and the engine itself.?The online multiplayer function takes place seamlessly within the app and consists of up to 16 players racing at once. Nothing like that exists on iOS and it is quite a thing to manage on just a smartphone.?Real Racing 2 is the gaming app you want to download if you own an iPhone 4S, it plays great, looks great and the best bit about it, costs just ?2.99. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?2.99

Rating: 5/5

?

Bike Baron

Put together, effectively, by a super group of developers, Bike Baron has been much anticipated and is a?side-scrolling, platform style trial bike racer game.?There's only four buttons you need to press - lean left, lean right, go and stop - and we're very pleased that the developers have resisted the urge to add gyroscopic controls into the mix. Waggling your arms around when on the Tube is not a way of a) remaining inconspicuous, or b) making friends. Old-fashioned controls for old fashioned gamers, and we're happy with that (although you can set whether you're right or left-handed).

Even the game progression is simple, relying on the tried and trusted "earn up to three stars" level method. Stars can be earned through finishing the course in a set time, collecting coins, and even the amount of back or front flips you manage along the way. But added to this format is the way you unlock the next level. Each unlock costs a certain amount of stars, so, unless you do particularly well, you may find yourself running out, and thus having to go back to a stage you hadn't completed in full.?Say goodbye to your free time. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 4/5

?

Stickman BMX

This sequel to the popular Stickman Skater brings plenty of elements from the original and repackages them with the BMX. Launched in July, the game gets a re-engineered physics engine and just enough of a variety of obstacles and locations to be worth the download.?Controls are simple in the extreme, with two responsive buttons on either side of the screen controlling pedalling and jumping. And it's basically a case of pressing these controls at the right time in order to progress through the levels.

Graphics are okay, but not fantastic and the soundtrack and SFX can become a little annoying. However the true joy with this game is its old-fashioned take on level design. By this we mean that everything is blissfully predictable. You'll come across the same car moving towards you at precisely the same point and aerial threats will dive at you in a similarly consistent way.?Once completed there's extra in-app content to be had in the form of Race the Ace, which brings another 30 levels, and Skateboard which gives you the option to skate around all the new levels.?Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 3.5/5

?

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

The premise of the game is simple - you control Sonic or one of his pals (or foes) around a series of tracks, drifting boosting and weapon-using along the way. It's a bit like that other franchise karting came that you're probably already familiar with - you know, Shrek Kart.?You kick off proceedings by creating your Sega Driving Licence and choosing a game face, then you're off straight into the tutorial. It's all fairly

straightforward if you've played ?this kind of?racing sim before - although the graphics are above and beyond what we've seen from its small screen rivals in the past.

After the tutorial you have a plethora of single player and multi-player options. In single player there are three GP stages to compete in (with three difficulty levels), speed trials, single races or missions, of which there are 25. These include coin chases, accuracy tests and the like - all the while you're collecting Sega Miles to unlock further characters and courses.?This game is far superior to the racing game that Sonic first appeared in, back in 1991, and probably around the price of three or four goes on that?arcade classic. Read more

iTunes: Link

Price: ?1.49

Rating: 5/5

?

F-SIM Space Shuttle

F-SIM Space Shuttle gives you the chance to take command of Atlantis and pilot it safely to the runway at?John F. Kennedy Space Center or Edwards Air Force Base. Once landed, you can even watch a replay of your?flight from various perspectives such as the runway and the control tower, as well as from the orbiter itself.?Flying the shuttle from a 3D virtual cockpit, you can choose to use accelerometer controls, using tilt control?and or make use of the touchscreen and opt for the analogue stick control. Either works well, although the?tilt control possibly gives you a better idea of the real thing.

If you're not used to flight simulators, it's quite tricky to get the hang of, but that just makes it all the more?addictive. The excellent graphics really add to the realism (well, it's as realistic as landing a space shuttle?using your mobile phone can be) and if you get really good at it then you'll be awarded a "perfect landing" score and tested further with additional turbulence and simulated system failures. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?2.49

Rating: 3/5

?

Rubik's Race

Rubik's Race is just like the Rubik's Cube game that you're more than likely familiar with - albeit on a flat surface where the coloured squares slide into empty spaces in order to complete the objective. A real life example can be bought from Play.com for around ?15.

There are three versions of the game. First up is the Arcade mode where you do battle with a series of puzzles collecting bonus items (swap tiles, delete tiles and so on) as you progress. Beware of the pitfalls though - these are your anti-bonus items such as turning off the colour or freezing the tiles. You're battling against the clock as well, so the latter is particularly annoying.

Time attack is a flat out assault against the clock, and the amount of moves that you make, in a series of 9 tile challenges, and there is also a two player pass and play mode as well, which runs along the same lines. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?1.49

Rating: 3/5

?

Burnout Crash

If you've ever played any of the Burnout games, Burnout Crash will make some sense. Its premise is based on the Crash element in the console games, and here it is the main focus. Crash into a car, and then spend the next 90 seconds, or whatever the goal is, trying to continue that crash going to rack up the points.

Each level has three game types; Rush Hour, Pile Up, and Road Block, all with different goals.?Each area also has three difficult levels to it and there are six different locations.?At ?2.99 it's a bit rich, however it is published by EA so it is bound to go on sale at some point in the near future, and when it does it will probably be worth a go. Yes it has Origin and Game Center support too. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price:??2.99

Rating:?3/5

?

Asphalt 6: Adrenalin

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline has been completely rebuilt from the ground up (no pun intended). It has a brand new graphics engine, and there are several modes and styles of play that haven't appeared in any of its prequels.

For starters, the garage, which can contain up to 42 cars from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and more, can be wandered through as a?3D environment. Then there's new crash physics and graphics that make you wince everytime you hit oncoming traffic.

?

However, the most satisfying change implemented for Adrenaline, is in its speed. The game zips along a fair old pace and, considering that Asphalt 5 was already super speedy, you can only imagine the effect that ramping it up has on the action. Certainly, when you eliminate rivals in Burnout style (by?ramming?them off the road), there's a sense of white knuckled aggression about it that only comes with pure acceleration. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price:??2.99

Rating:?3/5

?

Reckless Racing 2

The original Reckless Racing was a straightforward piece of smartphone?gaming addictiveness. Based loosely on Radical Racing, a retro classic, it is a top down racer with an emphasis on drifting and crashing.?

Reckless Racing 2 sees the series return to form in a much improved guise. In depth car customisation, loads of new tracks, improved graphics and an even better drifting setup, reckless racing 2 is one of our favourite gaming apps on the iPhone.

Graphically RR2 is a bit of a stunner. It boasts big, bold, bright colours and car models which look nearly as good as that of Real Racing's. The top-down view also lets you get a good view of all the on screen action as you bash around the track.?

The?game?is a very simple one at its core. Just go forwards and back, drifting around corners as quickly as you can. You will find you pick up gold in most of the early races doing just the above. Later on however and you are going to need to go into all sorts of customisation in order to build a car quick enough to take the win. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price:??2.99

Rating: 4/5

Tags: Apps Gaming Driving games Features iPhone iPhone 4S iPhone apps

Best iPhone games: driving originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 03 May 2012 10:03:00 +0100

The Xbox Live Arcade isn’t the only arcade still kicking around these days. In fact, with today’s App of the Day on Pocket-lint, you can download an arcade all of you own.

Namco Arcade

Platform

iPad and iOS

Price

Free(ish)

Where

iTunes

Downloading the Namco Arcade app for iOS devices is a bit like stepping back into an Eighties paradise of slot machine gaming. Actually, it’s not but it is a massive nostalgia trip that, pleasingly, doesn’t always let you down.

The app houses a selection of arcade titles from Namco from back in’t day which number eight or nine or so and include PAC-LAND, PAC-MAN, Galaga, Rolling Thunder, Xevious, The Tower of Druaga, Phozon, and Motos. Frankly, most of these aren’t actually much fun to play - contrary to rose-tinted memory, PAC-LAND is rubbish - but there are a couple of crackers which make this free app worth downloading.

The trick is that you get 10 free credits per day but after that it costs you $0.99 per hit unless you buy them in stacks. The best advice is probably to play the game in moderation and have something else on the side to keep you going. As for the crackers, frankly, spy shooter Rolling Thunder is genius and mercilessly hard. (Tip: duck and shoot works for the first level but after that the bad guys get wise). The other one that’s tough to put down is, of course, Galaga (Don’t forget the old dual ships move) and the app is worth it for these two alone.

With touch, arcade-look controls, it’s not as easy as it was when you were slotting 20ps for a game but this set of titles is one of those that’s compatible with the iCade and, although we didn’t have one for the purposes of testing, it’s plain to see that it would be a match made in Silicon Heaven.

NamcoBandai should be adding games to the Namco Arcade as time goes on. Let’s hope they do. Let’s also hope someone takes the time to clean up the menu screen too.

Tags: Apps App of the day Namco Arcade iCade iPad apps iPhone apps iPhone games iPad games Pac-Man

APP OF THE DAY: Namco Arcade review (iPad and iOS) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Thorsten Heins, chief executive of RIM, has been speaking ?to an exclusive group of journalists at BlackBerry World?about his long terms goals for the manufacturer.

With Pocket-lint in attendance, Heins reiterated that RIM had no plans to leave the consumer market, while conceding that mistakes had been made in the past.?

?Perhaps we had a little fat in the hips,? said Heins. ?We need to become a lean, mean hunting machine.? Fighting talk indeed.

Despite only having been in the hot seat for three months, Heins is grabbing RIM by the berries as it looks to improve its marketing abilities, focusing the company as a whole ensuring there is ?one voice?.

This is something Heins feels perhaps wasn't the case with BlackBerry 7 and is actively seeking both a chief marketing officer and chief operating officer to address these issues.

Despite his rallying call to unite RIM as one, Heins emphasised the importance of partnerships with third-party app developers, something that has been the key message at BlackBerry World.

All developers in attendance at BlackBerry World are receiving a BlackBerry Dev Alpha device to work on.

?We're not a gaming company or a mapping specialist, so apps are key to our success.?

Heins has certainly talked a good game and the general mood around BlackBerry World is one of positivity.

This is largely because of the possibilities of BlackBerry 10, which Heins says will cater RIM for the next decade.

Tags: BlackBerry BlackBerry 10 RIM BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha Apps

RIM CEO: We need to become a lean, mean hunting machine originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 17:00:00 +0100

Not so drawsome, that's probably what Zynga?investors are currently thinking after word that Draw Something has managed to lose more than 5 million daily users in the past 30 days.

Zynga, which suprised everyone in March by paying $210m for Draw Something's creators OMGPOP, has seen users of the app disappear almost as quickly as they came, as the appeal of the drawing app for iPhone, iPad, Android and Facebook wanes.

According to Atlantic Wire magazine using data supplied by App Data, at the height of the app's success more than15 million people were playing the game every day. A month later, and that number has dropped to just 10 million.

App Data's numbers are based on Facebook logins, which are popular but not required for the game, but it gives us a good idea of how dire the situation looks.

Of course that's very much a "glass half empty" approach. The other way of looking at it is that Draw Something still has 10 million daily users and that the company has seen downloads rocket since buying the developers behind the app.?

However with tough competition from Rovio and others all vying for the number one app spot you've got to ask will Zynga be able to turn that slide around?

?

Read

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iPad apps Android apps Draw Something Zynga

Draw what? Are people bored with Draw Something already? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:11:00 +0100

Spotify for iPad is now live in the app store. We have had a good play with the app, uncovered its secrets and figured it best we share them with you.?

Those desperate for an iPad-centric version of the application will not be disappointed. From our play through, the app is slick as anything, super speedy and doesn't require you to re-sync locally stored tracks should you want to update to it.?

Booting up the application you are greeted with a scrolling what's new section, complete with retina display artwork. Below this is a friend-based trending playlists and top tracks section, there is then a scrollable new releases and a top tracks and playlists near you.?

A tab on the left of the app governs all the rest of the Spotify functions. So your inbox, search, what's new, playlists and people are all selectable, as well as settings. The whole app works on a sort of slide-out tray principle, so whatever you tap will pop up as an overlay on the previous menu. Sliding left and right will take you back and forth.

Search has had a major revamp for the iPad and is now as in-depth as you could want it to be. Type in Radiohead and you get a best match, artists, albums, playlists and most played tracks. The individual artist page is also very slick with a bio and similar-sounding bands, as well as being able to share to Spotify people, Facebook, Twitter and email.

Once you actually decide on a song then just tap it to play. This will pop open the player at the bottom of the application which you can switch between being full screen or miniaturised. In full-screen mode album artwork looks particularly impressive. This mode also allows you to push audio out through Apple TV devices.?

Storing tracks locally is as easy as tapping the download button. These can be kept in the 320kbps extreme setting as well that Spotify recently added to its iPhone and Android apps. There is also the ability to stream and playback songs gaplessly, a feature unique to the iPad.?

Playlist management is our favourite bit of the whole app experience. Spotify is still slightly behind when it comes to managing your music on the desktop. We still don't quite like the way you can have a properly organised library, instead of just playlists. By organising a proper playlists tab and making saving albums easier on the iPad, it feels like the best Spotify experience yet on any platform. This is a big step up.

We aren't quite sure how useful the what's new section is, unless you are interested in following very mainstream pop music - there just isn't that much else there. The other problem is, there is none of the quite frankly brilliant Spotify apps that you see in the desktop version.?

We want to be able to use Last.fm and Soundrop. Who knows though, they might be coming. Similarly the friends integration, though handled well, just doesn't seem to have that much use yet. Then again our Pocket-lint friends might be particularly anti social.

All in all though a brilliant application. Shame it just didn't turn up earlier.?

Tags: Music Apps Spotify Spotify for iPad iPad iOS

Spotify for iPad pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 13:14:00 +0100

The best iPhone apps are often the games. It's probably the largest category in the App Store and they're the one's that seem to come and go on our handsets more frequently than any others as each in turn is downloaded, mastered and discarded. The bottom line is that you're going to need a lot of them, which is why we at Pocket-lint have compiled a list of what we think are the very best iPhone games.

Naturally, that list is absolutely enormous so today is the turn of the best iPhone shooting games. Whether you're first person, top down or otherwise, if it belongs in a holster then this is where you'll find it.

Dead Space

At its core, Dead Space is a survival horror game, featuring cunning use of ambient darkness and enough cinematic jumps and bumps to make it possibly the scariest experience you could have with an iPhone or iPad. At times, it's so tense that it's hard to play it for a long period, and while EA Mobile advises that you wear headphones for the best experience, that may be just a step too far for some. As it is, those of a nervous disposition would be well advised to keep a spare pair of underwear to hand.

Graphically, Dead Space for all iOS devices is brilliant, with finely crafted tones and aesthetics, and is as close to a console experience as you can get. However, it's even better on the iPad 2, as the game is one of those that has been optimised for the new generation of Apple's tablet.?The extra power of its new graphics processor is used to great effect on, er, great effects.?If you're the proud owner of an iPad 2, this has to be on your essentials list. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?2.99

Rating: 5/5

?

Gun Bros

When Pocket-lint first saw this we were reminded of one of the all-time classic top-down shooters, Chaos Engine. Gun Bros is similar in that you control one of two beefy dudes packing large weapons with the sole purpose of killing as many alien meanies as possible - in this case T.O.O.L.?But there's another side to Gun Bros: as you progress you'll collect Xplodium which you can then use in exchange for cold-hard cash - there's also refinery upgrades which take longer to process the ore but hold greater return - this, along with XP, means you can level up and get hold of meatier weapons.

However, because of he free nature of the game, the maker, Glu, offers a way to get hold of the latest guns through in-app purchases. The system seems fair, offering up a balance between in-game achievement and buying your way to the top, as some equipment is locked and you still need to do the hard work. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 4/5

?

Rage HD

Playing a contestant in a bizarre splatter-gameshow, you are guided through some of the most gorgeous graphics we've seen on any handheld console or device. The stroll through each level's decaying landscape will frequently be?interrupted?by mutants and other deformed denizens, which you must dispatch with great?prejudice.?Essentially, that's it. Blast everything that moves, and some things that don't. Your feet will plod along to the next encounter as soon as you complete the last, and you need only worry about the shooting itself and moving your head about to target.

Certainly, Rage HD will win no prizes for depth of gameplay or, even, originality (think rail shooters such as House of the Dead, all the way back to Operation Wolf in the arcades), but it will be, and should be, lauded for its sense of fun and simply amazing graphics. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?1.49

Rating: 4/5

?

Zombie Highway

Developed by Renderpaz, this game consists of driving down said zombie highway while dodging, and using, various upturned cars and lorries to knock zombies (who leap from the side of the road) off your car.?Fortunately, there is a decent array of weapons as well, so you can mete out justice the good ol' fashioned way - with a shotgun.?

There are three levels - Clasic, No Weapons and Hard - to keep you busy and a good variety of zombies on offer with varying degrees of toughness. Get as far down the highway as possible to earn weapons and be awarded with either the gold, silver or bronze award. A great game. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: 69p

Rating: 4/5

?

Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus

On its launch, MC2 was, without doubt, the finest FPS that we'd seen on the iPhone 4, beating other Gameloft titles such as NOVA and Zombie Infection to that honour.?The gameplay is simply terrific. It's just so smooth. In fact, it's so good that you often forget that you're playing on a small screen - it really does draw you in. We particularly love the kill streak features (and slick animation) and the super-slow effect you get when you kick down a door - which allows you to blow a few heads off before you're enemies have a chance to think.

Yeah sure, these are Modern Warfare 2 rip-offs, but they are so brilliantly done on the small screen that it doesn't seem to matter.?The graphics and visuals are also stunning, especially on the iPhone 4's retina display.?This really is a fantastic game, and an absolute steal at less than ?4. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: ?4.99

Rating: 5/5?

?

Asteroids Gunner

Computer games come and go, but some, it would appear, were meant to stick around. Atari's Asteroids is a game that fits the "classic" moniker very well indeed.?And now Atari's 1979 bestseller has been reinvented for the iPhone with the new name of Asteroids Gunner. Developed by Atari itself, the game brings a whole new set of powerups and abilities as well as multiple ships to use in your attempt to destroy all that come into your vicinity.?A classy title if ever there was one, Asteroids Gunner sees you take control of a ship in order to blast your way through multiple levels filled with the eponymous objects.

Using the two virtual joysticks, which are accurate and responsive, you can manoeuvre your craft while controlling the direction of your fire.?There are three galaxies in total with numerous levels in each. You have a choice of three ships to take on the hoards, though two are initially locked. Other upgrades are also available to buy between levels through the collection of crystals during gameplay. There's now also the ever-present in-app purchases which enable you to buy better upgrades than with just the crystals.?An excellent addition to the Asteroid franchise. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 3/5

?

Max Payne Mobile

The full Max Payne download costs ?1.99, fairly cheap for what is such a large amount of content. Graphically the game hasn't fared quite so well over the years, but it still plays just as brilliantly and the story is as fresh and as exciting as when we first played it many years ago.

Max Payne plays like a very speedy version of Gears of War. Lots of enemies on screen, a lot of bullets and the ability to dive in different directions while fighting. On top of this, you can slow down time by either standing still or diving. This makes it easier to hit enemies and is a must when using something like, say, the sniper rifle. Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?1.99

Rating: 4/5

?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies

Based on Treyarch's console version and adapted by the folks at Ideaworks Game Studio, the FPS will see you blasting your way through hordes of the undead in single or multiplayer modes.

And it's multiplayer where the action is, which is fortunate as the game supports up to 4 players battling it out at any one time along with voice-chat to boot. There's only one map available at the moment, Kino der Toten, but more should follow as there will be free content updates coming.

Another nice addition is 50 levels of Dead-Ops Arcade, a top-down mini game found within the original?console?title.

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?4.99

Rating: 4/5

?

Nova 2

N.O.V.A. 2 is the second?instalment?of what is, possibly, the best first person shooter Apple devices have seen to date.

The original N.O.V.A. (Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance) owed plenty to the?Halo franchise, with a similar colour pallet and Spartan-like forces, but was a fine FPS in its own right. However, as good as it is, many felt that its linear and constrictive level lay-outs made it a touch claustrophobic.Not so with the sequel. Some of the levels feature wide, expansive play areas, with much of the action outside, allowing for a more free roaming style feel, and a heck of a lot more running about during big boss battles.?

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?4.99

Rating: 4/5

?

Doom Classic

What could be better than the original first person shooter on your iPhone. A gaming classic, translated well for touch controls, Doom on the iPhone is a must have download. Everything is there, including the still awesome sounding music.?

The app has also been done up for Retina Display packing iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, meaning it looks particularly slick. At ?2.99 it is a bit of a no brainer and has been an App Store classic for a good few years now.?

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?2.99

Rating: 4/5

?

Mass Effect Infiltrator

Format

iOS

Price

?4.99

Where

iTunes

So where to begin with Infiltrator? The opening cinematic is fairly spectacular in typical Mass Effect style. This then leads on to a simple yet highly addictive iOS shooter along the lines of the console game itself. Things have, of course, been massively simplified because of a lack of physical controls but there is still quite a lot to get stuck into.

Your character, Ezno, as well as being able to blast his way through all sorts of conventional Mass Effect enemies, can also have parts of his skill tree upgraded. You can boost stuff like punch to make enemies fly into the air when you hit them, for example.

There is a basic cover mechanic which will automatically hug you to the environment, an up swipe causing you to jump over whatever is in your way. Aim is done by tapping on an enemy and the the reticule fine tuned using your right hand on the screen. It actually works really well and is one of the best ways we have seen shooting mechanics handled on a smartphone app.?Read More

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?4.99

Rating: 4/5

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Shooting games Gaming Features

Best iPhone games: shooters originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 02 May 2012 10:50:43 +0100

RIM has promised BlackBerry 10 app developers at least $10,000 in the first year should their application qualify for BlackBerry App World.

Anyone doubting RIM’s commitment to ensuring its BlackBerry 10 OS is well equipped with apps when it’s launched later this year was clearly not at the BlackBerry 10 Jam event in Orlando, Florida.

Alec Saunders,?RIM’s VP of Developer Relations, took to the stage (not before we got to see him and his band playing some “dad rock” on the big screen) and made the guarantee.

Furthermore should any developer not earn $10,000 with their certified BlackBerry 10 app within the first year, then RIM will make up the difference.

Now for the caveats. The apps themselves must be paid for apps and developers must make at least $1,000 from the app by themselves to demonstrate to RIM that there is a hunger for their idea. All reasonable T&C's we're sure you'd agree.

Having received criticism for the lack of apps at launch when BlackBerry App World first arrived, RIM seems determined not to let history repeat itself by offering a huge portfolio of apps when BlackBerry 10 goes live later this year.

RIM emphasised that it would be accepting only high-quality applications to the BlackBerry App World, but that this shouldn’t deter first-time developers wishing to submit.

Judging by the whoops and spontaneous applause from the watching audience – most of who were developers – there are plenty willing to take on RIM’s offer.

Tags: BlackBerry 10 RIM Apps BlackBerry BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha BlackBerry App World

RIM guarantees $10,000 for BlackBerry 10 app developers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 01 May 2012 20:10:00 +0100

So we might not be developers, but we’ve managed to tackle the media scrum and got some hands-on time with the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device.

The device is being handed out to all developers attending the BlackBerry World conference, helping to develop a library of apps for when the OS is launched later this year.

Yet what about the device itself. Well we should clarify that the product wasn’t actually running on BlackBerry 10, rather an OS not to dissimilar from the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Which is largely what the Dev Alpha reminded us of, a miniature PlayBook.

Engulfing the device is the 4.2-inch touch display. Touchscreens very much appear to be the way forward when it comes to BlackBerry 10, with the operating system needing some major tweaks if it is to support devices with a physical QWERTY keyboard. At least from what we’ve seen so far.

The device itself felt very comfortable in the hand with a rubberised case that was both comfy and high-end, yet at the same time able to withstand the odd bang or bump.

Found on the top of the device was a 3.5mm headset jack while a metallic strip enabling volume control sat down the side of the device.

On the adjacent side of the device sits a microSD card slot and mini-HDMI while a RIM spokesperson told Pocket-lint the device has up to 16GB or onboard storage.

All in all not bad for a device that we’ll never actually get to own.

UPDATE: We had to bribe, threaten and smile sweetly* (*only one of these is true) but we managed to get hold of a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device with the current version of BlackBerry 10 running on it.

We must stress this is only a working version of the OS, but it gives us an idea of what we might be able to expect.

Tags: BlackBerry BlackBerry 10 RIM Apps BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha

BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 01 May 2012 18:57:00 +0100

So BlackBerry 10 is now official, having been unveiled at RIM’s BlackBerry World conference in Orlando, Florida. Yet what’s new and why should we be getting excited?

Still being developed, RIM demoed a few key features on the new operating system on the manufacturer’s Dev Alpha device?to us to show just what it has in store for the new BlackBerry 10 operating system due out later this year.?

Conversations?

Conversations have been revamped over and above what you currently get with BB OS 7. The idea now being that the user becomes more immersed into conversation. Users will be able to glance between all their conversations quickly allowing them to move back and forth should they need to check on a previous correspondence.

Rather than moving to a new page, each screen sits on top of the others, and in a flipbook style. To choose the message you want to read, you can simply press on the relevant page.

Multitasking

It’s not just your messages that work in this way either, with all your apps running in real time again with a flowing layered list enabling fast and easy access to the one you wish to access.

Keyboard

Vivek Bhardwaj, RIM’s head of software was also keen to demonstrate the typing ability on BlackBerry 10. With Pocket-lint in the audience, Bhardwaj demonstrated a swiping type method that uses algorithms to learn your texting techniques.

For example, if you tend to hit the letter ‘m’ slightly off centre, BlackBerry 10 will soon learn this and adjust accordingly. It will also learn your most-used words and make suggestions accordingly.

Now for the really cool bit. When a word is suggested you can "throw" it, before you’ve even completed it, into the text box. To delete your last word you can simply swipe the screen to the left. The idea is that fewer keystrokes mean less time.

Camera?

A revolutionary camera experience is not something we’d necessary associate with RIM, but BlackBerry 10 offers just that.

You know that time when you take a great photo only for it to be ruined by one person closing their eyes? Well take a snap using a BlackBerry 10 device and you’ll be able to “go back and forth in time” ensuring you get the best possible shot.?

The camera takes multiple shots that enables the user to zoom in on a particular subject, for example the person with their eyes closed, and skip a millisecond back or forth to ensure your photo remains unspoilt.

Clever.?

Games?

Remember how we told you that the BlackBerry maker wasn't about to quit the consumer space any time soon? Well that is backed up even more by the focus on gaming at BlackBerry World.?

Gameloft has revealed that N.O.V.A. 3 would be coming to BlackBerry 10 as will 10 other games including Shark Dash, Ice Age Village, and Oregon Trail.

Meanwhile Fish Labs is promising a BB10 version of Galaxy on Fire, with Fish Labs saying the port from Android to PlayBook was incredibly easy.

Jetpack Joyride from half brick has also been promised.?

When

So when might we, the consumer, be seeing BlackBerry 10. Well according to RIM, hopefully before the end of the year.

The good news is that with RIM issuing developers at BlackBerry World each with an Alpha Dev device, by the time it does arrive there should be plenty of content to download.?

Something that couldn’t be said when the BlackBerry PlayBook first arrived.

Tags: BlackBerry RIM BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha Apps BlackBerry 10 BlackBerry World

BlackBerry 10 arrives, why should we be getting excited? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 01 May 2012 16:04:00 +0100

The internet is a vast and cavernous place. In fact, it’s often so very big that it’s impossible to find anything of interest at all. With absolutely anything you can think of available to read about online, it’s sometimes difficult to think of anything to search for.

That’s where today’s App of the Day on Pocket-lint comes in handy. It’s an oldie but a very goodie indeed, and one that’s just turned up on our handsets.

StumbleUpon

Platform

Android/iOS

Price

Free

Where

Play/iTunes

StumbleUpon has arrived on mobile phones pretty much everywhere now that it’s brought its fresh-faced good looks to Google Play, nee the Android Market. The service has been around on iOS for a while but, seeing as we haven’t featured it before on App of the Day, then what better time?

For those who haven’t used StumbleUpon’s original browser version before, then exactly where have you been? It’s a social bookmarking tool where you can effectively like and dislike web pages. On its own, that sounds rather dull but the fun part is that all of that information is collated and crunched by the StumbleUpon engine which then profiles all of the bookmarked pages by category as well as by how popular they are. You can then enjoy whole experience the other way around by asking Stumble to recommend to you web pages that it thinks you’ll like. Very nice and a sensational way to waste time on your computer.

The app, of course, means that the whole experience has been tailored for mobile and it offers pretty much everything you could need. There are boiled-down screens where you can choose subject material that you’re interested in; a decent UI with a menu bar at the bottom where you can like, dislike and share; and also the baked-in add-on for Android that allows you to Stumble web pages you come across when you’re in your standard mobile browser.

It’s all put together pretty well but, while the tablet version is very tidy, we did find the experience to be not quite as great on mobile. A lot of pages you get taken to aren’t very small-screen friendly and it takes a little manual pinching and zooming to get the aspect right. That said, browsing in landscape makes things a little better.

Nonetheless, StumbleUpon is a very decent app indeed. Fans of the desktop version should download it without hesitation and it’s definitely worth a look in for any lapsed users too. Great on boring bus journeys, or even on the loo.

Tags: Apps App of the day StumbleUpon Android apps Social networking

APP OF THE DAY: StumbleUpon review (Android and iOS) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

So far has technology come that we can now read each other’s thoughts through our smartphones. Well of sorts. Echoer is a new social networking app available on the iPhone that enables people to post their thoughts and nuances on their surroundings.

The idea is that you’re able to discover new and exciting places near to your location while in turn providing your own opinion.

Echoer

Platform

iPhone

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

Thoughts are retold through an echo speech bubble and can be categorised into Discoveries, Events and Thoughts. Each is colour coded in yellow, red and blue respectively making it easier to differentiate between them all.

Yet here lies our first gripe with Echoer. While the user interface is easy to master, when on the map (Google Maps) there didn’t seem to be any way of telling what a thought was referring to, until we clicked on the actual echo.

That’s not a problem if the thought reads something along the lines of “Queen Victoria pub has a cracking garden”, but if it simply reads “Cracking garden” how are you to know it’s not referring to someone’s new rose bush?

Our second gripe lay with the fact that when scrolling through the map, the echoes temporarily disappear until you stop moving your finger. This results in a stop-start process of trying to locate where all the echoes are.?

?

Talking of which, despite playing with the app just 24 hours after launch, we were surprised to find so many echoes already posted. Further investigation revealed that Echoer is actually powered by Foursquare and initially echoes are made up of tips from that network.

However, Echoer is far more than a mere Foursquare spinoff. As it attracts more users, the idea is that people will “amp” particular echoes, with the “louder” echoes being pushed to the top and the more mundane and useless being relegated to the bottom. Think of the amp key as the equivalent to the Facebook Like button. It helps separate the wheat from the chaff.

Any particular favourite echoes can be posted to Facebook, Twitter or even emailed, and again Echoer’s clean UI means you can do so in just a matter of clicks.

Being a social network within its own right, Echoer is keen for you to build up your own profile. It might lack the personality of Facebook or Twitter - there’s no profile pic for example - but you can build your own community, "starring" fellow Echoers which in turn will keep you posted as to anything they have to say, while you can also star specific locations. We’ve starred a new bar we’ve wanted to check out for example.?

Echoer is not without its flaws. However, having just launched, we expect these to be ironed out as more people begin using it. It’s a social network with a purpose - that purpose bringing more to the local community - and for that we applaud it.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps App of the day Echoer Foursquare

APP OF THE DAY: Echoer review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:16:00 +0100

Productivity apps form the core of every smartphone experience. They are the reason that most of us invest in one, along with mapping and music. The useful apps available ?are numbered in the hundreds, but these are the ones we think every mobile should have installed from day one.?

Everything from cloud-based document storage to handy office apps is covered here. Don't forget either, running Android means you get access to Google's entire infrastructure. This means the general email, calender and document experience should be a bit smoother, should you do the majority of your work using Google products.

Skitch

Skitch comes from Evernote, the note-taking application that has successfully bridged mobile platforms. It is an app that will let you annotate pictures with a range of options at your fingertips.?From the outset you have three options: take a photo, open an image, or just start with a blank page.? If you've mastered taking a screenshot on your Android device (which some phones currently allow, but which will be much easier in Ice Cream Sandwich) then you can easily select a screenshot from your Gallery too.

As with any drawing package, Skitch then gives you a run of options for annotating your image. This isn't about image manipulation and isn't designed to let you edit photos, but will let you write and draw on them.?So it might be something as simple as putting an arrow on a picture or adding text. You can zoom images to get to a particular thing you want to highlight as well as change the colour and size of the annotation.?Skitch is just what we want from an app: simple, easy and fun, with a practical purpose. Read More

Market: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5

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Google Docs

Google's Docs app gives access to Google docs from your phone, and a few other treats along the way.?Fire up the app and after a few seconds you’ll notice that if you already use Google docs all your documents are automatically synced in there and ready for you to use. It's?a really nice touch and one that makes setting up a doddle. As long as you’ve already given your phone your Google account details, it will pass those to the Docs app and do the rest.

As you would probably expect from Google, the emphasis here is on simplicity. That means no flashy menu systems, no swirling graphics, just access to your files. The home screen offers shortcuts to all items stored in the cloud, collections, starred, documents, images, as well as text, spreadsheets, and presentations.?Everything is saved to the Google docs cloud,?presuming you are connected,?meaning you can access it later from your computer. Read More

Market: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 4/5

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Quickoffice Pro HD

Quickoffice Pro HD has been specifically designed for Honeycomb to take advantage of the operating system's features, such as the higher resolutions and bigger screen sizes - so is perfectly suited to the Honeycomb-flavoured Android tablets, such as the Motorola Xoom and Asus Transformer.?And as it's an all-in-one office suite, you shouldn't need anything else.?

The new app will let you create, view and edit Microsoft Office files, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, and access them through several cloud-based services, like Google Docs, Dropbox, Box, Huddle, SugarSync and MobileMe, or from an SD card in the device.?There’s plenty more to Quickoffice Pro HD, including PDF support and superb integration with Honeycomb, which all adds up to an app that has the potential of doing away with the need for a computer and Microsoft Office altogether. Read More

Market: Link

Price: ?12.59

Rating: 5/5

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Pulse

Pulse is essentially a clever content-retrieval application with which you have full control over the content that you see. It relies heavily on the quality of the feeds that go into it and the results from different sources will vary accordingly.?But Pulse is one of our top Honeycomb apps, if not the current top Honeycomb app, simply because it works beautifully on the large screen. Pulse divides itself into a number of different tab pages, starting with Top and Social and followed by additional pages that you can customise to your needs.?

Pulse offers several featured sites, but if you decide you want news from elsewhere, you can simply search for a feed by tapping in the site URL or a keyword. You can also add your feeds from Google Reader.?It’s a slick, considered and useful application which really looks good on the big screen. It’s also free, which makes it that little bit sweeter and comes highly recommended if you are an Android tablet owner. Read More

Market: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5

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Picsel Smart Office

Yes, we know - there are a vast array of office suites for Android out there that we could have selected. But do you know how many of these apps have a novelty 3D gimmick attached to them??One, that's how many - and it's Picsel Smart Office that brings 3D to the office app party.?While you might not see any need to have your Word or Excel spreadsheets in the third dimension, there is perhaps a call for 3D presentations. And, with the 3D option being anaglyphic, it means that you can grab a load of cheap specs and hand them out to your colleagues in the boardroom.

Apart from the 3D feature, this is a rather swanky little office suite, with full support for Microsoft Office files (.docx, .doc, .xlsx, .xls, .pptx, .ppt) PDFs and image files too.?The UI is very swish, with a neon-blue demeanour and there's a good coverflow-style document viewer on board as well.?Another handy feature is that when you're in a document you can click the "Flow" button and it automatically resizes it for your phone or tablet.?Formatting options are all on board (and look just like their Microsoft equivalents) and once you get used to the gestures required to select text and begin editing, you'll be away. Read More

Market: Link

Price: ?5.99

Rating: 4/5

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Mint.com Personal Finance

Mint.com is all about your money - it’s a service which aggregates all your online bank accounts into one manageable place. Instead of having to log in to four different company systems, you enter all your details on set up and leave Mint to do the work for you each time you want to take a peep. It’ll deal with your savings, credit cards, mortgages and anything else you’ve got and put all of them and their transactions into one online statement. And, like all the best things on the Internet, it’s free.

The service uses bank level security and will also warn you if it suspects fraudulent activity on any of your accounts. But it doesn’t stop there: if you want to be super organised, you can create a budget. That’s because the website can categorise and display exactly what you spend your cash on. So, it’ll let you know just how much you waste on expensive take-out coffee. Off the back of that, you can make a new cashflow plan for yourself and the service will even make suggestions of where you can cut down your expenses. Read More

Market: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5

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Evernote

Evernote is a simple enough idea. It’s a cloud-based filing system for notes. It’s a giant, searchable, back pocket with dividers. The phone, pad or desktop app - however you want to use it - allows you to take notes as pictures, written notes, audio notes or you can just upload a file. You give each one a title as you do so and you’re welcome to tag them. Once you’re done, you hit upload and off they go into the cloud as if you’ve just attached a magical helium balloon. That’s probably how they’d show it in an advert, anyway.

While it’s a good service from a laptop, it really comes into its own on your mobile phone. You can take a photo of something you see that inspires you when you’re out on the hoof, or perhaps a Christmas gift idea or maybe just a ticket confirmation number or something that you’ll need later. It’s not hard to think of times where it comes in handy; you just have to remember that you have this service in your pocket in the first place. Best of all, of course, it’ll cost you nothing to try it out. Make sure you do. Read More

Market: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5

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Adobe Photoshop Touch

Adobe Photoshop Touch is essentially a scaled-down, tablet-friendly, version of the popular desktop software. Sure, there are other photo-editing apps in the Android Market, some of which won't cost you a penny - but none has that Photoshop feel and the tools that you've now become accustomed to for knocking up "hilarious" pictures of your pals in situations that weren't really happening.

One feature that we particularly like is the Scribble Selection tool which allows you to select parts of pictures that you want to edit - rather than having to carefully manouevre an outline. The merge tool also allows for some funky image manipulation and you can ?add live content to your images using the camera fill feature.

Unlike your desktop version, Photoshop Touch isn't really interested in taking on huge files or RAW data straight from your DSLR camera. It is designed, as a tablet app should be, firmly with the web in mind. It is able to pull a photo from Google Images, Picasa, Facebook, your device's gallery, or the Creative Cloud - which is Adobe's storage portal for all of its apps and software. Read More.

Market: Link

Price: ?6.99

Rating: 4/5

Dropbox

Dropbox?acts like a personal FTP server that allows you to store files in "The Cloud" so you can share them easily with others or on your different devices. As with the iPhone offering, you'll be able to make edits to your files and sync them back to Dropbox, download files for offline viewing and upload files and sync them to your Dropbox.

HTC has taken Dropbox even further, incorporating the whole thing into its smartphone ecosystem. This means you get 25GB free Dropbox from the outset with every HTC phone. This is a hugely useful app for those after a bit of cloud based storage on the cheap.?

Market:?Link

Price: Free

Rating:?4/5

Tags: Apps Android Google Evernote Dropbox Features

Best Android productivity apps originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:35:00 +0100

A double-dip recession isn’t the best news the British public has had of late, but we can help you out with a silver lining here on App of the Day at Pocket-lint. Technology is on hand to stretch your pounds as far as they’ll go but, even if you’re just looking for a bargain for the sake of it, then today’s piece of mobile software is definitely one for you.

Basket Buddy

Platform

iPhone/Android

Price

Free

Where

iTunes/Play

There’s already a dedicated Hot UK Deals app but what Basket Buddy adds is immediacy and convenience. The app works by tapping into the GPS module on your phone and overlaying a Google map with the information from the HUKD website. You then get an idea of whether there are any smoking bargains right on your doorstep.

The app works very smoothly indeed, with a nice clear UI pinpointing the shops you need to get to, where they are and a click-through to an in-app page detailing all the deals available at that location. While it might not be worth heading down to a certain store because of any one offer, what we did find useful was checking the app when we found ourselves in places like Tesco, Sainsbury’s and other supermarkets. Flip open the phone, fire up Basket Buddy and, whaddya know, there’s a 94p Loyd Grossman pasta sauce for next time all we can be bothered to do is heat up some spaghetti and open a jar.

The downside, in a way, is that the map side of things is actually slightly irrelevant, well done though it is. Pretty much all of the deals that you’ll find nearby are in the big stores anyway, and you can bet your bottom bottom that there’s going to be something on offer in the one you happen to be standing in.

One of things that we really like about Basket Buddy, though, is the Submit section which allows you to post a hot deal tip to the forum from your phone. You can scan the barcode or take pictures of the product or just tap away on your touch keyboard on what you’ve just seen. All very easy.

So, given these tough economic times and given that Basket Buddy's free anyway, it's very, very hard to say no.

Tags: Apps Basket Buddy App of the day shopping Hot UK Deals

APP OF THE DAY: Basket Buddy by HUKD review (Android and iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

The whole point of the iPad is that it is portable. This is a tablet that is designed to come with you wherever you go, be it on holiday or visiting grandparents.?

Having a few travel apps handy can make an important difference to a day out, giving you background information on places to explore, getting you there in the first place and help should something go wrong. Pocket-lint has put together a list of the must-have travel apps to take with you on your iPad.?

Tom Tom UK and Ireland

The?TomTom iPad app?is fairly fantastic.?The?app?has been optimised to fit every pixel of the iPad's screen and, by doing so, the TomTom app has gone from a slightly fiddly little brother to the dedicated satnav, to a vastly superior visuo-interactive experience.

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What you benefit from on the iPad is the superb size and sensitivity of the touchscreen, the like of which satnavs have been failing to ape for years. What that real estate now means is that there's space to split the screen with window views within. You don't have to surf the menus and experience the advanced lane guidance view as a screen switch but can see it alongside the route map.

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?49.99

Rating:?4/5

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GPS Navigation 2 - SatNav by Skobbler

Not everyone wants to pay the price of some of the more full featured GPS apps on the app store. Some simply want an app that will get them from A to B. Skobbler is most definitely one of them. Originally a very buggy but completely free application, it has returned in a much-improved ?1.49 form.

Skobbler will now get you around with voice directions for the whole of the UK and Republic of Ireland. The application can route pedestrian directions as well as cars. There is even local search and if you are so inclined, the option to use Wallace and Gromit voices. It's the price that really matters though, and this is easily one of the best-value applications.?

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?1.49

Rating:?4/5

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Hotels.com HD

There are a bagillion apps out there that will let you see hotel availability, reviews, prices and booking options but the pleasing thing about the Hotels.com iPad app is that it puts all these features together in a nicely wrapped package complete with a shiny UI. As a travel industry insider put it, quite simply, it's the best.

It's a straightforward, graphically pleasing and oh-so-smooth affair. Type in your wants and needs and the app will bring up a host of results?in grid or map form which you can then filter them by star rating, price-band or guest ratings. On top of that, you get info on?amenities, maps, photos, price breakdowns and descriptions – but also reviews from the Hotels.com community too. Happy travels. Read more

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 4/5

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Ebookers Explorer

Unlike the kind of run-of -the-mill app version of a eShopping web site, Ebookers has gone a different way with Explorer. More than just a tailor-made version of the same thing, the idea here is to present a magazine-type experience for users to browse, then select their next holiday destination.

This works with the app pulling in free user-generated content from around the web on specific locations and repackaging them in a way that we've seen look great on tablets since Flipboard came along. The app grabs video from YouTube, photos from Flickr, tweets from Twitter and blogs from Google and ties them all together along with, of course, the mandatory Ebookers page where you can find yourself a hotel in which to stay when you go. ?Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 3/5

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ForeverMap

ForeverMap is a simple concept but an important one. Rather than being just a gateway to a bunch of maps stored on an internet server, it allows you to download complete cartographic?data to your handset to access without the need of any kind of connection. The downside is that it takes up what can be a precious amount of storage space on your phone, but ForeverMap gets around this by allowing the user the choice of which city or country maps to download individually.

ForeverMap works well and will keep you covered all over the UK and the rest of Europe. Certainly handy for holidays.?Read More

iTunes: Link

Price:??1.49

Rating: 4/5

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Google Earth

The latest iteration of Google Earth lets you explore underwater landscapes on your iDevice, adding bathymetry and ocean layer content to the mix. The app lets you dive below the surface of the ocean (not literally, you understand), where you can explore underwater canyons.?To look around, you just swipe the screen with two fingers or you can reset the view by clicking the north arrow.

As well as all the new sub-aqua malarkey, you can do all the usual stuff that Google Earth lets you do - such as view Wikipedia articles. A great app for reference, or just for fun and best of all, it's free. Read More

iTunes: Link

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5

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mPassport

When abroad it's usually sod's law that one member of your family or friends will get ill. You can pretty much guarantee the result will be a worrying trip to a hospital or dodgy doctors with little idea of what sort of treatment you are getting.?

mPassport fixes this by creating local data for trusted doctors, pharmacies and dentists. It even lets you create appointments with them within the application and provides local map data and directions.?

iTunes:?Link

Price:?Free

Rating: 4/5

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Cool Places Travel Guides

Designed as a simple travel guide for various UK towns and cities, these are fully featured applications that list the best of any destination to which you might be heading. Take the Oxford one, for example: it will show you lists of sights, restaurants and shopping locations, give background information on each and directions to get you there.?

It's the quality that really matters in travel apps and with Cool Places, the decent pictures and sharp writing are enough enticement to go exploring. The focus is on seeing and doing "cool stuff" so that you can line up different things to do throughout the day. Worth a download prior to wherever you plan on visiting.?

iTunes:?Link

Price: ?1.99

Rating: 4/5

Tags: Apps iOS Apple iPad Features

Best iPad travel apps originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0100

Dell has launched an app to accompany its online shopping site at Dell.co.uk, following on from the launch of a similar app for the Dell.com site in September 2011.

The new Dell Mobile shopping app will make it easier for UK customers to browse and buy direct from Dell, without having to use the website. Although the company offers a?respectable?mobile site, we always like to see a dedicated app, free from the vagaries of the many different mobile browsers out there.

Of course, not content to leave it there, we've been having a play with the app to see what it offers.?

The app is divided into sections for navigation through Dell's selection of products. You'll be able to search directly, browse through its most popular laptop models, everything Dell offers, or down into specific product types - power supplies or projectors for example.?

You can also browse by sub-brands, so if you're after an XPS or Alienware computer, you can easily pick these out too.?

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There is the option to call directly from the app if you want to speak to a human being about a particular product you're interested in buying, and you can easily compare products to narrow down your selection.

Finally, of course, you can add your choice to your basket, add any coupon codes you have and proceed to buy it. Post-sale, you can check your order status.

Apart from the shopping side of things, there is also a support side of the app. You can scan the Express Service Code on the bottom of your?existing?Dell device to check the warranty status and access other support, like tutorial videos.

A simple and clean app, the Dell Mobile app is available for free through dell.co.uk/mobile or via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

?

Tags: Apps Android apps iPhone apps Dell shopping

Buy a Dell from your smartphone with the Dell Mobile app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0100

Do you like Where's My Water? Do you like Angry Birds? Then Shark Dash from Gamesloft might be the game for you, as it tries to merge the two titles to give you hours of fun.

We've been collecting ducks for the last week to see what's what.

Shark Dash

Format

iOS

Price

69p

Where

iTunes

The idea is simple. You play a rubber bath shark that has to collect all the coins and ducks in the bath tub. For the ultimate success you have to get all the coins and all the ducks in a set number of moves, and that can sometimes prove incredibly tricky.

Each "tub" has 24 levels and the more stars you get the more levels you unlock. As you can imagine the levels start off easy and get progressively harder with new elements introduced into the bath tub - sponge, dissolvable tablets, floating rings that speed you up, and other paraphernalia.

It's not just other elements to interact with, but other bath toy characters - including a swordfish that is good for cutting bath plug chains, a squirting toy for firing jets of water, and another fish that is good at diving when you give the command.

Playing the game starts fairly easily with plenty of wriggle room to get the three stars and achieve a perfect score. Like Angry Birds, it's all about angles and your shark is fired from his position by pulling back on his tail. The more you pull the further he goes. Pull to far and you're out of the bath, and it's game over.

The Where's my Water? reference comes in with the need to do certain steps in a logical order. Knock that block to take out the bombs before angling your shark in the right way to get the final duck. Failing to do it in order means that you fail at the level, or certainly a three-star level.

Without paying too much attention you can quickly progress through the game, but you'll soon find that unless you are willing to play hard cash - there is an option in game to buy more credits to unlock levels - you will have to go back to the early levels and complete them in order to go further.

That's likely to happen as some levels - for us anyway - proved too difficult to fathom, especially within the required moves.

With cute graphics and bouncy gameplay this should have you enjoying your commute on the train a little more, however it's still a second best compared to the two games it is trying to emulate.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iPad apps App of the day Gameloft

APP OF THE DAY: Shark Dash review (iPad / iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Windows Phone users will soon no longer be able to buy apps for their device from the Zune PC software.

It’s the first of two changes Microsoft is implementing, the second being that to buy any new apps, or to update existing ones, your device must be running on Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.?

Apps will still be available to download from the Windows Marketplace both on a phone and via the web.?

However, Microsoft is already in the process of removing the Windows apps options from Zune, though the Zune HD app store will remain open.?

Whereas the retirement of Zune won’t affect the consumer per se, users will need to ensure they have updated their handset to Windows Phone 7.5 Mango by plugging their device into their computer.?

Microsoft says it is making the upgrade necessary in a bid to improve its Marketplace, which now has over 80,000 apps, as well as making it more secure.

Windows Phone 8 Apollo is expected to begin being rolled out in October of this year, but as to whether current handsets will be upgradeable remains a point of uncertainty.

Tags: Apps Windows Marketplace Microsoft Zune Zune HD Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

Microsoft makes Marketplace changes: No more Zune apps and Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update now essential originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:15:00 +0100

Rovio’s most successful Angry Birds game has just got bigger, with 10 new levels being added to Angry Birds Space.

The Fry Me to the Moon planet, which comprises the 10 new levels, is available to download as an update for both Android and iOS platforms.

iPhone and iPad users will also get 20 free space eagles as part of the update as a well as an additional free space eagle every day's play.

For those of you scratching your head and saying, “Space eagles?”, these cosmic-like creatures emerge from sardine cans you slingshot towards the pigs, destroying all they encounter. Space eagles usually need to be paid for.

As Android, and in particular Apple, users rejoice, BlackBerry users too have reason for joy as Angry Birds Space finally arrives on BlackBerry App World.

BlackBerry users will have to make do with the standard 60 levels though future updates (presumably including Fry Me to the Moon) will be available.

It can be downloaded from BlackBerry App World for $4.99.

Tags: Apps Angry Birds Angry Birds Space Rovio Android apps iOS apps BlackBerry apps

Angry Birds Space adds more levels to Android and iOS originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:25:00 +0100

ALK’s sat nav app, CoPilot Live, has added real-time traffic information as standard to its premium package, meaning you’ll no longer have to pay extra for it.?

CoPilot Live’s ActiveTraffic service previously cost an additional ?9.99 for an annual subscription but it will now be included as part of the CoPilot Live Premium package for a 12 month period.

Monitoring traffic flow in real time, the app - available on both Android and iOS platforms - will calculate the quickest route to your destination, ensuring you avoid any traffic hotspots or accidents.

The technology used to grab the traffic information is actually down to Nokia and Navteq Travel, which is somewhat ironic considering Nokia doesn’t have any Android devices or of course ones that run on Apple’s iOS.?

ActiveTraffic will be included in all CoPilot Live Premium apps from today, while existing customers will be able to download the update for free.

Those of you who have already forked out for ActiveTraffic will get an additional 12 months free on what you have already used.

CoPilot Live Premium UK and Ireland is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play for ?24.99 while a Europe version is also available for ?37.99.?

Tags: Apps CoPilot CoPilot Live CoPilot Premium ALK Technologies

CoPilot Live now with real time traffic information as standard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:18:00 +0100

Some games come out of nowhere and grab you, shake you around and then vanish. While longevity in a gaming app is a great thing, we can't help but reminisce about those fleeting apps that bring a little moment of magic into a quiet evening.

Today's App of the Day might be one of those apps. How far can you go with this? Ultimately, things will get too obscure, too difficult and everyone will stop playing. So, before that happens, jump on the brandwagon while things are fresh.

Logos Quiz Game

Format

iOS

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

The awkwardly named Logos Quiz Game could be overlooked because it doesn't really sell itself. Okay, the title is exactly what it is, but it doesn't sound hugely enticing.

But it's a very addictive game, offering you all the frustration of knowing something and, well, not really knowing it at the same time.

Logos Quiz Game presents you with company logos, with something missing, usually the name of the company. So you might have the Budweiser background with no letters, or part of the Samsung lettering missing. Sony, for example, is just the final "Y" of the logo.?

All you have to do is type in the name of the company and the app tells you if you've got it right. Points are awarded for accuracy in typing, so if you make mistakes you'll slowly drop down from your 100 per cent score.?

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The app is clever enough to recognise when you've nearly got it right. So put in "Chase Manhattan Bank" instead of simply "Chase" and the app will let you know you have some tweaking to do.

Some logos are instantly recognisable: Playboy or McDonald's for example. One glance and you know what they are. Some are fiendishly difficult. Some aren't current (the old HTC logo is used, for example), but it does ram home just how important a strong brand identity really is.

There are currently eight levels to play through, with more promised in the future. To progress, you need to reach a particular score to open things up and move on.

If you get stuck, there is a hints system. As you correctly complete the logos, you'll be awarded hints. With these hints you'll be able to get clues to keep things moving along, as well as being able to ask your friends on Facebook or Twitter if you're really stuck.

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Logos Quiz Game has all the components of a great game. It's addictive, it can be collaborative, and there is enough here to distract you for a good chunk of time. But it's interesting because it works with real logos, so you'll find yourself recognising things in the street and scrabbling to fill in the gaps in the game.

If we had one criticism, it's that the keyboard isn't especially good, throwing up more mistakes than the regular iOS keyboard. We can't help feeling that this is an effort to knock you off the top scores...

We're not sure this game will run for ever as we've already found some of the logos getting a little abstract, but it's certainly worth a play.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps iPod apps App of the day Quiz games Logos Quiz Game iPad apps

APP OF THE DAY: Logos Quiz Game review (iPhone/iPad) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:03:00 +0100

How good is that idea you've got knocking about in the back of your mind? That's what Cisco wants to know, with the creation of the Cisco British Innovation Gateway Awards looking for the best ideas the UK has to offer.

The BIG Awards aims to recognise and support up-and-coming innovators, entrepreneurs and early-stage startup businesses.

Cisco is seeking submissions from small businesses and early stage startups, which have technology-based prototypes and proof of concepts in development.

If you win you'll get access to the full array of Cisco capabilities from technology to business development, plus potential investment and partnering opportunities in the future.

Wow.

To participate, all you have to do is simply?register?on the BIG Awards site and submit your BIG idea - it really is that easy.

There are?five categories?in which to submit your idea:?Big Data, Collaboration, Future Cities, Internet of Things,? Mobility. Ideas must be ?in by the end of the month (closing date is 1 May).

Once all the entries are received, Cisco will then start picking the best ones with the top 20 ideas will be picked for the Semi-finals, before the final six ideas will proceed to the finals.

Three ideas will receive grand prizes?valuing over $250,000.

Open to UK-registered organisations, companies and UK residents aged 18 years or older.

The winner will receive a range of support aimed at accelerating the potential of their idea, product or initiative. This will be in the form of financial assistance, expertise and mentoring.? The team will also win the following:

- $100,000 US in cash

- 12 months of technology and business mentoring from leading Cisco engineers and managers

- $30,000 US in 12 month Digital Marketing support from dnx which includes things like social media training.

Read

Tags: Phones Cameras Tablets Gaming Laptops Apps Cars iPad

Win $100,000 with Cisco British Innovation Gateway Awards originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:03:00 +0100

Facebook for Windows Phone is about to get a big update, according to its developers.

Details of the next version (v2.5) of the social networking app for Microsoft's mobile platform have been published in a Facebook post.

"The team has been working hard over the past few weeks on building the next version of Facebook for Windows Phone," says the team behind the app.

The new update will bring even more features than the rather large update?that the app has seen already this year.

Facebook v2.5 will bring:

- Threaded messaging:?Full Facebook threaded messaging including group messaging, all in a beautiful Metro style design.

- Tagging:?Now you can tag friends and locations in your posts in the "with" and "at" format.

- Delete posts and comments:?Use the tap and hold context menu to delete posts and comments from your wall.

- Active links in posts:?Tap on links in posts to go directly to the content.

- Updates to the photo comments and likes page:?The photo comments and likes page has been updated to match the posts comments and likes page. You can see a hint of the image at the top of the page, pull down and you can see the whole thing.

- You can now "like" comments!

The developers say the app is going through the final rounds of testing before being released.

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Tags: Facebook Apps Windows Phone 7 apps Microsoft Windows Phone 7

Facebook for Windows Phone 2.5 update coming, adds new features originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:08:00 +0100

Samsung has confirmed that the next Galaxy smartphone will indeed be called the Samsung Galaxy S3, thanks to its own Samsung Unpacked 2012 app.?

Samsung has previously used an app to provide details on the unveiling of its latest device, including access to the press release, event location and so on. In this case, it's used the "S3" keyword to describe the app on Google Play.?

Samsung may just be using this as a way of guiding interested Fandroids to the app with the most common search term, but the Samsung Unpacked app is now a regular thing, so many will have been waiting for this latest version to appear. The new app went live yesterday, 23 April.

For us, the use of the S3 name lays to rest some of the speculation that the new device would be called something else. It does raise the question of whether Samsung will use the Roman numerals designation, ie, Samsung Galaxy S III, as it did with the Samsung Galaxy S II, when marketing the device.

At any rate, along with teaser videos, confirmation from Vodafone that it will be stocking the device and now the app, we can perhaps stop talking about "the next Galaxy" and get back to speculating about the Samsung Galaxy S3 launch and specs.

It's worth noting that although Samsung is sharing much of the launch event information with everyone, this is an invitation-only event. Fortunately we have our tickets safely ensconced, so we'll bring you all the details, as they happen, on 3 May 2012.

We've also spotted that the app is referring to itself as "Episode I", perhaps a hint to future launch events, which we'd expect around September time to coincide with the IFA 2012 trade show, a traditional launch venue for Samsung.?

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Samsung Samsung Galaxy S III Apps Android apps

Samsung Unpacked app confirms Samsung Galaxy S3 launch name originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:26:00 +0100

Sky is in the process of developing an app for the iPad that will let Sky+ users stream the saved shows and movies on their Sky box to their tablet.

In a candid one-two-one chat with Pocket-lint, Simon Rexworthy, controller of acquisitions at Sky Movies, said that an app was in development and coming soon.

Rexworthy wouldn't expand when pushed as to when "shortly" actually was, but suggested we wouldn't have long to wait.

"The app would let you watch what you've saved on the go," Rexworthy added.

We suspect the app would be very much welcomed by many an iPad-owning, Sky-using subscriber.

Such an app means that if you've remembered to save the movie or TV show, as long as you've got an internet connection, you could access your box to watch them it even if you weren't at home.

The promise of a new Sky app isn't the only thing new at Sky. The company has also shown Pocket-lint its plans for a new refresh to the Sky box EPG?which is scheduled to be rolled out at the end of May.?

UPDATE: Sky has issued us the following clarification. While Sky's follow-up doesn't deny what Rexworthy says, it seems that "in development" doesn't mean coming as soon as we would have perhaps liked or hoped. Hold tight.?

“We are excited about the opportunities to further integrate our tablet and smartphone apps with the Sky set-top box.? And whilst we are looking at a range of emerging technologies that might enable us to offer Sky content out of the home in new ways, it’s a little too early to confirm what that experience might look like, or indeed when we might be able to bring them to customers.? However, we continue to innovate hard and have a strong pipeline of Sky+ app developments, including the forthcoming integration of zeebox functionality.”

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Tags: Home Cinema Apps iPad apps iPad Sky

Sky to let iPad owners watch Planner recordings originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:19:00 +0100

A new app is hoping to allow you to capture fairies at the bottom of your garden and become the next hit sensation on the iPhone.

Called Faerie Planet, the iPhone app uses a combination of regular gameplay mechanics and augmented reality to help you - or more likely your children - collect different fairies around your house.

With more than 10 fairies to collect, the app should have your kids hunting around trying to find them. To make things last a little longer than 20 minutes, you can keep only one fairy at a time.

Once you've found a fairy, you then have to catch it. For night-time fairy catching the developers have even added a torch function so you can turn on the iPhones flash to help you find those pesky sprites.

"We wanted to create a cute and fun game rather than one that involved you shooting things," Julian Graves, one of the developers on the project, told Pocket-lint.

Created by Th1ng, a London-based animation company, Faerie Planet has taken more than a year to develop and is the company's first app. That might sound daunting until you hear who the big boss on the app is. Ralph Palmer is an ex-Disney designer who has also worked at games giant EA. Previous projects include Lilo and Stitch as well as films such as Pocahontas, and looking at the graphics on Faerie Planet, it shows. This isn't some flash in the pan app with poor visuals.

The idea of the game is to catch as many fairies as you can. Doing so earns you gold (250 pieces to be precise), and that gold can then be used to buy content within the game, or send a Mysty to other friends also playing the game.

A Mysty (500 coins) is a personal message that you draw for the fairies to deliver. More gold can be bought for real cash, however at 69p for 50,0000 it isn't going to break the bank - well not unless your kids are chatty. ?

As you would expect, there is Facebook integration and unlockable content to ensure you share and play.

Parents worried that the new app will mean they never see their phone again, shouldn't be. The developers have told Pocket-lint that the fairies are saved to a central account that allows you to move between devices - meaning if you've got an iPad or an iPod touch you will be able to let them carry on playing there so you can make that important call.

Tags: Apps iPhone apps Augmented Reality

Faerie Planet: AR app that lets you find fairies at the bottom of your garden originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Aurasma has teamed up with Universal Pictures to bring DVD and Blu-ray sleeves to life.?The Universal 100 app uses Aurasma’s virtual reality technology to recreate scenes from some of the studio's most famous movies.

Once downloaded you can point your Apple or Android device at one of the 15 limited-edition DVD and Blu-ray sleeves and the likes of King Kong will appear virtually.

Aurasma however, has been keen to showcase its talents further.?Londoners will also be able to use the app at three different landmarks to create three further illusions.

Point the device at Big Ben and the DeLorean from Back To The Future will appear, while you’ll find King Kong clambering up Nelson’s Column.

The royals don’t escape either, with Jurassic Park’s T-Rex appearing at the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The Universal 100 app marks the studio's 100th anniversary and is available to download free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Tags: Apps iOS Android Apple App Store Google Play Movies Aurasma Blu-ray DVD

Universal 100 app brings movies to life thanks to Aurasma originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:07:00 +0100

Imaging is at the forefront of modern smartphones. But with the main phone manufacturers fighting it out to claim they have the best camera on their handset, it's the third-party app developers that are really capturing the imagination.?

Just look at the likes of Hipstamatic or the recently acquired Instagram. These apps have nothing to do with the technical capabilities (or failings) of a phone's camera, but are hugely popular by being distinct and adding character. There are plenty of other fun options out there too and today we're looking at one such creative camera app.

After Focus

Format

Android

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

After Focus, as the name suggests, offers you the chance to apply effects after you've taken a shot. The approach is interesting because it gives you the ability to mask parts of your photo, so you make changes only to particular elements.

This is the derivative of the "focus" part of the name, as the main suggestion is creating a wide aperture effect, blurring background to emphasise the subject.?

It's easy to do too. You simply paint over the parts of the image, identifying whether you're working on the focused area or background, press the button and blur comes in.?

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There are manual or smart options - we found that we liked the direct control that manual offers - to help you get the results you want. There is also the option to zoom, so you can really get into the detail for the best results.?

But that's not all. After Focus offers a great deal more. Once you're through the blurring phase (and you can mask the entire thing if you want no blur) you get access to a range of common effects.

You'll find you can change the strength of the blur effect, make it look like motion blur to give the illusion of movement, or add a vignette, sharpen the image or add a bokeh effect to background highlights.

You can also use your selected area as a colour mask, to strip all the colour out of the background for real emphasis, or apply more common cross process or antique effects to add that finishing touch.

There are plenty of photo apps out there, but we like some of the features that After Focus offers. Being able to mask the subject can allow for some dramatic results, so it's worth playing around with.

The basic app is free.

Tags: Apps Android apps Cameras After Focus

APP OF THE DAY: After Focus review (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

An app for the iPhone and iPad is letting you relive the sound of the ZX Spectrum, 30 years after it went on sale - so you can re-imagine the noise on your tablet.

ZX Plectrum as it's called (see what they did there) has gone free to celebrate the 30th Birthday of the classic British computer and is available to download now.?

iPad and iPhone users brave enough to download the app will get the chance to tap anywhere on the screen to make a noise akin to how the ZX Spectrum sounded when it loaded up a game or application - they weren't called apps then.

Pressing on the screen in different places changes the noise and the image on the screen and, yes, it is just as annoying as you'll remember it.

Still, we bet with a bit of practice you'll have the theme tune to Manic Miner or Jet Set Willy playing from your Apple device in no time.

One word of advice, just don't give it to the kids. Within three minutes they will drive you insane.

Read

Tags: Gaming Apps Phones Tablets ZX Spectrum iPhone apps iPad apps

ZX Plectrum lets you make music Spectrum style on your iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:33:00 +0100

Skype?for Windows Phone 7 has ditched the beta label and been updated to version 1.0.

The new update, released by Microsoft, adds the ability to search for and add new contacts, as well as call landline numbers from the app over Wi-Fi and 3G.

The app also improves stability and fixes some bugs, according to Microsoft.?

Sadly, however, there is still no background functionality in the app. As soon as you exit the app you will be disconnected from Skype.

However those who have used the background functionality of the iPhone or iPad version of the Skype app will know that battery life is heavily affected when it is running. We hate to think what the affects would be on the Nokia Lumia 800, for example.

Officially Skype tells us:?"This issue will be fixed in a future release but timing is to be determined."

Skype for Windows Phone is also now available in 18 languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese.

The new update is available now in Marketplace.

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Read

Tags: Apps Skype Windows Phone 7 apps Windows Phone 7

Skype for Windows Phone 7 sheds beta label, still won't work in the background originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:41:00 +0100

Trains are boring places, and always have been, but thanks to the world of mobile gaming long, drawn-out and delayed journeys can be made all the more entertaining with cheap apps that take your mind away from Christopher the sweaty commuter and his rancid armpit and give your brain something to do.

Photon is the very definition of a causal game, and it's great for making train journeys less bothersome. It's absurdly simple to understand and incredibly well explained by the simpe step-by-step instructions. But its appeal and ability to distract are epic.

Photon

Format

Android

Price

Free for Classic play, ?0.67 for Arcade mode

Where

Google Play

The idea is simple: a Tetris-style screen is presented, in to which coloured circles drop. Your job is to draw a line through three of them, and in so doing eliminate them from the board. And, bar a few other challenges along the way, that's it.

Obviously, like Tetris, things get more and more frantic as you go. And if you're feeling skillful, you can earn more points by speeding things up with the level advance button. This means things start turning up in larger numbers, and far quicker too.

In addition to speeding things up, there are also "special" circles, which appear and need to be dispatched quickly, to prevent your screen from becoming too congested. If you have too much on screen, then you'll quickly lose the game. This involves eliminating the usual coloured circles but drawing lines through these special balls at the same time. Some take more than one attempt to destroy, so keep an eye out for those.

We can only really score a game on how it makes time pass, and how much we want to play it when we aren't playing it. Photon, it has to be said, is one of those games that we just can't wait to get back to. We aren't, for example, playing it now, but we'd like to be, rather than writing these words about it.

Certainly, the time we spent going from Clapham Junction to Shepherd's Bush?was a lot less tedious, even in the face of massive delays.

We like that Classic mode is free to play too. There's enough here to get you hooked, before you spend the tiny sum of ?0.67 buying full access to the Arcade mode. The even better news is that the developer is so certain that you'll be hooked that it allows you 10 free goes in Arcade mode.

And there is a lot more to offer in Arcade. Points can be used to make the game easier. For example, you can lengthen the distance over which you can connect circles together, or reduce the minimum number needed to connect from three to two. These all "cost" but the amounts are virtual and reasonably small. If you buy the game before your free trial expires, you'll also get some bonus credits for free.

Photon is an addictive, fun game. It makes public transport bearable, and for that reason it's well worth downloading. And for ?0.67, the full version is a bargain too.

Tags: Apps App of the day Android apps Photon

APP OF THE DAY: Photon (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:55:00 +0100

Max Payne is soon to arrive in its third iteration after a fairy lengthy gap between the once PC-only shooting series. Seen by many as the game that invented things like bullet time, it is a classic that brought many violent hours of enjoyment to the hardcore gaming crowd.?

As with GTA 3, Rockstar has chosen to release the game in mobile form. Max Payne Mobile is a full-bodied version of the original game with no content cut whatsoever. So how does it play?

Max Payne Mobile

Format

iPad / iPhone

Price

Free

Where

iTunes

The full Max Payne download costs ?1.99, fairly cheap for what is such a large amount of content. Graphically the game hasn't fared quite so well over the years, but it still plays just as brilliantly and the story is as fresh and as exciting as when we first played it through many years ago.

What's not so great are the controls. This isn't the developer's fault, as Max Payne is a game that requires very finely tuned control inputs by design. To try to fix this they have made it possible to move around different controls to customise them exactly to how you want them. It works partly because of the rather overeager auto aim now built into the game, but there were frequent moments when we were overwhelmed by enemies because of the controls.?

Max Payne plays like a very speedy version of Gears of War. Lots of enemies on screen, a lot of bullets and the ability to dive in different directions while fighting. On top of this, you can slow down time by either standing still or diving. This makes it easier to hit enemies and is a must when using something like, say, the sniper rifle.?

The story is a fairly gory one: Max Payne has witnessed his wife and child murdered and is out for revenge. It doesn't get too much more complicated than that but definitely helps set out the basis for some fairly gruesome environments and set pieces. Think of it as a bit like Sin City.?

On the lower end iOS devices the title struggles with frame rate slightly. Our iPhone 4S and new gen iPad however chomped through the entire thing without issue. It never became a major problem but might be worth thinking about should you be a big fan and after the cleanest possible experience.?

Not long to wait now until Max Payne 3. Nice then that this game should act as a mobile refresher to the story. It certainly has us excited for the new title - we had forgotten how good the original was.?

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Tags: Apps App of the day Max Payne iOS iPad

APP OF THE DAY: Max Payne Mobile review (iPad / iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

In the last week, Channel 5 teamed with XS2TheWorld to use the latter's 360-degree video technology to broadcast a dual-screen TV promotion that could be viewed from other angles on a smartphone or iPad.

The clip, which was created to promote The Gadget Show World Tour (due to begin on 23 April), linked to free application "The Gadget Show 360" available for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. When the advert was shown on TV, viewers using the application could see the same sequence and could also look in any direction, vertically or horizontally, by moving their device around.

When presenters Jason Bradbury or Pollyanna Woodward moved off screen you could follow them in order to see what they were getting up to. Essentially, it's the idea behind the Wii U controller, and we have to admit that it works rather well indeed.

Thankfully, although the promo has already aired, it's still possible to experience the effect by downloading the application from iTunes and heading over to a dedicated part of the Channel 5 website: fwd.channel5.com/adv/360-promo.

Alternatively, XS2 has released a YouTube video that shows exactly how the whole shebang worked.

Excellent stuff.

Tags: Television Tablets Phones Apps Channel 5 The Gadget Show iPad apps

Channel 5 broadcasts first 360-degree dual-screen mobile and TV promo originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:29:00 +0100

Spotify on Android was always a slightly unpleasant experience compared to the delights of its iOS-based application cousin. Laggy and untidy, the app looked decent enough but didn't function the way many had hoped. Thankfully, this has been fixed with an updated application for Android 4.0.

A totally redesigned UI which reminds us slightly of the Twitter app on iOS, ensures that searching and finding music is extremely easy. A slide-out tray with options such as search, your playlists or the what's new homepage sits to the left of the main screen.?

Tap search and select and artist to start playing their music. By default the player will pop down to the bottom of the screen so you can continue exploring Spotify, but if you tap the artist at the bottom, it will open full screen so you can see related artists and other albums, as well as fast forward and rewind. From this screen you can also share tracks, add them to playlists, queue them and look at the rest of an album.

The artist homepage is particularly nice to play with. A high-resolution screen of the artist, with bio info below sits at the top. Sliding left or right will open up either the full biography or other related artists. It makes exploring music easy, which is what Spotify is all about.?

The friends list, which is populated by Facebook, allows you to click on other Spotify users and see their top tracks. You can also use friends to build collaborative playlists within the app, which is particularly cool.?

An update for Spotify on iOS added the ability to sync and stream tracks at extreme quality. The new app on Android also lets you do this via the settings menu. Do be sure not to stream songs at the extreme setting unless you are on Wi-Fi as it will eat up your free data allowance. Instead try and store them locally by downloading over a Wi-Fi connection.

Not a lot else to say about the updated Spotify app other than, with a bit of .apk fiddling, we got it running on our Transformer Prime. It wouldn't switch out of landscape mode, annoyingly, but looked decent enough in portrait, with the artist pics scaling to its 1200 x 800 resolution display.?The ICS lock screen also gets an album artwork icon with the ability to pause and skip tracks without needing to unlock your phone, very useful.?

For those who want to give the new look Spotify a try you can download it here.?

Tags: Apps Music Spotify Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Spotify for Android 4 pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:16:00 +0100

Microsoft has released a companion application for Kinect Star Wars that's available now on Windows Phone and will hit both Android and iPhone app stores today (19 April).

The app aggregates a user's Facebook and Twitter social network feeds and turns them into the iconic Star Wars crawl that appears at the start of all of the films (the games, the cartoons, the ride, George Lucas's bank statements, etc).

You can also post to either site, find out more information about the Xbox 360/Kinect game or even order a copy from within the application itself. That's about all there is to it, but it is free, so who's companing?

"We are putting ‘the Force’ directly into people’s phones to help launch Kinect Star Wars," said Stephen McGill, director of Xbox and Entertainment for Microsoft UK.

"Fans will be able to carry a piece of the Star Wars universe in their pockets and, like the new game for Xbox 360, immerse themselves in the incredible world of one of the most enduring entertainment franchises like never before."?

Tags: Star Wars Apps Kinect Star Wars iPhone apps Android apps WP7 apps

Kinect Star Wars also coming to iPhone and Android, as well as Windows Phone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:25:00 +0100

ITV and Shazam have signed an agreement that allows the UK broadcaster exclusively to add Shazam functionality to adverts shown on its channels. Viewers will be able to use the audio-recognising applications on their smartphones to enter competitions, get additional information about a brand or product, view special content or download free music.

Of course, whether an advert is Shazam-enabled or not is down to each individual advertiser, but should they wish to sign up, the only place to show that ad will be on an ITV channel.

Shazam for TV has already been successfully deployed in the US, where it has been used to enhance shows and live televised events such as American Idol, the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards. Now it will be offered to ITV Commercial clients.

"Shazam’s audio-recognition technology is at the forefront of the second screen movement which is transforming the way consumers interact with content including advertising," said?Simon Daglish, group commercial sales director at ITV.

"It will?empower leading brands to connect with our millions of fans who will now be able to experience an extended engagement in one of the most convenient and innovative ways possible," added?Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam.

The Shazam application is available for all major smartphones. It can be downloaded for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Nokia devices.

Tags: ITV Television Shazam iPhone apps Android apps Apps

ITV to exclusively show Shazam-enabled adverts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:34:00 +0100

Draw Something has added more strings to its bow, thanks to its latest update.?Players can now let their opponents know what they thought of their drawings without having to scrawl messages across the canvas.

Hundred-character messages can be attached to your drawing, praising your friend for their efforts or chastising them for making a dolphin look more like a mini-bus. ?

There is now an undo facility that will erase your last action, should it have spoilt a potential masterpiece, or if you simply just want to cheat.?Winning streaks are now no longer limited to 99 games, with the new target being 999 consecutive games.

Apple users will immediately be able to share their creations on Facebook and Twitter with just two clicks, as well as save to their device’s photo library, rather than using the screenshot function which has been the common route to sharing so far.?Android users will have to wait a while longer for this particular feature.

Games can be updated by pulling down the virtual display speeding up game play and we've noticed that notifications have started working on some Android devices where previously they weren't.

The Draw Something update is available now with the app itself available from both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Check out Pocket-lint's tips and tricks on becoming a Draw Something pro.

Tags: Apps Draw Something iOS Android

Draw Something adds more features to draw you in originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:38:00 +0100

Spotify is partnering with Coca-Cola in a move aimed at bringing music sharing to a wider audience.

The soft drink giant will incorporate Spotify into its Facebook page, which already has in excess of 40 million fans.

Here fans will be able to connect with people with similar music tastes, sharing and discovering new tracks and artists.

Coca-Cola will also be pushing Spotify through various ad campaigns and we wouldn’t be surprised to find a Spotify Play Button featuring on Coke’s website in the near future.

The partnership is a major coup for Spotify and cements its place among the big boys.

Of course there’s something in it for Coca-Cola too.

Spotify will help Coca-Cola build music-based applications, the first of which will be arriving in conjunction with the London 2012 Olympics.

The announcement came at the Ad Age conference in the US.

No mention of that native Spotify iPad app that’s said to be in the pipeline though.

Read

Tags: Spotify Coca-Cola Apps Music Facebook

Spotify partners with Coca-Cola and begins work on joint applications originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:12:00 +0100

Read it later, the hugely useful paid-for multi-platform smartphone app, has had a rethink, a rename and dropped the price tag. Now more tempting than ever as a download, Pocket promises a one stop shop for all your reading needs.?

The idea is, should you spot something interesting on the internet, Twitter or Flipboard, then Pocket will let you store it on your smartphone locally. This way you can come back to read it later, internet connection or not. Its old incarnation, Read it later, accumulated a vast number of users. So is the rethink worth it? Read on to find out.?

Pocket

Format

iPad / iPhone / Android

Price

Free

Where

iTunes/Android

Pocket does some rather clever things with bookmarklets in order to let you save things to it. This means once you first pick up the app, the process getting setup is a tad convoluted. To be fair, Pocket's designers have done a great job making things as painless as possible, but a few might find it confusing.?

You need to tell your device's web browser to let you save pages to Pocket via bookmarks, as well as adding an email to your address book and connecting the app up with the likes of Twitter and Flipboard. The latter is particularly useful, as, if you use Facebook with Flipboard, you can save pages from that as well.?

Once setup, Pocket is incredibly simple to use. See something you like and then just tap the add to Pocket bookmark, or email it to the Pocket address by copying the URL. Then, once you open up the app, you would be able to see any information you have saved to it. You can tag, move and rename items in the Pocket app, as well as open them and read them later.

So simple yet very very useful and now free, with a much nicer UI and cleaner look. Pocket is a handy app for smartphone users who are confronted with vast amounts of online information, but lack the time to read it all at once. We use it to curate a sort of must read list, adding to Pocket only things we feel are totally vital. It makes sifting through much of the trash on the web a lot easier.?

Get an account setup here and get saving. We assure you, once you start using Pocket there is no chance you wont find it hugely useful to your smartphone and tablet.?

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Tags: Apps App of the day Apple iOS Android Read it Later

APP OF THE DAY: Pocket review (iPhone / iPad) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:05:00 +0100

If you don’t already use Google Chrome on your Mac or PC, stop reading, go and download it and then ask yourself how you browsed the web without it.

If you’ve got an Android smartphone or tablet there’s further good news with Google making Chrome available from all Google Play marketplaces and in a total of 32 languages, ditching the beta moniker at the same time.?

Okay so it’s currently in "Beta" - everything with Google always is - and your device will need to run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but it’s enough to hold bragging rights over your Apple counterparts who can only enjoy a whiff of Google's electric browser.

Though the Beta version has previously been available to download in some countries, Google has updated the app giving it a wider global reach.

The app is free to download, enables multiple pages to be open at any one time and will increase the speed at which it takes websites to load, along with scrolling and zooming around a page.

You’ll be able send pages from your computer to your mobile device and vice versa as well as bookmark your favourite sites.?

You can even save pages and view them offline.

Useful should your commute to work each day include a stint on the underground.

You can read our hands-on with Google Chrome for Android here.

Tags: Android Chrome Google Apps Web browsers Apps

Google Chrome on Android now in Google Play for all ICS users originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0100

Football fans who have been living in a cave - or support teams outside of the top division in England - may not have realised yet, but the current season of the Premier League is the 20th since it was formed. It's also been 20 years since Sky started broadcasting its matches live, and whether or not you agree with the policy, it's done a bloody good job in raising at least the TV revenues of the top clubs.

That, in effect, has paid the wages of some of the world's best footballers, allowing us to see them ply their trade in this country. This application is full of those moments...

Premier League 20 Seasons

Format

iPad (version tested), iPhone, iPod touch

Price

?1.99

Where

iTunes

On the face of it, Premier League 20 Seasons is a simple application. At its heart, it is merely a portal for 100 video clips of classic top-level action, each one minute long and streamed or downloaded. However, what clips they are - and they're superbly presented, to boot (pardon the pun).

You can scroll through all of the content from left to right, with a still from each offering offering a glimpse as to what they contain. In addition, at the bottom of the screen, there are search categories which group the video clips under Player, Manager, Season or, if you mark them as such, Favourites.

The clips also allow you to find out more info, share the clip on Facebook (or, at least, the name of the clip - followers will have to get the app themselves to check it out), and enter a competition to win Nike footballs and other stuff. There are also football knowledge questions for each clip in the app that's specific to that event. And, er, that's it.

But that's not really the point. In fact, the simplicity is half the appeal, as the Premier League 20 Seasons app is mainly about the incredible moments themselves. Dennis Bergkamp's wonder goal against Newcastle, for example, or Liverpool's 4-1 drubbing of Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2009. Or Liverpool's remarkable comeback against Manchester United 1994. Or, you get the picture...

Naturally, as these clips are short and sweet (there are 100 of them after all, which equates to a fair return for your money) and they're not always in the best bit rate considering some of their ages (more obvious on iPad than iPhone), the more thrifty out there may make do with YouTube and an afternoon or two's searching, but it's nice to have them all in the same place for the rest of us.

Incidentally, the app developers will be adding five new clips at the end of the current season, of which Swansea will be one. So there you go.

Tags: Apps Premier League 20 Seasons Football iPhone apps iPad apps App of the day

APP OF THE DAY: Premier League 20 Seasons review (iPad / iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

Encyclopaedia Britannica has announced the release of a new app for the iPhone and iPad, offering owners access to the organisation's tomes of information on just about everything.

The company, which ditched its print edition?in March, says the new app will "adhere to the same principles of outstanding reliability and quality for which Britannica is renowned and provide immediate access to clear, current and correct information through a unique mobile format."

The app is currently available for download on iPad and iPhone (using iOS 4.3 or later) and Britannica has confirmed to Pocket-lint that both Android and Windows Phone 7 apps are in the works.

The new app is free to download and will operate on a subscription basis, with users paying ?1.99 a month to enjoy full access to regularly updated Britannica content.?

Users not happy about paying ?1.99 a month will still be able to use the app, but with limited functionality, the company tells us.

Britannica says the top 100 articles will be completely free, as will the first 100 words of every article. Other free features include an "On this day" list of notable births, deaths and events that occurred on the date on which the app is being used.

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Tags: Apps iPad apps iPhone apps Encyclopaedia Britannica Android apps Windows Phone 7 apps

Encyclopaedia Britannica iPad/iPhone app lets you have an answer for everything for £1.99 a month originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:00 +0100

What if an app could start running before you knew you were about to load it? That's the idea behind a research project at Microsoft that is playing with the concept of launching apps it knows you are going to want to use at any given time, as if it could read your mind.

Called Falcon, standing for Fast App Launching with Context, the system constantly checks when and where you use specific apps so it can guess when you are likely to use them next.

"We have designed and built Falcon to remedy slow app launch," says Microsoft on the new project. "Falcon uses context such as user location and temporal access patterns to predict app launches before they occur."

The idea behind the system is that if your phone knows which app you are about to run it can then get it ready, speeding up launch times without your needing more powerful smartphones to do it.

"Falcon then provides apps systems support for effective app-specific pre-launching, which can dramatically reduce perceived delay," adds Microsoft,in a demo video showing the system in action.

In the video Falcon reduces load time from 11 seconds to 1 second.

"We use novel features derived through extensive data analysis, and a novel cost-benefit learning algorithm that has strong predictive performance and low runtime overhead."

At the moment Falcon is implemented as an OS modification to Windows Phone, although there is no work on whether it will become a feature in future versions of the Windows Phone operating system.

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Tags: Apps Microsoft Windows Phone 7 apps Microsoft Research

Microsoft Falcon predicts the app you'll load next originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:25:00 +0100

Burnout Crash is the latest game from EA, Criterion and the Burnout franchise. It sees you crashing your way to the perfect pile-up on the iPad and the iPhone, but is the app a car wreck? We've been playing to find out.

Burnout Crash

Format

iPad / iPhone

Price

?2.99

Where

iTunes

If you've ever played any of the Burnout games, Burnout Crash will make some sense. Its premise is based on the Crash element in the console games, and here it is the main focus. Crash into a car, and then spend the next 90 seconds, or whatever the goal is, trying to continue that crash going to rack up the points.

Each level has three game types; Rush Hour, Pile Up, and Road Block, all with different goals to achieve.?Each area also has three difficult levels to it and there are six different locations.

We would tell you more about the intricacies of the levels, but we are still working them out. You see there's no tutorial in Burnout Crash or any real sense of what is going on. You start the game by crashing into a car, and then spend the next couple of minutes swiping furiously with your finger on the screen hoping you are doing the right thing.

Turns out, even though we don't really know why, we are doing the right thing because, while we confess we don't really know what tactics we are using, they seem to be letting us get stars to open up more levels and more vehicles.

That of course implies that we are idiots. We do have some idea - like it is good to find the expensive-looking sports cars, or the pizza vans to unlock the pizza wheel of fortune to win extra prizes. Then there is the bit where you have to let the ambulance through, but after that it gets a bit vague and starts to get quite repetitive.

And that's the biggest problem with Burnout Crash - lots happens, it is fun for the first couple of hours, but then if you aren't 11 years old it gets a bit dull as you'll struggle to really grasp what you are doing without the game still letting you progress. Maybe we are just too old to "get it".

Criterion, if you are reading this, some tutorial pages would be helpful as would a little more structure. A game goal titled "Trigger the second feature" doesn't really help us.

At ?2.99 it's a bit rich, however it is published by EA so it is bound to go on sale at some point in the near future, and when it does it will probably be worth a go. Yes it has Origin and Game Center support too.?

For now however it will only really appeal to fans of the Burnout series who can't get enough of the crash sequences.

Tags: games iPad games iPhone games Car And GPS EA Apps App of the day

APP OF THE DAY: Burnout Crash review (iPad / iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0100

Margaret Thatcher is often said to have remarked: “Any man in his thirties who finds himself on a bus should consider himself a failure.” This is one thing the iron lady didn't actually say, but while those who travel on them - us included – might not be failures, we are all rendered miserable by the experience.

So, how do we go about making the process much nicer? By installing Live London Bus Tracker, that’s how. This dainty little free app allows you access to the Countdown bus information service run by Transport for London. It’s useful, because it’s real-time arrival data about every bus that operates in London.

Obviously, if you don’t live in, or visit London regularly, this review will be pointless, but if you do visit, or may one day come to see the capital of this green and pleasant land, then it’s probably worth chucking it on your phone anyway.

Live London Bus Tracker

Format

Android

Price

Free

Where

Google Play

The app itself is dizzyingly simple, and astonishingly simple to use. The first screen is for your favourites. The first time you open the app this will be predictably empty. But get on with some searching, and you’ll be able to “star” stops that you use on a regular basis. This saves a lot of searching time, and means you’ll be able to get live data within a few seconds of opening the app.

It uses TfL's own data, which the firm opened up for general use, via an API last year. This does mean, from time to time, the app will stop working because TfL is doing something. And if the company decides to shut the feed down, the app will stop working. But what you get here is the same information that is used to keep the bus stop screen updated with arrival information.?

Favourites are listed in the order you add them, so have a think about this if you have a lot, and add the most frequently used stops first.

The next tab along is for search. This is where you’ll spend a lot of time, at least until you’ve set up your favourites. What’s good about this, is that you can search based several parameters. First, there’s the name of an area, so, say “Waterloo”. This is okay for finding what you want, but most main London streets have a dizzying number of bus services. It can get confusing.

You can also search based on the bus stop number. And this is really useful, especially if you’re standing waiting for a bus. You simply tap in the five-digit number – it’s usually printed on the bus stop, above the bus timetables – and the app will give you the buses that call at that stop, and when they are next expected.

As you’d expect, there’s also a postcode search. But if you don’t know where you are, then the good news is that via GPS the application can suggest stops nearby, and provide information about them.

So, there you have it. Not a complicated app by any means, but it’s one we use constantly, and have found exceptionally useful.

Tags: Apps App of the day Android apps Live London Bus Tracker AOTD

APP OF THE DAY: Live London Bus Tracker review (Android) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:32:00 +0100

Barclays mobile payment service Pingit has now been made available to all.

It means customers will be able to make and receive payments to each other no matter what bank they use.

Pingit enables users to transfer money and make payments by simply using each other’s mobile numbers thus avoiding having to exchange bank details.

Available as a free app from the Apple App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App World, users simply register their mobile number to their account and they’re up and running, transferring money via a message facility akin to a text.

Even non-smartphone users are still able to register online so long as they have a UK mobile number and current bank account.

Launched in February, the app initially worked only between Barclays customers. Despite this, it was downloaded more than 400,000 times in its first eight weeks.?

Barclays even says its Pingit service is proving popular among small businesses and eBay users. Could we be looking at the next PayPal?

Of course it means it’s becoming far more difficult to avoid paying your friend back for that round he bought the other week.

Tags: Apps Barclays Barclays Pingit Finance

Barclays Pingit money transfer app now open to all originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:52:00 +0100

Mobile phone users can now feel what it’s like to lift the FA Cup albeit virtually, via an augmented reality app powered by Aurasma.

The Budweiser Man of the Match application has been updated to enable you to point your device at promotional Budweiser beer mats, to make the cup suddenly appear as a 3D hologram.?

This latest augmented reality feature has been added just in time for this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals.

Pubs around the country will have the beer mats so users will be able to wow their mates or just gauge funny looks, depending on how many lagers have been knocked back.

The app already provides users with fixture lists, statistics and the ability to vote for their Man of the Match.

And now they can get their hands on the FA Cup, albeit this one won’t dent if you drop it, a la Gazza.

Available free from the Apple Apple Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android, to users who must be aged 18 or older.

Augmented reality is all the rage at the moment with Google announcing its Project Glass Augmented Reality Specs.

Tags: Apps FA Cup Augmented Reality Budweiser

Lift the FA Cup with augmented reality app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:17:00 +0100

Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones v3.0?and?Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones v3.0?are now BBM connected apps.?

The news, confirmed by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, means that users of both apps will now be able to share their latest status updates and tweets as they BBM Personal Message at the same time.?

Users will simply have to select the “Share with BBM” icon from within the app for the new feature to work, after downloading the new Facebook and Twitter updates, of course.?

“You can also opt to share tweets or Facebook updates with your BBM contacts in one centralised location,” RIM tells Pocket-lint.?

The Twitter and Facebook apps are just two apps to get the new BBM connected features.?

The BlackBerry App World also gets BBM connectivity, meaning you can share your favourite apps with your BBM contacts.?

BBM v6.2 now also offers a sample of all new animated avatars so you can see what they do.

Tags: Phones Apps Twitter Facebook BlackBerry BlackBerry apps BBM

Facebook and Twitter for BlackBerry get BBM connected originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:15:00 +0100

As the Premier League season draws to a close, attention will soon be turning to the next footballing event.

Euro 2012 kicks off on 8 June in Poland and the Ukraine and with tickets few and far between Orange is offering an alternative way of getting all the latest tournament news and action.

The Official UEFA Euro 2012 mobile app will provide team news, live text commentary, video interviews, virtual face painting and - for the anoraks out there - enough statistics to give Motty a run for his money.

The app is free to download, but if you want to get any highlights of actual game footage you will need to pay.

You can share content via your Facebook and Twitter page, with the geo-location facility particularly useful if you want to let your friends know where you’ll be watching the big game.

Talking of places to witness your team’s route to glory (wishful thinking in England’s case, we fear), the augmented reality apps should help you find the best watering holes showing the game, be it in the UK or abroad.

The app is available to download from today on the iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Bada and Java?and will work on all major networks.

Orange will be updating content regularly in the build-up to Euro 2012.

Tags: Apps Orange Euro 2012 UEFA Football

Orange and UEFA starts to bang the Euro 2012 drum with multiplatform app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:26:00 +0100

The smartphone doesn't have to be a serious thing in order for it to be useful. It can be just as handy passing the time helping you mess about as it can checking emails. We like to make sure we get a decent balance between the two.?

Apps like Figure fullfil the need to tap away incessantly at your iPhone screen and generate noise. We advise headphones for this one, but believe us, ten minutes in and any boredom will have been instantly destroyed.?

Figure

Format

iPhone

Price

?0.69

Where

iTunes

So what exactly is Figure? The closest thing we can compare it to is early music-making games on the Snes, or the clever music bonus game that came with the Game Boy Camera cartridge - which, if you never played it incidentally, was hugely fun.?

In a similar retro style, Figure lets you tap out drums, bass and synth leads, then combine them into one song which ticks over for a few bars. It's not like Garageband, so don't expect to put together huge tracks, more just catchy riffs which can be pieced together instantly.?

You can record, but the emphasis here is on doing things live. Say you want to add another snare into your drum beat for example, you simply hold that icon - removing your finger takes it back out. The whole app works on a slide, swipe or spin approach. You slide to change instruments, swipe to change pitch and spin to change the range and steps of the notes played. It's free form enough to give you plenty of sounds to play with while not being so loose that it requires a lot of practice to master.??

The simplicity of Figure is what makes it worth the download. For 69p it's worth it just for its simple pick up and play approach. Some of the effects are particularly cool and worthy of even the best of electronic music producers. We just wish we could record some of our lengthier train-based jam sessions.?

Tags: App of the day Apps iPhone iOS

APP OF THE DAY - Figure review (iPhone) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

The Netflix Windows Phone 7 app is now available in the UK, allowing users of the movie-streaming service watch their Netflix content on the go on their phone.?

The app, which launched last year in the US on the Microsoft platform, was held back in the UK because of technical differences in the way Netflix delivered films on its service in the US and around the world.?

Following the UK launch of Netflix in January, the company had to re-engineer the Windows Phone 7 app to get it to work with the more advanced system, something it has now?resolved.

“We have pushed the App to the Windows Phone Marketplace,” the company told us. “Actual availability for each and every user can take up to 48 hours according to Microsoft.. So on its way imminently.”

We've just checked the WIndows Phone Marketplace online and although it isn't showing up in Marketplace on our Nokia Lumia 800 in the office, it is showing up on the Windowsphone.com website, and it is already there ready to be downloaded.?

Another day, another app ticked for Microsoft.?

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Tags: Phones Apps Windows Phone 7 Microsoft Netflix Windows Phone 7 apps

Netflix Windows Phone 7 app now available in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:09:00 +0100