iMag #1 by Alex Dyer

iMag

1-7 April 2013

Your weekly Apple entertainment magazine

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Iron Man 3 Phase Two of Marvel cinema begins now, starting with Tony Stark.

iPad mini starting from ÂŁ269

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Paramore Here’s To Never Growing Up A Summer of Music Alexz Johnson: Unsigned Happy Birthday iTunes: 2010

Marvel Phase Two Under the Sea Visit Middle Earth

Oh So Easy: iTunes is Simple A Trip down iPod Lane

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One Great Colour, One Great Cause

Badland: the new Angry Birds? Fitness Fun Sweet Tooth

The Perfect Summer Reads

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Paramore Paramore

Released: 08 April 2013

£7.99 Pre-order

««««« 1. Fast In My Car 2. Now 3. Grow Up 4. Daydreaming 5. Moving On 6. Ain’t It Fun 7. Part II 8. Last Hope 9. Still Into You 10. Anklebiters 11. Holiday 12. Proof 13. Hate To See Your Heart Break 14. (One Of Those) Crazy Girls 15. I’m Not Angry Anymore 16. Be Alone 17. Future 04 ■ www.apple.com/uk

ith their main songwriters gone, the future looked bleak for Paramore. Josh and Zac Farro split from the band in late 2010, leaving Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York to pick up the pieces and either carry on or say goodbye to the alternative, pop-punk band. They decided to carry on and three years later, Paramore’s self-titled fourth album is finally here. They’re not the same band they were when ‘Brand New Eyes’ was released in 2009. Back then they still held a sense of naivety in their music, something that has been wiped clean off of the new record. Considering the trying times that Paramore have had over the course of their nine years together, this new view of the world is perhaps something that should have been discovered a long time ago. The album opens with ‘Fast In My Car’, and Williams’ upbeat vocals scream new beginnings and a new hopeful outlook on life as she speeds away from the past and into the future, while telling of the troubles they’ve been through. “Been through the ringer a couple times/I came out callous and cruel/And my two friends know this very well/Because they went through it, too.” And that’s only the first track. The lead single ‘Now’ only reinforces the band’s aim of moving on and forgetting the past. If there’s a future we want it now” screams Williams as

Paramore are back and ready for new beginnings. They’ve pulled themselves from the brink of breaking up to start a new era of Paramore music. Here, Alex Dyer has an exclusive review of their self-titled fourth album. clashing guitars and fast yet complex melodies link back to the band’s ‘Misery Business’ days. They haven’t lost their unique young pop-punk sound that they have successfully carried through from their previous records, but they’ve matured and improved, Paramore very much a caterpillar that has been in a cocoon for four years and has now emerged into a musical butterfly. While there’s a harp back to their iconic ‘Let The Flames Begin’ from the ‘Riot!’ album in ‘Part II’, Paramore have created something completely different yet completely the same. This feeling of exciting new creations spreads throughout the entire album with a constant undercurrent of classic Paramore sound and it all comes to an intense yet sustained explosion of emotional raw music in closing track ‘Future’. Williams’ vocals are practically nonexistent (“I’m writing the future/ We don’t talk about the past”) yet tell once again of how Paramore are embracing what’s happened to them and moving on from it as she lets Davis and York take over, introducing their musical sound without the need for Josh or Zac. Existing Paramore fans will love it, as will people just discovering the trio. It is currently available for preorder on the iTunes store and is released on April 8.

Here’s To Never Growing Up Avril Lavigne

Released: 09 June 2013

£0.99 Pre-order

««««« 1. Here’s To Never Growing Up

our words: Avril Lavigne is back. Despite her last album, ‘Goodbye Lullaby’, not enjoying much success two years ago, she has picked herself up and created what is sure to be one of 2013’s summer hits. ‘Here’s To Never Growing Up’ is the first single off of Lavigne’s new album, expected to hit the charts later this year. Imagine that her last album didn’t happen. Lavigne has continued where ‘The Best Damn Thing’ (her 2007 release and third album) left off. ‘Here’s To Never Growing Up’ screams having a good time. It creates images of driving down a long and winding road in the sun in a flashy convertible, spending late nights partying and getting drunk like a rockstar, having fun with your friends and more importantly: never growing up. “Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs/With the boombox blaring as we’re falling in love/ I’ve got a bottle of whatever but it’s getting us drunk/Singing Here’s To Never Growing Up.” The heavy drumbeat with the blaring guitars creates a fast and euphoric atmosphere that wouldn’t go amiss in a nightclub, yet there is a distinct pop-music undertone that adds an air of youthfulness to Lavigne’s newest track. No one would think that this woman is nearing her thirties as she could still easily pass for that 17 year old punky kid who blasted onto the scene in 2002 with ‘Complicated’.

Lavigne’s easily recognisable high-pitched vocals ring out throughout the three and a half minute track, happy and bubbly and oozing energy. There’s a hint of hopefulness to her voice as she sings of falling in love and living her life in this eternal youthful bliss, perhaps an indication of how hopeful she is of rekindling this for herself. Newly engaged to Nickelback vocalist and guitarist Chad Kroeger, Lavigne is embarking on a new phase of her life and becoming a newlywed again. This is the start of something new for Lavigne and she seems to be ecstatically happy and blissfully in love, which oozes all over this catchy single. After divorcing Deryck Whibley of Sum-41 in 2009, she focused on her music and clothing line, as well as her fragrances and charity. After working with Kroeger on her upcoming album, he proposed to her after the couple had only been dating for a month. Perhaps this daring move is a shout out from Lavigne who desperately wants the world to know that she’s not ready to conform to the normality of a society where she’s always stood out just a bit. From being a tomboy-rocker in 2002 to a pop punk princess in 2007, she’s still doing what she does best: making enjoyable music and having a damn good time. ‘Here’s To Never Growing Up’ is available for pre-order from the iTunes store now and will be released on June 9. WORDS: ALEX DYER

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A Summer of Music Sam Clarke chooses the top 10 people to listen out for this summer. Picture the scene: four lads from London sit around a campfire at Reading Festival and they discuss music. Their friendship grows quickly and nine months later a band named Palma Violets is born and is living in a little flat in Lambeth. Despite small, inconvenient living arrangements, the future for Palma Violets is huge. Now signed to Roughtrade records, they’ve released their debut album, ‘180’. Roughtrade is the same record company that helped produce arguably the best punk and indie bands, including The Smiths, The Strokes and the Buzzcocks. Palma Violets fill the massive gap in the music market today for decent British indie music. The lack of this indie sound was what they agreed together was missing when they met at Reading in 2011. You can hear the refreshing sound of Palma Violets at Reading Festival this summer. ‘180’ is available in the iTunes store. For fans of: The Vaccines, Jake Bugg and The Strokes.

Radio One DJ Zane Lowe has described Josh Record as the next big thing. Record is fuelled by his experience of working on the Alton Estate in London where he witnessed poverty and social issues first hand. He began inviting people to his home which is now known as The Purple Rooms, a place for people to share their thoughts and pick each other’s brains about music. Record’s beautifully, emotionally drived voice has remained on the sidelines but now it is time for his voice to become known. Record will be playing the London Folkfest this July. For Fans of: Ben Howard, Birdy and Mumford and Sons.

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Las Vegas’s finest, Imagine Dragons, are exploding worldwide and by the looks of things, they are only going to get bigger. Their debut single ‘Radioactive’ has received a high reception worldwide, reaching the Top 40 in many countries and number one in Sweden. Imagine Dragons combine catchy choruses, dance-synth electronic sounds inspired by British Alternative Rock, mixed with emotionally drenched lyrics singing songs of love, trust, fear and moving on. Whether you like the sound of guitars in indie rock, the synth in dance-pop or simply emotionally charged lyrics, check out these Utah indie rockers on the mainstage at Reading Festival this summer. ‘Night Visions’ is available on the iTunes store. For fans of: Bastille, Passion Pit and Neon Trees.

Wake up, stand up it’s the Cambridge chaps Mallory Knox. They have become quite well known in the last year since the release of their first full album ‘Signals’. Luck hit quickly for this five-piece alternative rock band. Forming just four years ago, Mallory Knox have already had their own headline tour powered by Relentless Energy drink and are currently performing alongside various well known bands in the rock genre including The Blackout and While She Sleeps. After their release of the 2009 EP ‘Pilots’, Mallory Knox gained a respectable fan base. It’s refreshing to hear the powerful vocals paired with honest lyrics mixing together to create a unique sound, which can be difficult to find among the popular demand for post-hardcore bands in Britain. Keep your eyes peeled for these lads as great things are to come from them. Catch them performing at Reading Festival this summer. ‘Signals’ is available on the iTunes store. For fans of: Lower Than Atlantis, Deaf Havana and We Are The Ocean.

You may recognise the 24-year-old singer, James Blake, from hearing his piercing voice on his 2011 self-titled album. Blake has taken a step down a darker path when it comes to his sound, featured on his newly released album ‘Overgrown’. In 2011 Blake was announced by the BBC as a runner up in their 2011 sound awards, managing second place against a variety of successful acts including The Vaccines and Jessie J. Despite his album not becoming the top success story, the BBC is still aboard the James Blake train and has featured ‘Overgrown’ as their album of the week. Who can blame them for routing for such an underrated multi-talented singer, producer, and musician? Whether you’re a fan of soul, dubstep or even electronic music, there’s a track on ‘Overgrown’ waiting for you. If you missed your chance to catch Blake’s tour this month, visit Bestival this summer and witness the excellence of Blake in the flesh. ‘Overgrown’ is now available on the iTunes store. For fans of: Warpaint, alt-J and Bon Iver.

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Singing and writing his own songs since the age 13, it is about time Tom Odell had a break in his music career. Although it may seem that Odell is simply a needle sitting in a haystack amongst other folk acoustic singers who are desperately spreading their heartfelt lyrics and strumming their guitars, Odell’s soft sounding voice and grunge look may have the edge this time around. Odell is due to release his full debut album ‘Long Way Down’ on the April 15. You can hear the innocence in the 22-year-old’s voice whilst he sings confessions of love and honesty, but his piano playing resembles anything but innocence and youth. If you can handle the emotional goose bumps, Odell is currently on tour and you can buy tickets to catch him this May and October. The brand new single ‘Hold Me’ is now available on the iTunes store. For fans of: Charlie Simpson, James Arthur and Ben Howard.

Watch out for Bedford’s bright four-piece band Don Broco. These Bedford boys take their band seriously but have a refreshing fun side to them too. Their lyrics tell a story, however are kept simple and placed with a high tempo sound. They have a perfect balance of rock riffs and pop melodies to achieve a very infectious mixture. The British rock scene is a difficult one to get noticed in with the amount of successes at the moment, but these boys won’t have a problem with their debut album ‘Priorities’. ‘Priorities’ contains a mixture of songs about getting drunk, having a laugh, banter down the pub and basically being a lad. Don Broco are simply fun to listen to, listen to them at Takedown Festival coming soon. ‘Priorities’ is available on the iTunes store now. For fans of: Futures, Canterbury and Young Guns.

Prepare to hear a lot of Laura Mvula’s powerful soulful voice this year, as this Birmingham girl is something special. Already Mvula has supported soul singer Paloma Faith on tour and now it’s time for her to have her own support. There is a uniqueness to Mvula that most stars don’t have. The 25-year-old’s debut album ‘Sing to the Moon’ contains the singer’s rich voice and a magical blend of jazz, soul, gospel and pop with a six-piece band that includes her two younger siblings on violin. Could this be the next Amy Winehouse? Laura Mvula is currently touring the UK and will be appearing at many festivals this summer including Glastonbury and The Isle of Wight. ‘Sing to the Moon’ is available on the iTunes store now. For fans of: Paloma Faith, Jessie Ware and Emilie Sande.

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Last year three Londoners in their twenties released the perfect summer soundtrack tune, ‘Not Giving In’ featuring Alex Clare and John Newman. Already Rudimental have released some of the catchiest dance tracks this year, proof enough with the popular club track ‘Feel The Love’ featuring Alex Clare. The future keeps on getting brighter for this British drum and bass group. Now due to release their new single ‘Waiting All Night’, prepare to hear even more of Rudimental this summer. Their long awaited album ‘Home’ will be available to download from the iTunes store on April 29. Pre order ‘Home’ on the iTunes store now. For fans of: Nero, Alex Clare and Chase and Status.

Last but certainly not least is HAIM. You may have seen these LA girls at the iTunes Festival last year, now they’re back with their new EP ‘Falling’. These three quirky sisters have just been announced as the winners of the BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll, previous winners have included commercially successful artists Jessie J and Ellie Goulding. There is no surprise that HAIM’s sound differs, as it’s a mix of Pop, Dance and R&B with a dash of Rock, due to their vast influences which include Britney Spears, The Strokes and Destiny’s Child. HAIM are exciting, fresh and fun. These sisters bring back the sounds of the nineties with a twist. Previously, they have toured with Mumford and Sons and Vampire weekend, but are now headlining their very own tour in the UK. HAIM will also be at Reading Festival this year. Their new EP ‘Falling’ is now on the iTunes store. For fans of: Bastille, Dog is Dead and Florence & The Machine.

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The Basement Recordings 3 Alexz Johnson

Released: 20 Feb 2013

£7.90

««««« 1. At Your Door 2. Hero 3. James Dean 4. Punk Rock Chick 5. Small Dreams 6. I Fell 7. Shutting You Out 8. The Pledge 9. Veins 10. Where Is the Sky

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magine you’re clearing out an old wardrobe and you come across a shoebox. Inside are mementos from your childhood, things you may have forgotten and things that you may have intended to set aside for later yet never got around to using. Now apply that in a musical context and bingo, you have Alexz Johnson’s ‘The Basement Recordings 3’. This is the third installment in a trilogy of albums, all containing tracks written during Johnson’s childhood with her older brother Brendan. Some have been sitting around on a hard drive since the 90s, just waiting to be used for something. And now they’ve finally been given a platform to be heard on. It was nothing short of a stroke of genius, as these songs are pure gold. The album is a mix of different sounds, something Johnson is known for doing. Her influences are wide and varied, all mixing together to create one flawless indescribable genre. ‘James Dean’ and ‘Punk Rock Chick’ both feature clashing guitars and hurried vocals, painting the image of a young girl up on stage, rocking out with an electric guitar with bright pink hair and piercings in inappropriate places. Then tracks such as ‘I Fell’ and ‘Veins’ provide an almost angst ridden retreat into emotional

“These songs challenged our songwriting abilities, they came to find their own sound, they landed us record deals, and they still feel like shadows of our growth as artists. The only thing they didn’t get was a proper release. It’s time to let them go.” lyrics and beautiful melodies. Add a bit of lighthearted ‘Shutting You Out’ and you have a very eclectic album. But the crazy thing is that every track fits together like a carefully constructed jigsaw puzzle, everything fits beautifully. On every Basement Recordings album that Johnson does, she provides the full version of a demo track that had previously been leaked and that fans have been salivating at the mouth to hear in full for at least five years. On the first installment it was ‘Running Back’, a long awaited song for many Johnson fans and on the second it was ‘Crawl’, a devastatingly heartbreaking track that had leaked partially years before. And on this album? It’s ‘Where Is the Sky’. Was it worth the wait to hear? Most definitely. This album is nothing short of a work of art. It’s a masterpiece to end the trilogy. All three albums are available for purchase on the iTunes store.

I feel like I’m not a little girl anymore. Who needs a recording contract? Not Alexz Johnson. For her, unsigned is the way to go.

Image credit: Jessica Earnshaw

30,000 is a lot of money. It’s a yearly wage for some people, the equivalent of £20,140. That was the amount of money Canadian singer songwriter Alexz Johnson needed to raise to go on her debut tour. She started a Kickstarter campaign and finished with a massive $67,000. Now, a year later, she’s back fundraising for her next album. One of ten children, Alexz began writing songs with her brother Brendan at the age of 12. These are the songs that are featured on her ‘The Basement Recordings’ albums; songs spanning from the late nineties to now, all written and recorded in her basement. One thing you will find with her music is that there are no studio frills: she does everything herself. After she was dropped from Epic Records in 2008, her intended debut album ‘Weight’ was completely shelved and never

got released. “It’s a gamble when you sign with a major label,” She told Tobias Keunecke. “I decided to take control over my music and go independent. I’ve since been putting out music on my own.” The album has subsequently leaked online since, so fans can enjoy what should have been a mindblowing debut. She released her debut ‘Voodoo’ completely independently in 2010 and a remix album, ‘Voodoo: Reloaded’ followed a few months later. Then came ‘The Basement Recordings I, II and III’, ‘The Skipping Stone EP’ and then a live album from her 2012 Kickstarter tour. So Alexz has been busy. But there’s no sign of a major record deal on the horizon. “I feel so in control in my career and I feel like I’ve learned so much, I just wouldn’t hand things over again. Even if there were to be a situation where a label got involved or something with what

I’m doing, I feel like I’m not a little girl anymore,” she said to Portrait magazine last year. “I’ve gone from having nothing, like putting my stuff in storage, and moving to New York, and going to LA on points, getting sessions with songwriters, always thinking about my next album and doing music videos with the change in my back pocket. I start feeling like when I get in the room, I deserve to be in the room.” Independent and free from studio influence is how her career is shaping up and she’s enjoying it. Now fans are pledging money for her new album and with 80% of her unknown goal raised so far, she’s well on her way. She says: “I’m just trying to go with the flow and make the best decisions and not rush into anything. I’m ready to record a new album. Here, you can help make it happen!” WORDS: ALEX DYER www.apple.com/uk ■ 11

Happy Birthday iTunes On April 28, iTunes turns ten years old. Every week until then, iMag takes a look at a year of iTunes history. This week Josie Breen revisits 2010.

5 January: App Store customers have downloaded three billion apps In less than 18 months, iPhone and iPod users had downloaded three billion apps in 77 countries worldwide. Steve Jobs said: “The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike anything else available on other mobile devices, and we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.”

22 January: iTunes releases ‘Hope for Haiti’ for the victims of Haiti earthquake The album featured artists including Coldplay, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift. It was exclusively digitally available through the iTunes store and broke records as the biggest one-day album pre-order in iTunes history. It also became the first digital only album to top the Billboard 200 album chart in the US.

27 January: Apple announces iPad, including iBooks and iBookstore Labelled a ‘revolutionary device’, the introduction of the iPad was another huge success. Its responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ allowed users to access their media like never before. Apple also launched iBooks and iBookstore allowing users to download and read thousands of different books.

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10 February: 10 billionth song downloaded on iTunes The 10 billionth song downloaded on iTunes was bought by Louie Sulcer, from Georgia, USA. iTunes rewarded him with a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. The song that landed him the amazing prize was ‘Guess Things Happen That Way’ by Johnny Cash. When Steve Jobs phoned him to say congratulations, Louie replied “yeah right, who is this?”

7 June: App downloads reach 5 billion while 150 customer accounts are created. Less than six months after announcing its three billion download milestone, Apple announces its app downloads have reached five billion. Unsurprising after the hugely successful launch of the iPad, which gave customers access to apps like never before. 150 million customer accounts have also been created on the iTunes store.

24 August: 300 million classes have been downloaded on iTunes U. iTunes U is one of the world’s leading and most popular online educational catalogues, with over 350,000 audio and video files from educational institutions from around the world – including Japan and Mexico. All iTunes U content is free to download to iPhone, iPod and iPad and can also be enjoyed on a Mac or PC.

6 November: The entire Beatles catalogue is available digitally for the first time After years of it being in demand, the highly sought after Beatles collection was finally made available for digital download and it was exclusive to iTunes. Sir Paul McCartney said: “It’s fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around.”

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Top-selling singles of 2010

Top-selling albums of 2010

1. Love the Way You Lie Eminem and Rhianna

1. Recovery Eminem

2. California Gurls Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg)

2. The Fame Monster Lady Gaga

3. Hey, Soul Sister Train

3. Sigh No More Mumford & Sons

4. Airplanes B.o.B (feat. Hayley Williams)

4. Speak Now Taylor Swift

5. OMG Usher (feat. will.i.am)

5. Animal Ke$ha

6. Just the Way You Are Bruno Mars

6. Need You Now Lady Antebellum

7. Tik Tok Ke$ha

7. The E.N.D The Black Eyed Peas

8. Only Girl (In the World) Rhianna

8. Come Around Sundown Kings of Leon

9. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Usher

9. Lungs (Deluxe Version) Florence + The Machine

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iPod nano completely renanoed just ÂŁ129

Marvel Phase Two Avengers Assemble was Marvel just warming up. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more where that came from, starting with Iron Man 3.

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Image credits: Walt Disney Studios, Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Aceshowbiz.

n April 2012, ‘Avengers Assemble’ opened to massive figures at the UK box office. Taking £2.5 million on its opening day and £15.8 million over its opening weekend, it became the UK’s highest grossing superhero film ever. Part of a franchise that Marvel has been building successfully since 2008, it brought together a group of misfit superheroes that had mostly been established through films released over the last five years. But while ‘Avengers Assemble’ may seem like the exciting climax of the Marvel cinematic universe, it’s only the beginning. Here iMag takes a look at what’s coming up, in what will surely be an exciting couple of years for all of you superhero fans as Marvel begins the exciting Phase Two. One of the most anticipated movies of 2013, ‘Iron Man 3’ is due to hit cinemas in the UK on April 25. Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow return to star as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts; and Don Cheadle and Jon Favreau are also returning to reprise their roles as Stark’s best friend, Colonel James Rhodes/War Machine, and lovable chauffeur Happy Hogan. The final promotional trailer has just been released, however Marvel are still being very secretive with the plot details, only revealing a vague summary on their website that leaves everything to the imagination. “Marvel’s ‘Iron Man 3’ pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those

responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?” What does this mean for Tony Stark? You’ll have to wait a few more weeks to find out. Set to open in UK cinemas on October 30, ‘Thor 2: The Dark World’ sees Chris Hemsworth return as Norse God Thor Odinson and Tom Hiddleston bring the evil trickster Loki Laufeyson back to the big screen in a sequel to the 2011 blockbuster, ‘Thor’. According to actress Jaimie Alexander, who plays the warrior Sif, the film will have a darker feel than the 2011 release and will explore the relationship between Sif and Thor back on Asgard. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje appears in a Marvel movie for the first time as the dual part of Algrim the Strong and Kurse. Algrim was betrayed in battle and injured because of it and he is then healed and transformed into the more powerful Kurse. Could this villain turn out to be worse than Loki, the antagonist of both ‘Thor’ and ‘Avengers Assemble’? Currently in its early stages of filming, ‘Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier’ brings back Chris Evans as the heroic Steve Rogers (Captain America). It also sees Scarlett Johansson appear as Russian assassin and spy Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), a role she has previously played in ‘Iron Man 2’ and reprised in ‘Avengers Assemble’. www.apple.com/uk ■ 19

Plot details are currently nothing more than speculation, some fans hoping to finally see some Black Widow history, something that is currently lacking in the film franchise. The comic books all suggest that Steve’s best friend Bucky, who is believed dead, is found by the same organisation that trained Natasha as a child and is turned into the Winter Soldier, Soviet Russia’s best assassin. Will the film take all of this into account or will Marvel come up with something completely different? Will there finally be some interwoven character histories within the Avengers themselves, starting with the “star spangled man with a plan” and the beautiful yet deadly Black Widow? We will just have to be patient until 2014 for what is sure to be an exciting sequel. Also currently in production is ‘Ant Man’. Don’t laugh, he really is a superhero! Directed by Edgar Wright, ‘Ant Man’ tells the story of biochemist Dr. Hank Pym, who creates a size-altering formula made of a group of subatomic particles. He decides to test it on himself and not everything goes according to plan, leaving him to create a device to enable him to communicate with insects. ‘Ant Man’ is expected in 2015, around the same time as ‘Avengers Assemble 2’.

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Now don’t go getting excited just yet. ‘Avengers Assemble 2’ is scheduled for 2015 and no other information has yet been released. With rumours that Robert Downey Jr won’t be returning to the Iron Man suit, who knows what could happen by the time this blockbuster comes into production. iMag will be keeping you updated as and when we get any new information or pictures. But it doesn’t just end with the films. Joss Whedon, the man behind ‘Avengers Assemble’, has just finished creating a Marvel television show. Entitled ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’, it revolves around the ‘Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division’, the organization tangled up in the events of all of the current Marvel films. This organisation is what connects every one of the films together and this new television series will feature some of the agents we only caught glimpses of in ‘Avengers Assemble’, all brought together by Agent Phil Coulson. The pilot was shot earlier this year and it hopefully won’t be too long until it makes it onto our televisions. While we wait and sneak peeks of what will surely be some incredible entertainment, all six current Avengers films are available in the iTunes film store. WORDS: ALEX DYER

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t’s been ten years since Pixar made the Oscar® winning film ‘Finding Nemo’. The critically acclaimed film warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide so it’s about time it was given a sequel. ‘Finding Dory’ will be swimming into cinemas on November 25 2015. Ellen DeGeneres will be returning to voice the lovable yet forgetful Dory in this all new bigscreen adventure. “I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is 22 ■ www.apple.com/uk

fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is that it’s got a lot more Dory.” Director Andrew Stanton returns to take audiences back underwater to rejoin their favourite sea creatures from the first film but also to meet a variety of brand new characters. According to Stanton: “One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why Dory was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.” ‘Finding Nemo’ won a host of

The sequel to ‘Finding Nemo’ has finally been announced. Alex Dyer has the information.

awards after its release, including the Academy award for Best Animated Feature as well as being nominated for a further three (Best Writing Original Screenplay, Best Music Original Score and Best Sound Editing). It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Music. The American Film Institute named it among the top ten greatest animated films of all time in 2008 and it’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film in the world. DeGeneres was even nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance in ‘Finding Nemo’. Let’s hope she’s just as successful in 2015. ‘Finding Nemo’ will be available on the iTunes store soon.

Image credits: Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Warner Bros Studios

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Sam Clarke shares our ‘Hobbit’ goodies in time for the new film’s home release on April 8.

t Apple we love the new highly anticipated, masterpiece from Peter Jackson, ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’, based on the classic Tolkein novel. So just for you, we have everything you could ever need to fulfil all of your Hobbit needs, including the newly released film, which is available for purchase from the iTunes store for £13.99 from April 8. If you somehow haven’t seen this masterpiece yet, you are missing out. This legendary and magical adventure follows timid little hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who is sent on a quest to accompany the wizard Gandalf the Grey along with 13 Dwarfs to claim back something that belonged to them.

This journey takes Bilbo out of his tiny, safe, comfortable home in Hobbiton and drags him into the wild, where he is confronted with dangerous and mystical creatures including deadly goblins, elegant elves and dopey giants. It is a journey that changes this naive Hobbit’s life. If the film is simply not enough for you, we have kindly provided you with behind the scenes content that you won’t find anywhere other than the iTunes store.. Not only can you get this exclusive content, but you can experience all of the stories over and over again in the complete ‘Lord of The Rings’ trilogy, all found on iTunes. If you’re not satisfied because

reading is what takes your fancy then sit down with a cup of tea and escape with Tolkien’s famous tales of Middle Earth by downloading all of the ebook’s of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of The Rings’ through iBooks. Perhaps even set the mood with the official soundtracks from the films all on the iTunes store. Get the whole family involved with our free Hobbit apps such as The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middleearth which allows you to battle as an Elf or Dwarf against thousands worldwide to drive away the nasty goblins beyond the Misty Mountains. With the help of your friends and family, you too can conquer enemies across Middle Earth through iTunes. www.apple.com/uk ■ 23

iPhone 5 starting from ÂŁ529

Oh so easy

Every time you update, iTunes becomes more and more simpler and easier to use. What’s changed?

implicity truly is the key to success; iTunes recently had a complete makeover that consisted of a redesigned player, a newly remodelled store and an ever-growing amount of iCloud features. With a newly redesigned library your collection will never have looked so good. If it’s an album that you wish to view, your wish will be granted by iTunes, all you have to do is click ‘Music’ and that’s all you will see, album after album, with no distractions or complications. However, it doesn’t stop there as you can do the same for films, apps, television programmes and everything else. With the updated expanded view, accessing and viewing has become easier than ever. If you

see something, and you want to play it, the new expanded view will help you explore it with just one touch of the screen. This means that you can view all the songs from your favourite album, click play and continue browsing without having to go back and forth to your library. As a present from iTunes to yourself we’ll also make recommendations for similar albums that you may be interested in. The new MiniPlayer, which is ‘small on space but big in control” allows you to squeeze more features into a miniscule Mini player that is now smaller than ever. Now you can click the ‘Up Next’ button to see which songs are coming up next. And if you are not in the mood for what is about

to play next then you can simply search your collection of music downloads and select a different song. All of this can be done without even opening your library. Accessing your history has never been easier. Now when you preview a film or a song finding it is as easy as 1, 2, 3. All you have to do is click the ‘Preview History’ button and there you have it, a rundown of all the television programmes, music and films that you previously sampled. iCloud keeps up to date with your preview history on all of your devices. So if you preview a television programme on your iPad and you go out, when you come back, it’ll be right there waiting for you on your computer at home. WORDS: ATINUKE PHILLIPS www.apple.com/uk ■ 25

A trip down iPod lane

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of a new kind of device came on the market, Apple’s first iPod. The first generation offered “1,000 songs in your pocket,” and it quickly proved to be the best on the market. The simplicity of loading music and its edgy appearance were just a few of the many pros about this device. Being able to bring your entire music collection along with you in your pocket was once a dream but Apple had ensured that such a thing could become reality. In July 2002, the second generation iPod, compatible with Windows and holding up to 4,000 songs was presented to music lovers. Just when society thought it couldn’t get any better, the ever growing company had managed to outdo themselves with an

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t’s hard to imagine how much technology has advanced over the last 12 years, from the very first portable cassette player to the first portable CD player. Society has witnessed a huge development in technology that has enabled them to enter a futuristic world, where one is able to listen to music on the go. A world without iPods seems somewhat of a distant memory and attempting to recall life without our precious devices can prove to be a bit of a struggle. While Apple weren’t the first to create an mp3 player, they were able to set themselves apart after letting the MP3 market mature and stepping in at a later stage. The market was shaken up at the end of 2001 when the birth

impressive 600,000 devices sold throughout the year. 2003 not only saw a third generation come out which was thinner, lighter and could hold almost double the amount of songs that the second generation did, but also saw the launch of the iTunes Music Store with over 200,000 songs available for users to purchase. By the end of 2003 a whopping two million iPods had been sold around the world and 2004 proved that business will only get better, after the iPod mini was introduced in 5 new stylish colours. This was shown through their figures for 2004 when the end of the year saw over 10 million iPods sold. For those that wanted something smaller, Apple produced what was

later to be referred to as the iPod shuffle. A tiny piece of excellence which far surpassed being able to fit into your pocket. This little wonder could be clipped onto your coat, bag, or even onto trousers. It feels like decades ago that the above were out but the journey must go on. iTunes continued to boom and in August 2005, iTunes Music Store debuted in Japan. The death of the iPod mini was quickly forgotten after its rebirth, the iPod Nano replaced not only the iPod mini but also peoples memory of the- what was it called again? The replacement was more than worth it as it became the best-selling music player ever. If you thought things couldn’t get any better wait till you hear what they had gone and given

us now, the unveiling of the new fifth-generation iPod. Apart from playing music, you were also able to store photographs and if that wasn’t enough, even play videos. Apple has managed to continue satisfying the needs of millions of music lovers around the world, surprising them with new features, shapes and even colours. It’s almost as if once you’ve taken that bite from the apple and seen how sweet and delicious it is, you simply can’t go back. 2007 saw Apple unveil the first ever iPod touch which had a Multi-Touch interface and builtin Wi-Fi wireless networking. The amount of iPods that been sold throughout the year had soared up to an astonishing 141 million. September 2010 saw the new

iPod touch take the world by storm with its Retina Display, FaceTime video calling, HD video recording and Game Centre. The new iPod nano was also released, which had Multi-Touch interface and a builtin clip for instant wear-ability. From 2011 to early 2013, Apple has gone on to release a new shuffle which was even smaller than before. Apple had gone and produced an amazing piece of innovative technology once again. With time ticking by it’s easy to understand why one would be so eager to find out what’s coming next. Will users be given wireless headphones alongside their musical device or will they simply be getting thinner and thinner with each generation? What do you want Apple to do next? www.apple.com/uk ■ 27

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million people live with HIV/AIDS and Africa is home to 67% of these. Around 3,600 people die and more than 900 are born with this killer disease every day. (RED) has one goal and that to fight for an AIDSfree generation, something that could actually be possible as early as 2015. So far, as many as 14.8 million children have been orphaned from this disease, even though AIDS is preventable and treatable. To treat someone with HIV, two pills are needed that cost 40 cents yet the majority of people living in Africa live on less than two dollars a day and cannot afford the treatment, meaning more and more are having to suffer unnecessarily. Launched in 2006, (PRODUCT) RED, with the help of Apple and other big brands such as Nike and Converse, aims to eliminate AIDS in Africa. It was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver to be a brand that incorporates massive worldwide companies to produce unique products exclusive to (RED). (RED) doesn’t call themselves a charity, instead preferring to describe themselves as an ‘economic initiative’ and up to 50% of the products sold from the range are directed to the Global Fund to invest in African AIDS programs. (RED) describes itself as: “a business model designed to create awareness and a sustainable flow of money from the private sector into the Global Fund.” In other words, they work with big brands like Apple to ensure that there is a constant flow of money to help them reach their goal of eliminating the deadly disease

killing too many innocent people. Red is the colour we associate with danger and emergency – and PRODUCT (RED) have built their initiative around this colour to highlight the necessity for this organisation. Of the 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, 22 million of them are in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is why it has never been more important to offer our help. At the moment there are six African countries benefiting from the fund, including Ghana and Rwanda, and the money gained through the initiative is used to support locally designed programs that provide antiretroviral therapy for those infected with HIV. The money is also put towards feeding and educating children orphaned by the disease, supporting AIDS prevention and providing expectant mothers with the treatment to prevent them from passing on the disease to their unborn child. (RED) has amassed more than $190 million for the Global Fund since it was launched. This has resulted in over 7 million people being tested for HIV as well as those in need have received the counselling they need to get through their tough times. What’s more, 95,000 HIV positive pregnant women have been given the drugs they need to lower the risk of passing on their disease. They hope to eliminate motherto-baby transmission by 2015, ensuring the first AIDS free generation in more than 30 years. To do this they need the support to raise even more awareness. To help support this initiative, Apple have dedicated an entire

Image credit: sxc.hu

One great colour. One great cause.

When you buy (PRODUCT) RED merchandise, Apple gives a portion of the purchase price to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Children like these and the tribe below benefit from (PRODUCT) RED.

range of products to the cause, and have so far contributed more than $50 million to the fund. Our (PRODUCT) RED features, unsurprisingly, a range of much loved Apple products in a vibrant red colour. These include the iPod Touch and iPod Shuffle as well as Smart Covers for iPads. The (RED) iPod Touch is available in both 32GB and 64GB, with prices starting from £249.00 and the (RED) iPod shuffle is available in 2GB, from just £40.00. With Apple donating a portion of the profits to the Global Fund with every sale, and the products in such a vibrant and exciting colour, there’s no reason not to invest and help make a difference with such a stylish and positive product. Help us to help them, just by using Apple products. WORDS: JOSIE BREEN

www.apple.com/uk ■ 29

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App Store Badland

Must haves for your iOS devices, all avaliable on the App Store.

The new Angry Birds? Sam Clarke plays:

he indie game developer company Frogmind is made up of just two people who have a vision; game programmer Johannes Vuorinen and accomplished game artist Juhana Myllys. Their goal at Frogmind is to create games of a high standard that achieve just as big a reaction and value as huge, well known game production companies. This dream is about to come true as the highly anticipated game Badland is finally here! Developed by Frogmind, this atmospheric, action packed, sidescrolling game combines the perfect balance between being highly addictive and having great graphics. Forget Angry Birds, this award winning app is the next best thing. Taking platform gaming to the next level, Badland contains over 40 levels that are set in a beautiful, mystical forest land, with trees and flowers, and you will play as one of the forest inhabitants. Badland will take you on a journey through

a gorgeous forest location where you will be faced with unusual and imaginative obstacles and traps. Just like classic platform games, the object of the game is to make it to the end of the scene. Each scene is colourful and incredibly artistic and looks beautiful on your iPhone, iPad or iTouch. If you’re bored of playing alone, Badland even provides a four player mode in which you can play on your device with friends and battle for the highest scorer. Badland has been specifically designed for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch screens, using one touch controls for the best precision. So don’t miss out on the fun and experience this five star app for yourself. It’s now available from the App Store for £2.49.

Screenshot of game footage thanks to badlandgame.com. Visit for more information and video previews.

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Fitness Fun

The App Store can help you get fit and healthy in time for those summer months. Sam Clarke and Atinuke Phillips round up the best apps to help you stay in shape easily and cheaply.

MyFitnessPal

ften the key to losing weight is to keep track of your calories throughout the day. But there’s no need to carry a pen and notepad around with you this summer, thanks to free app, ‘MyFitnessPal.’ Simply scan your iPhone or iPod over a barcode and it will provide you with the calories, fat and sugar content, along with everything else you need to know when watching your weight. All of the foods that you eat will automatically be stored on your personal login, hassle free, which also allows you to log in from your computer. This diet tracker contains the world’s biggest food database with an impressive two million different foods stored making watching and losing that unwanted weight easier than ever before.

Nike+ Running

ou can compete against your friends and family with what was the first free running app, ‘Nike+ Running’, and battle against others for the title of fastest runner. You can set your own goals with the app’s stored maps to follow, or even the app at your local gym. This app will act as your own personal motivator and will remember how fast and far you have run, helping you keep track of your fitness development. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re an avid runner, the ‘Nike+ Running’ app is a friendly guide to run alongside you.

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On the iPhone’s GPS, ‘Nike+ Running’ will accurately store the pace, distance and time of your run and works great as a tool to stay fit. Why don’t you download some motivational tracks from the iTunes store to entertain you on your run and help you to acheive your sporting goals.

Change4Life Healthier Recipies

his free app from the NHS contains over 100 new recipes and ideas that are perfect if you want to improve your lifestyle, are bored of eating the same old meals or want to lose weight. There is no need to worry about tracking your calories as this app will automatically store your calorie intake and will suggest ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks. This app gives you a great opportunity to try new foods and make that dull tuna sandwich for lunch extra delicious. Impress your friends with a BBQ they won’t forget with your new tasty recipes and share the ideas over Facebook and Twitter.

FitnessClass

itch your gym membership and simply workout in the comfort of your own home by becoming a member of the new ‘FitnessClass’ app for just £6.99 a month. The app allows you to watch a variety of over 400 challenging fitness videos instructed by over 70 qualified fitness instructors

from around the world, including the respected Katy Smith, TRX and Ellen Barrett. Share your results and thoughts with other ‘FitnessClass’ members over Facebook and post completed classes on your wall or Twitter feed to let others know how well you are getting on. This app has been proven to help you lose weight and will get you feeling comfortable in that bikini or your swimming trunks this summer.

Lose It!

f you’re a busy person then this would be the perfect app for you. With this free app you’ll be able to keep track of the calories that you have burnt throughout the day. Sounds great? There’s more; this app also counts nutrients, carbs and fibre in your food. It also allows you to scan barcodes or manually enter your daily food intake, which means you can keep a closer eye on what you’re putting into your body without any hassle.

Eat This, Not That! Restaurants

t’s the end of the week, it’s been a really long one and all you want to do is relax. You want to put your feet up, pick up the phone and order a take away or go to a nice restaurant and have someone cater to your needs for a change. Unlike other apps that will advise you not to eat something like a Big Mac, ‘Eat This, Not That! Restaurants’ from Rodale do the opposite and tell you to pick the Big Mac. Yes it’s true it really does! This app provides a long list of restaurant chains, giving you the pros and cons of over 13,000 menu items, including your beloved Big Mac. The app also has a calorie counter and a fun game that has been designed to recognise just how deceptive food and our choice of drinks can be. And it’s a bargain at only £3.49.

Image credit: stockfreeimages.com

Zombies, Run!

and hear the zombies groan, grunt and get closer to you. You’ll hear news updates and follow orders to keep safe from the zombies, run to collect supplies, which will help towards building your safe house to survive this zombie apocalypse. You will be so caught up with escaping from zombies, you will forget how all that running will be helping you tone up and get in shape! This app will really get your adrenaline pumping for £2.49.

Healthy Diet and Grocery Food Scanner

f you’re the sort of person that won’t be fazed by the prospects of being seen holding your phone to boxes in a supermarket then this app might be the perfect app for you. The free ‘Healthy Diet and Grocery Food Scanner’ app by ShopWell keeps hold of all your nutritional preferences, including vitamins, sugars, fats and more after you fill out a very short survey. The app also keeps a tab of any allergies that you may have and changes diets to suit your health needs. If you have an illness such as diabetes you can rest assured, this app will give you a diet that suits you. If you scan a barcode, you are automatically informed on whether the product meets all of your needs. If the product that you scanned does not meet your needs then another product will be recommended. It’s like having a Nutritionist and Dietician in your pocket 24/7.

ored of the usual power music or motivational cheer? Be scared to death by the Zombies, Run! app brought to you by Six to Start and award winning novelist Naomi Alderman. Complete various levels with alternative locations and settings by simply jogging in the park or on the treadmill. You will be read the story through your headphones Folio

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Sweet Tooth E

very so often the world gets hooked on a new game. In the past it’s been Draw Something, 4 Pics 1 Word and Angry Birds have all had their time in the spotlight and now there’s a new game keeping everyone glued to their iPhones: ‘Candy Crush Saga’. The highly addictive game seems to be being played by everyone. It’s on iPhones, iPads and it is even being played on Facebook. But why on earth is this game so addictive? The game itself has been designed and developed by King. com, a free online gaming site that has developed other games such as ‘Ace Solitaire’ and ‘Pool King’ but ‘Candy Crush Saga’ seems to be their most successful game yet. ‘Candy Crush Saga’ is colourful and vibrant with delicious graphics, literally! The levels are 34 ■ www.apple.com/uk

“a sweet switching game with spectacular effects”

laid out in what appears to be roads and a sweet-looking helper guides along players. It is free to download and play however there are in-app purchases, which allows players to buy extra moves or lives, though these can be disabled in your device’s settings. Described as: “a sweet switching game with spectacular effects”, the aim of the game is to complete different levels by joining types

of candies together and making ‘special candies’ by matching as many together as possible. ‘Candy Crush Saga’ has received thousands of positive reviews on the App Store. One user wrote: “Warning! It’s totally addictive. I love it!”, while another player said: “Great game and mind bending.” The rules of the game are simple which is perhaps one of the reasons as to why it is so addictive to so many people around the world. The game is easy to play and the hundreds of levels means users can play as often or as little as they like without running out of levels to complete. What’s more, players can choose to play on their own or compete with their friends. This mind-bending game is available free to download on the App Store and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Image credit: stockfreeimages.com

Candy Crush Saga is everyone’s favourite app. Josie Breen plays the game everyone’s talking about.

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The Perfect Summer Reads Josie Breen reviews some of her favourite books that are perfect for the beach this summer and are all now available on the iTunes bookstore.

Me Before You Jojo Moyes

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can. All of her books tell love stories in imaginative yet heartwrenching ways. The story is extremely moving, dealing with a number of life issues, including a person’s right to die. It isn’t for the faint hearted but Jojo Moyes’ effortless

story telling means that you find yourself staying up until the early hours of the morning desperate to see how it ends. Powerful, moving, and heart breaking, it’s not a story you will forget anytime soon. ‘Me Before You’ is available on the iTunes Bookstore for £4.99.

Image credit: Penguin Publishing

his is an unconventional love story between Will Traynor and Lou Clarke, written by Jojo Moyes. It is called ‘Me Before You’ and it is sure to be the perfect Summer read. Far from Romeo and Juliet, Will is a quadriplegic after being involved in a motorcycle accident and Lou is his carer. They come from completely different walks of life but the accident brings them together and teaches them both a lesson in life and love. Before his accident, Will was a successful businessman working in the city, with a beautiful girlfriend and lots of money. On the other side of life, Lou has never ventured out of the small town she was born in, spending her life working in the Buttered Bun and looking after her family. When Lou meets Will, their friendship helps them both in so many ways and a truly moving love story is formed. There are not many authors who can bring out emotion in the reader in the way that Jojo Moyes

The Time of My Life Cecelia Ahern

ince her bestseller ‘P.S I Love You’ was released, Cecelia Ahern has carved her name into literary history. From reading just one of her books, it is clear to see her unique and modern sense of writing. ‘The Time of My Life’ is typical Ahern – at times you find yourself slightly confused yet you still can’t put the book down. The book is about Lucy Silchester, who is typically busy with the chores of everyday life, yet is also hiding a

secret. You will have to read the book to find out what that secret is though! The book deals with issues we all may find ourselves dealing with from time to time and her funny outlook will definitely make you stop and think about your own personal outlook on life. For avid fans of the number one best-selling author, ‘The Time of My Life’ will not disappoint. It is available on the iTunes store for £3.99.

The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett

ince ‘World Without End’ showcased on our screens earlier this year, Ken Follett’s books have been given some well-deserved publicity. After the success of shows such as ‘Game of Thrones’, his tales of early England are right up our street, and ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ does not disappoint. ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ tells the story of Philip, a twelfthcentury monk, inspired to build the greatest Gothic cathedral he

can build. It is a creative and powerful read that deals with issues relatable to modern day Britain. The tales of love, hate and religion are gripping and leave you wanting more – which is just as well as the length of this book is not for the faint hearted! The novel is available on iTunes for £6.99 with an enhanced edition available for £8.99. The TV adaptation is also available to download for £12.99.

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