Nevember/December 2013
Regular Departments 4 Editor's Message 6 Meet the Writers 8 iStats, News, and Other Tidbits 10 Caption Contest 12 Photo Contest Winners 96 iView: New Taxi App Uber
THE HOLIDAY BUYERS’ GUIDE 25
Introducing the 2013 Buyers' Guide
Best Apps of 2013 26
Productivity
28
News & Media
iDevice News
30
Games
14
Apple’s New iPhones
32
Photo & Video
Apple broadens its footprint with the iPhone 5S and 5C.
33
Travel
34
Health & Fitness
35
Sports
36
Music
37
Food & Drink
38
Handy Extras
39
Education
18
A Tale of Two iPhones A few thoughts about Apple’s latest launch.
Top Tips 21
iOS 7 Tips and Tricks Master iOS 7 with these useful tips.
The iPhone 5S and 5C Are Here! pages 14-19
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The Ultimate Gift Guide 42
Gifts for the Outdoor Adventurer
44
Gifts for the Audiophile
46
Gifts for the Fitness Buff
48
Gifts for the Home & Family
50
Gifts for the Tech Geek
52
Gifts for the Fashionista
53
Gifts for the iPhoneographer
54
Gifts for the Wacky Friend
Best Gear of 2013 56
Must-Have Accessories Everything you need to make the most of your iPhone and iPad.
68
Top iPhone & iPad Cases
Best Accessories of 2013
Choose a case that’s right for you with this handy guide.
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Great Gifts for Under $100
pages 56-65
Find the perfect gift without breaking the bank.
iUsers 66 76 82 88
iLove it, iUse it 78
Living the iLife A day in the life of a young, tech-savvy New Yorker.
Sarah Sekula Steve P. Young Jessie Johnson Jorge Bendersky
Best Apps 83
Top iPhoneography Apps & Gear of 2013 Take your iPhoneography to a new level with these fantastic finds.
86
Apps for Holiday Cooking Six apps to help you master the kitchen this holiday season.
Gifts for Everyone on Your List
89
Freemium Game Roundup Seven addictive games that don’t break the bank.
pages 41-55
Tips and Tricks for iOS 7 pages 21-23
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Editor's Message Simply the Best Since this issue is all about the best of 2013, I’d like to tell you a story about a personal best I reached this past year. About a year ago, I got the urge to do something out of the ordinary and attempt a Guinness World Record. I knew that breaking a world record would be an enriching, unforgettable experience, but also extremely difficult. I searched through hundreds of weird, amazing, inspiring, and downright bizarre records, looking for something I might be able to sink my teeth into. Late last year, I found the record I wanted to break. And before I could lose my nerve, I contacted Guinness to sign up. Roughly 8 months later, this past June, I attempted to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Speech Marathon. I gave a series of back-to-back presentations for almost 37 hours straight, breaking the previous record by about 30 minutes, and managing not to lose my voice—or mind—in the process. I learned several important lessons from the experience: 1. It’s not easy to give a speech when people are snoring. 2. Starting at around the 30-hour mark, it becomes impossible to read your notes. 3. Hot tea, specifically organic Throat Coat tea, is a godsend for public speakers. There was one unexpected lesson, however, that changed the way I looked at the whole experience.
Enter Steve Martin In a 2007 interview on the Charlie Rose show, Rose asked Steve Martin what advice he would give to aspiring comedians and performers. He started by saying that most people wouldn’t take note of his advice, because it’s not the answer they usually want to hear. But he continued, saying, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
Alex Cequea Editor in Chief
It was Martin’s ability to tirelessly hone his craft for years that allowed him iPhone Life magazine, alex@iphonelife.com to outperform nearly everyone else in his field. His advice is a simple reminder that, in the end, if you want to be good at anything, there’s no substitute for hard work. Going through the process of trying to break a world record, even a silly one, is a mini exercise in understanding what it takes to achieve greatness in any field. That was my unexpected lesson. An acknowledgement from the Guinness organization is essentially a message that says, “When it comes to this specific skill, you are so good that we can’t ignore you.”
You Should Try It! If you feel like you’re lacking a higher purpose in your life, I recommend attempting a world record. I found that the experience immediately made me feel like I was part of something bigger. And according to a 2013 study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), having a strong purpose in your life may be more beneficial to your health and wellbeing than simply feeling happy. So go on—reach for the stars. And if you do happen to attempt a world record of any kind, connect with me via Twitter (@alexcequea) and let me know. I’ll love to come and support you, even if it’s just virtually. Ѷ
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i P h o n e L i f e B u yers' Guide 2013
Meet Our Writers Nate Adcock
Jacqui Lane
Daniel W. Rasmus
Rebecca Santiago
John Toma
Systems Test Engineer natestera@gmail.com Article page 73
Tech Journalist jacqui.frye@gmail.com Article page 86
Strategist and Industry Analyst dwrasmus@danielwrasmus.com Article page 68
Writer and Editor santiago.rk@gmail.com Article page 78
Professional Photographer jktoma@gmail.com Article page 83
Brittany Vincent
Freelance Writer brittanylynnvincent@gmail.com Article page 89
iPhone Life Staff David Averbach
Nina Benjamin
Alex Cequea
Hal Goldstein
Jim Karpen
Publisher and CEO david@iphonelife.com Article page 18
Associate Editor nina@iphonelife.com Articles pages 41-55
Editor in Chief alex@iphonelife.com Articles pages 21, 25-39
Senior Editor, Founder hal@thaddeus.com Article page 96
Online Editor/Columnist jim_karpen@iphonelife.com Articles pages 14, 56
Write for iPhone Life 6
i P h o n e L i f e B u yers' Guide 2013
Around the Office
iStats
What’s Your Favorite App of 2013?
News, Stats, Tidbits & more
The Numbers 56 Percentage of American adults who own smartphones. (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2013)
7 BILLION+
Tim Software Developer
Donna Web Editor
Alien Blue (Free, bit.ly/UTVWLW). I'm a frequent Redditor, and Alien Blue makes it easy to browse reddit.com from my iPhone.
Amazon Mobile (Free, bit.ly/10owq6B). I have Amazon Prime, and using the app makes it easy—almost too easy— to find and buy things.
Nina Associate Editor
David CEO and Publisher
Pocket (Free, bit.ly/ T2esQJ). I use it to store recipes and save articles, so I can read them when I have more time.
Snapchat (Free, bit.ly/ X6nKAd). It lets me see little moments from my friends’ lives—then it disappears!
Number of mobile devices on Earth by the end of 2013 (that’ll be more devices than there are people!). (Cisco, 2013)
75 Percentage of Americans who bring their phones to the bathroom. (Digiday, 2013)
50 Percentage of mobile shoppers who believe they are better informed than store associates. (Motorola, 2013)
Unique Accessory Limeade Blast (Starting at $39.99, mylimeade.com) This little battery pack comes in 3 models, each carrying different amounts of battery power: 13,000 mAh, 15,600 mAh, and 18,000 mAh. If you’re a heavy user, that much power should keep your iDevices charged for quite a few days. Not much bigger than a flask, and weighing in at about 11 to 13 ounces (depending on the model), this handy little companion will keep you juiced up without weighing you down.
QUICK NEWS Apple Still Loves Music Apple hosted 30 nights of free live music starting September 1st at this year’s iTunes Festival in London. The top musical acts included Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Elton John. The event was free for concertgoers lucky enough to win tickets via the iTunes Festival London 2013 app. For those who weren’t there, live streams of the performances were available through the app, iTunes, and Apple TV. Replays of select performances were also available for a limited time, so save the date for next year. Apple started the iTunes Festival in 2007, with featured performances from Sir Paul McCartney and Amy Winehouse, among others.
Apple’s Mobile Web TrafďŹ c Share Declines While Apple’s lead in mobile web browsing still outpaces its nearest competitors, Android, its closest challenger, seems to be slowly catching up. According to market research ďŹ rm Net Applications, the Google giant increased its mobile web share from 20.9 percent to 28.1 percent, while Apple dropped from 65.9 percent to 54.9 percent. The ďŹ gure is not surprising, since there are already more Android devices than iOS devices in circulation. Apple’s high mobile web share implies that most people browsing the web through mobile devices are doing so with iOS devices, which, in the past, has prompted Tim Cook to remark, “What are people doing on those other devices?!â€?
PUBLISHER AND CEO
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When Parents Text ME: Hey daddy, you owe me 147 dollars. DAD: Hey sweetie – you owe me your life!! MOM: Your sweetener came MOM: Swaddler MOM: Sweat MOM: Swatter MOM: Sweater ME: ‌Okay More hilarious texts are available in the book When Parents Text ($10.95, amazon.com), and on whenparentstext.com. You can also download their new free app When Parents Text (free, whenparentstext.com).
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Carl Kopf & Associates 203-944-9466 iPhone Life (ISSN 1949-2014) is published bi-monthly, 6 times a year, Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/ Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec by Mango Life Media at 402 North B St. #108, Fairfield, IA 52556, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Fairfield, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates payable in U.S. dollars, checks drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card—one year: $15.97, two years: $24.97. Postage: United States free; Canada and Mexico add $6 per year; outside North America, add $18 per year. Please allow four to six weeks for receipt of first issue. Executive, Editorial, Circulation, Advertising, Marketing Offices: 402 North B St. #108, Fairfield, IA 52556. Telephone: 641-472-6330, Fax: 641-472-1879. Š Copyright 2013 , Mango Life Media, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Reasonable efforts are made to provide accurate and useful information, but the reader must make his or her own investigations and decisions; the Publisher and Editorial Staff cannot assume any responsibility or liability for the use of information contained herein. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Cynthia Klaas, Client Relationship Manager, Hallmark Data Systems 7300 Linder Skokie, IL 60077. Cover Stock Photos:
Present: ŠiStockphoto.com/ricardoinfante Santa Hat: Šdreamstime.com/fotoplanner_info Living the iLife and Gift Guide icon artwork created by Mikaila Maidment.
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Illustration by Mikaila Maidment, mikailamaidmentart.blogspot.com
“YOUR CAPTION HERE” Send us a clever caption for the cartoon above, and we’ll feature our favorite entries in the next issue. The winner will receive a $20 iTunes Gift Card! Send all captions to comics@iphonelife.com.
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Nov/Dec 2013 Caption Winner: "Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a better signal..." Submitted by Stan Porter
Runners-Up: "Oh, man! This still has Apple Maps BETA on it!" Submitted by Brad Hamilton "Look Jill, I don't care how much longer Route 2 is—I just got my crown fixed from the last time we took the ‘shorter route.’” Submitted by Nick Engle Thanks to everyone who sent in their funny captions—we had a blast reading them all!
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iPhone Photography Contest Winners To enter our iPhone photograpy contest and get the voting details, please visit iphonelife.com/contest. The Top 3 Will Receive the Following Prizes:
Photo Contest 1st Place
Gallery-quality print of their photograph courtesy of canvaspop.com ($80 value).
By Debbie Redondo 2nd Place
3rd Place
By Klynn Schrotenboer
By Amaya Ortiz
An OlloClip quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone and iPod Touch that includes ďŹ sheye, wide-angle and macro lenses ($69.99 value, olloclip.com).
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Editor's Choice
Photo Contest Finalists
By Steven Hogan
By Bruno Fontoura
By Mark Greenwood
By Dawn Moniuk
By Hal Bryan
By Chris Gaffney
By Brendon Hernandez
By Pirmin Fรถllmi
By Jeremy Brens
By Brendan R Appel
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Apple’s New iPhones Apple Expands its Footprint with the iPhone 5S and 5C by Jim Karpen
A
fter months of leaks, some major details of Apple’s September 10 launch event were well known. But still Apple managed a stunning performance, showing yet again how visionary the company is capable of being.
includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, will now all be available for free with the purchase of a new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
The iPhone 5S
The new iPhone 5S has features that no other smartphone offers, and camera features that aren’t found on any other camera, smartphone or otherwise. These new features again illustrate Apple’s focus on making its phone great rather than introducing multiple sizes or adding features that most people don’t use. Apple also introduced the iPhone 5C, a lower-cost iPhone with a polycarbonate shell that’s available in five different colors. It’s basically the iPhone 5 with a fresh new personality and some new features. Apple also announced the availability of iOS 7, the software that runs on Apple’s devices. It has a cleaner, more modern design than the previous iteration and includes iTunes Radio, a free streaming music service similar to Pandora.
The form factor of Apple’s top-of-the-line phone is nearly identical to the iPhone 5, but internally it includes some extraordinary upgrades, including a 64-bit processor, a new chip for motion sensing, a fingerprint sensor, and a camera that’s second to none.
The most unexpected surprise of the event may have been the announcement that iPhoto, iMovie, and the iWork suite, which
The phone comes in three colors: silver, “space gray,” and gold. The cost starts at $199 with a contract for the 16GB model.
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such as the iTunes Store. The lens of the Touch ID is made of super-hard sapphire crystal that can’t be scratched. This is important, because any scratches would interfere with its recognition of your fingerprint.
Camera The camera has much-improved optics, with a sensor that has a 15 percent larger area. The 1.5-micron pixels are larger than those on any other phone. This lets in more light for better photos. The camera continues to be 8 megapixels, but Apple explained that bigger pixels are better than more pixels.
A7 Chip The new A7 chip has a 64-bit processor that’s twice as fast as that on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S is the first phone worldwide to use 64-bit processing, which renders graphics 56 times faster than the original iPhone. Apple wowed the audience with a demo of Infinity Blade III, which showed off features such as depth of field, blur, full-screen vignettes, and a dragon with four times the detail. This chip gives a better mobile graphics performance than any other device. Apple has engineered iOS 7 and all the built-in apps to take advantage of this 64-bit power.
M7 Chip
The new camera also has True Tone Flash that includes two LED flashes, with each suited to a different type of light: cool, such as from a fluorescent bulb, and warm, such as incandescent. These flashes work in concert to detect exactly the right combination needed (with over 1,000 variations) for a particular lighting situation. This feature exists on no other camera. Other features include auto image stabilization to avoid blurry photos and a “burst mode” that takes 20 photos in 2 seconds, with the software presenting you with the photo it thinks is the best. (Of course, you can go back and view the other 19 to see if there’s one you like better.) There’s even a feature that lets you create slow-motion video by shooting 720p video at 120 frames per second, instead of the usual 30.
Touch ID The new fingerprint sensor, called Touch ID, is built into the home button. You unlock your phone simply by pressing the home button. Touch ID scans sub-epidermal layers of your skin and ensures that only you (or someone with whom you share the phone) can turn on your iPhone. You can also use it to authenticate your Apple ID when accessing Apple services
The iPhone 5S also has an intriguing new M7 motion coprocessor, which continuously gathers data from all the sensors on your phone (the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass). The phone uses this data to provide contextual information, such as knowing when you’re in your car. Apple is using contextual information like this to make your device more intelligent so that it can anticipate your needs. For example, if you’re in your car, your phone would know and could already be monitoring the traffic ahead in case of traffic issues. The feature is also useful for health and fitness apps, such as a pedometer.
iPhone 5C For the first time ever, Apple introduced two new phones simultaneously. The iPhone 5C is most notable for its lower price and bright color options: green, yellow, blue, pink, and white. Apple presented it as a new version of the iPhone 5. The color
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theme is carried throughout all aspects of the phone, from the background image to the volume button and switches.
iOS 7 & iTunes Radio
The hard-coated polycarbonate casing is a single molded piece—no seams anywhere. The build quality is high, Apple said, and inside there’s a steel-reinforced structure that not only provides rigidity but also works as part of the antenna. The most notable new feature is the phone’s versatility: it has more network bands than any other phone in the world. Apple made this phone in part to be used worldwide, and those bands make it compatible with the many different networks in use.
Price With a contract, the 16 GB iPhone 5C costs $99, while the 32GB model is priced at $199. A primary motivation for a lowercost phone was Apple’s desire to extend its reach in international markets. Carriers in most countries don’t subsidize the purchase, such that customers have to pay the whole cost up front. The $650 price of the iPhone 5 was a bit out of reach for many people in countries like China.
Specs
Apple also announced the availability of iOS 7 and iTunes Radio, both of which had been introduced in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. The new version of iOS has a cleaner, flatter design for the icons and built-in apps, with apps such as Safari, Mail, Calendar, Messages, and Camera having a very different appearance. New features of iOS 7 include Control Center, which gives convenient access to frequently accessed settings just by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Search is also now more convenient: you just swipe down from the top in any screen. The Multitasking feature actually learns when you use specific apps and loads the latest information even before you open the app. And AirDrop lets you easily share photos, videos, and contacts with other nearby iOS users via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. iTunes Radio, which is built into iOS 7, is a free streaming music service similar to Pandora. It’s ad-supported, but if you use the iTunes Match cloud storage service, which costs $25/year, then you get an ad-free version of iTunes Radio.
Free iWork, iPhoto, iMovie If you’re in the market for a new device, you’re in luck, because it will now come with iWork, iPhoto, and iMovie—for free. During setup, you’ll be asked if you want to download these apps. They’re available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
It uses the same A6 chip as the iPhone 5, but has a slightly larger battery. The 5C has an 8-megapixel iSight camera that’s pretty much identical to the iPhone 5 camera, except for the hard sapphire crystal lens cover that helps to keep it from getting scratched. With the introduction of the iPhone 5C, Apple discontinued the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4. It continues to sell the iPhone 4S at the bottom of the line: free with a two-year contract.
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These new phones, along with iOS 7, again show why Apple leads the world. The company simply takes great care (and invests a huge amount of resources) to make its phones stand out by paying attention to every last detail and doing everything it can to make its devices better serve your needs. Ѷ Jim Karpen, Ph.D, is on faculty at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. He has been writing about the revolutionary consequences of computer technology since 1994. His Ph.D dissertation anticipated the Internet revolution. His site, jimkarpen.com, contains selected regular columns written for The Iowa Source. jim_karpen@iphonelife.com.
A Tale of Two iPhones Thoughts on Apple's Latest Launch by David Averbach
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he long-awaited Apple announcement has finally come and gone. After a year of anticipation, Apple hosted their annual iPhone event on September 10 at their company headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple announced two new iPhone models: the iPhone 5S and the colorful iPhone 5C. Here are a few thoughts about the event.
T
cheesy, and the plastic shell covers up a steel frame that makes the phone lightweight but still very solid. I’m not convinced, however, that the iPhone 5C has enough unique features to make it a successful product. Its specs are inferior to the iPhone 5S in almost every way. The 5C doesn’t solve any new problems; it’s basically just a colorful iPhone 5.
Note: For an in-depth look at Apple’s new offerings, see the article on page 14.
I also don’t think the $100 discount is enough to justify buying it over the 5S. Apple is presumably trying to target a younger audience who cares more about the fun colors than the internal specs—I can’t imagine many adults carrying such bright phones. Over the course of a two-year contract, you end up paying at least $1,500 for your phone service, so I think it’s worth paying an extra $100 up front to get the better phone.
Where Have All the Surprises Gone? Remember when someone picked up a prototype of the yet-tobe-released iPhone 4 that was left in a bar and sold it to Gizmodo? Apple went so far as to send the San Francisco Police Department to raid the house of the editor who published the scoop. But the days of Apple keeping their innovations under lock and key are long gone. Apple’s once-staunch secrecy surrounding its new products has basically been thrown out the window. Another Apple standard that’s become ancient history is the announcement of “one more thing” at the end of each event. In fact, not only was there no surprise gadget that Apple released to our wonderment, but there was also very little from the announcement that we hadn’t already heard about. There have been photos of the iPhone 5C and gold iPhone 5S on the Internet for months. I think there are two reasons for the lack of surprises. The first is the decreased time period between when a product is announced and when it is made available. The original iPhone was announced in January and wasn’t available until June. This allowed Apple to keep fewer people in the loop, trusting them to contain the secret. The time period between announcement and release has decreased every year. Now it’s down to 10 days. While the near-instant availability is nice, it makes it incredibly difficult for Apple to keep new products under wraps. With hundreds of thousands of workers manufacturing them and millions of parts being created, some leaks are bound to happen. The second reason is the lack of fear. Steve Jobs was so obsessed with secrecy that people were terrified to leak information—nobody knew how he would react. In contrast, the mildmannered Tim Cook doesn’t possess the same intimidation factor.
What Would Steve Jobs Think? I’m actually sick of talking about Steve Jobs. Every year around this time, people write long articles talking about what Jobs would have done. The problem is that Jobs was as unpredictable as he was brilliant. No one knows what he would have thought, so let’s all agree to stop speculating. That being said, I do miss his trademark “one more thing,” as mentioned earlier; I think Jobs would agree with me on that one and fight to bring it back.
The iPhone 5S While nothing unexpected was announced about the iPhone 5S, the phone itself looks like a nice upgrade from the 5. All of the improved specs are going to make a huge difference on a dayto-day basis. I can’t wait to test out the A7 chip. The fact that the processing power is 40 times faster than the original iPhone’s—a feat accomplished in only 5 years—is just incredible. In terms of Touch ID, the iPhone 5S’s fingerprint scanner, not only is it a cool technology, but it’s also more useful than people may realize. The passcode login is an incredibly outdated security model that just doesn’t cut it anymore. The new fingerprint scanner is much more secure and convenient. I probably enter my iPhone passcode 50 times a day; the Touch ID feature is going to save me precious seconds every time I log in. When it comes to cameras, megapixels are overrated. I’m glad to see that Apple put their attention on improving the iPhone 5S’s lens quality and flash. The iPhone camera was already one of the better smartphone cameras, but it tended to struggle in low light. The new, improved flash is a nice upgrade.
Waiting for the Next Big Thing A lot of fuss has been made about Apple’s ability to continue to innovate, but the truth is that, even under Jobs, Apple only launched a few new product categories throughout the course of the decade. The iPhone 5S is a nice incremental improvement from its predecessor, but the real test for Apple will come when they release an entirely new product category (iWatch, anyone?). I look forward to seeing what revolutionary products Apple has in the pipeline, but until that time, it’s hard not to feel a little underwhelmed. Ѷ David Averbach is the CEO and Publisher of iPhone Life magazine. David has an obsession with all things Apple. He grew up on Macs and now has a MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad, and an Apple TV. David enjoys traveling and Ultimate Frisbee. He has been to over 20 countries. To contact David, email him at David@iphonelife.com.
The iPhone 5C Like everything that Apple creates, the iPhone 5C is a greatlooking product. The bright colors are fun without looking
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STELLAR TIPS AND TRICKS BY ALEX CEQUEA
a
pple’s iOS 7, the newest version of the operating system powering every iDevice in the world, got a major overhaul this fall in terms of its look and functionality. Here are a few helpful tips that will make navigating iOS 7 a smooth and enjoyable ride. And if you haven’t upgraded already, what are you waiting for?
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Automatic App Updates Are you sick of having to manually update apps by going to the App Store? iOS 7 fixes that with automatic updates. You still have the option of manually updating apps, but for simplicity’s sake, we recommend that you leave this feature on. If you do ever want to fiddle with it, just open Settings>iTunes & App Store>Updates. On the same screen, you can also specify whether you want apps and music you’ve downloaded under your Apple ID on other iDevices to be automatically downloaded to the iDevice you’re using.
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Man, That’s a Long Text Message! When you receive an unusually long text message, the Messages app will truncate the message and only show you the first eight lines or so. If you tap the little arrow to read more, you’ll be taken to another window where you can read the whole text at full width and without having to scroll down as much. (Character limits are so 2005.)
3
Turn-by-Turn Walking Directions Among the Apple Maps upgrades is a feature that gives you turn-by-turn walking directions. This is especially helpful in big cities, where you often don’t have a car yet still need to navigate unknown territory to get to your destination. To access the walking directions, open Apple Maps, type in your location, tap Directions to Here, tap the Walking tab (shown as a little man), and tap Route. To start the turn-by-turn navigation, simply tap Start.
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4
See Timestamps on Messages At first glance, you might think that there’s no way to see the time a text message came in or out of your iDevice. The timestamp, previously posted on top of each text message on iOS 6, is now hidden behind each message, so you have to move the message out of the way to see it. To do so, simply tap and hold any text message and drag it away from the edge of the screen. You’ll see the timestamp slowly peek in from the side.
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Access Control Center The new Control Center is your onestop shortcut to many useful settings. Previously, these apps, settings, and features were scattered all over your iPhone, and it took several taps to get to any one of them. To open the Control Center, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. You’ll see shortcuts to activate Airplane mode, turn on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, set Do Not Disturb mode, or lock the screen orientation. You can also adjust the brightness, pause or play music, turn on AirPlay, or access the flashlight, calculator, camera, or timer. All of this functionality is only a swipe away!
6 Don’t Get Disoriented in Photos The new Photos app has an organizational system that can be a little dizzying. In addition to Albums, which we’ve all grown familiar with, the new tab called Photos is divided into Years, Collections, and Moments. Moments lets you see individual photos, while Collections zooms out to let you see all the individual Moments. Taking an additional step back, Years lets you view all the Collections. In other words, Moments is inside Collections, which is inside of Years. It sounds complicated, but once you start exploring, it’ll start to make sense.
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AM I RUNNING OUT OF BATTERY? When I first got iOS 7, I noticed that even though my battery was full, it looked as if it were empty when I switched to other apps. I realized that opening a new app from the Home screen often inverts the colors of the status bar, which includes the battery icon. Because the colors get inverted, it looks at first glance like the battery is suddenly empty. If you want to avoid getting confused (like I did), you can opt to show the battery percentage appear next to the battery icon. To turn it on, open Settings>General>Usage, and toggle Battery Percentage to On.
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Use FaceTime Audio If you want to save some cellular minutes while talking to another iPhone or iPad user, you can give FaceTime Audio a try. Add the contact to your iPhone and initiate a FaceTime Audio call by opening Contacts, tapping the person’s name, and tapping the phone icon next to FaceTime (as opposed to the video camera icon, which will initiate a FaceTime Video call).
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Choose Your Siri Voice I still tend to associate Siri with a woman, and I’ve really gotten used to the feminine charm of its voice, even though it does sound slightly robotic. You have a couple of options when it comes to customizing Siri’s voice. For example, by changing the language preferences to English (Australia) or English (United Kingdom), you can change the voice to inflect different accents. With English (United States), however, there’s a new option that lets you customize Siri so that it has a male voice. The male voice is slightly less robotic, but do I hear a hint of cynicism in its responses? Maybe it’s just me.
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Where’s Spotlight Search? Ok, don’t panic. Spotlight Search has changed locations, and if you don’t know where to find it, you might feel a little lost. I have tons of apps and folders, so for me Spotlight Search is not merely a cool feature, it’s a necessity. Here’s how to uncover its new secret location. From the Home screen, if you tap and hold anywhere near the middle of the screen and drag down, you’ll see Spotlight Search magically reveal a search bar along the top of the screen. Be careful, though—if you tap too close to the top of the screen and drag down, you’ll end up opening the Notification Center. Or, if you tap and don’t drag down very far, you might end up opening up whatever app is under your finger.
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Use Compass as a Level If you’re working on some DIY projects around the house, there’s no need to go out and buy a level to make sure everything is perfectly horizontal. The new Compass app, which I’ll admit was practically useless for me, has a new level feature built in. To access it, open the Compass app, and swipe from right to left on the main screen.
Home button, but then you can simply swipe left or right to the app you want to close, and flick it upwards towards the top edge of the screen. When the app falls off, it’ll close and reset. Closing apps is an easy way to fix frozen or unresponsive apps—in fact, it solves 90 percent of most troubleshooting problems.
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Check Out Apps Near Me Apps Near Me is a new App Store feature that looks for popular apps from businesses, restaurants, or retailers close to your current location. You need to have Location Services enabled for it to work. I can see it being quite useful when traveling to big cities! Ѷ
Alex Cequea is the Editor in Chief of iPhone Life magazine. He writes and speaks about mobile technology, business, and personal branding. He was the main host of the CTIA 2013 iZone Innovation Stage, and he wishes you could have been there. You can visit his personal blog at www.alexcequea.com or reach him directly at Alex@iphonelife.com.
FLICK AWAY MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS If a banner notification comes in along the top of the screen, you used to have to wait a few seconds before it went away on its own. Now you can simply flick them away and out of view!
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Close Apps With a Flick Here’s an improvement I appreciate deeply. As you probably know, in previous versions of iOS, there were several steps involved in closing apps. You had to double click to open the multitasking bar, tap and hold and app, wait for the apps to start wiggling, and then tap the red X to close the app. In iOS 7, you still have to open the multitasking bar by double-clicking the
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HOLIDAY BUYERS’ GUIDE THE BEST APPS, GIFTS, AND GEAR OF 2013
H
ere it is, folks—your ultimate guide to the best apps and standout products of the year. In the following pages, you’ll find roundups of the coolest gear available, as well as creative, splurge-worthy gifts for all your friends, relatives, and anyone else lucky enough to be on your list. We also highlight the top apps in 15 popular categories, including several featured apps that are unquestionably worth a download.
Now that we’ve piqued your interest, we won’t continue to tantalize you with hints about all the great finds in the issue—read about them yourself! Flip the page, sit back and kick your feet up, and start crossing those items off your holiday gift list.
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BEST APPS
PRODUCTIVITY F E AT U R E D
IFTTT (Free, bit.ly/15hNQU3) It’s apps like IFTTT that showcase the full potential of mobile productivity. IFTTT stands for “If This Then That,” and the app is basically a set of customizable triggers that perform actions on your behalf—every time “x” happens, then “y” should happen. For example, you can set up a rule that every time you take an Instagram picture, your Wordpress blog publishes an automatic post with the same image. The app connects with over 65 “channels,” which are applications like YouTube, Wordpress, Evernote, Facebook, Dropbox, and many more. Once you start creating connections between the channels, your imagination will run wild with possibilities.
MANAGING EMAIL AND SCHEDULES Gmail (Free, bit.ly/VtSldC) The official Gmail app can handle up to five different accounts. It lets you respond to Calendar invites directly, and features a lightning-fast search function.
Sparrow ($2.99, bit.ly/TbNzhy) This iPhone mail client works with Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, and others. The pane navigation organizes your folders and labels, keeping them just a swipe away.
Tempo Smart Calendar (Free, bit.ly/15fvMI6) This terrifyingly intelligent app automatically finds and organizes information you’ll need for meetings, such as locations, contacts, and related docs.
Mailbox (Free, bit.ly/WRsVW2) Currently supporting Gmail only, this sleek mail app is built with mobile users in mind. Its goal is to keep your mailbox light and clean.
Fantastical ($4.99, bit.ly/SgK6gA) This easy-to-use, friendly calendar app is excellent at creating and deleting appointments. It also supports the builtin Calendar app and others.
FocusTime ($4.99, bit.ly/YD9uig) For fans of the Pomodoro Technique, this app boosts your productivity by timing 25-minute work intervals. After a 5-minute break, it’s time to start again.
MANAGING NOTES AND LISTS Any.DO (Free, bit.ly/SghgLw) This beautiful to-do list app supports speech recognition, time and locationbased reminders, and more—and it even lets you share lists with friends.
Clear ($0.99, bit.ly/PV6tKJ) Clear is a simple and intuitive to-do list app that several members of the iPhone Life team use every day. Swipe, flick, and pinch your way to productivity.
Do it (Tomorrow) (Free, bit.ly/YFexDx) If you’re a master procrastinator, why not do it right? This app keeps track of tasks for today, but makes it easy to push them until tomorrow.
Drafts ($2.99, bit.ly/V94LC8) Drafts is all about getting text down quickly and easily. Once it’s there, you can decide what to do with it with the help of robust sharing features.
Finish ($0.99, bit.ly/XklW71) Built by a couple of 16-yearolds, the decidedly mature Finish app helps you prioritize your tasks by due date.
Checkmark ($4.99, bit.ly/T0W0YX) Keep track of your to-do lists and recurring reminders with this simple app. In addition, you can also set location and time-based reminders.
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BEST APPS
MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA Skype (Free, bit.ly/1cAuSL4) Over 250 million people use Skype! Chances are, some of your friends are included in that figure. Use it to chat, call, or video conference.
Facebook (Free, bit.ly/V2c0Br) The Facebook app is a must have if you’re on the social network. It features a much smoother interface than the mobile version of the site.
Hootsuite (Free, bit.ly/SW53vL) The standard in social media management, Hootsuite helps you keep track of your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Foursquare accounts.
Hangouts (Free, bit.ly/12vmyd0) Google+ Hangouts are a nice alternative to Skype or any other video conferencing application. All you need is a Gmail address to give it a go!
Tweetbot ($2.99, bit.ly/QVDo05) Manage multiple Twitter timelines with the Tweetbot app. You can also sync timeline positions, use smart gestures to navigate, and more.
Buffer (Free, bit.ly/VUAXZS) Buffer is a social media management tool that lets you tag stories, posts, or images, sharing them on social media networks later.
FOR EXTRA PRODUCTIVITY Habit List ($1.99, bit.ly/13cRAqA) Break those bad habits and build up a good routine. Habit List keeps track of your progress with reminders, badges, and completion rates.
Mint.com (Free, bit.ly/XbMI23) The free Mint.com app helps you keep track of all your personal finances, including budgets, payment due dates, and credit card balances.
Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock ($1.99, bit.ly/Vw6Jzr) It’s not enough to just get out of bed; you have to be well-rested, too. This app tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you in your lightest sleep phase.
1Password ($17.99, bit.ly/16vkOVj) Although it’s the priciest app on our list, it’s well worth it. Remember only one master password and keep all of your online passwords secure.
MindNode ($9.99, bit.ly/QhCrBe) Use MindNode to brainstorm or create a mind map of new product or project ideas. You can export your mind maps as PDFs, images, or other formats.
Evernote (Free, bit.ly/Rl1G3T) Using Evernote is like having an extra brain. And let’s face it, we all need one of those. Organize notes, capture photos, search tasks, and much more.
TA K I N G C A R E O F B U S I N E S S Business Card Reader Pro ($6.99, bit.ly/15Mj21Q) Manually inserting contact information from business cards is a pain. This card reader makes it a breeze. Just let it scan the card, and you’re all set!
L E T ’S GE T I T DO N E !
Dropbox (Free, bit.ly/VV8isA) With Dropbox, you can sync and access your documents, photos, and videos from anywhere. Who says you can’t work on the go?
CloudOn (Free, bit.ly/R1nKiy) Create and manage MS Office documents, such as PowerPoint or Word files, in a snap. CloudOn syncs with Dropbox, Box.net, Google Drive, and SkyDrive.
An April 2013 study by EMC2 showed that federal employees gain approximately nine hours of productivity each week as a result of using their mobile devices for work-related activities outside of work. That adds up to $28 billion per year in savings!
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NEWS & MEDIA F E AT U R E D
Flipboard (Free, bit.ly/V37EUX) Flipboard turns your iPhone or iPad into a beautiful digital magazine that aggregates a variety of different types of news channels. The layout resembles a real magazine in that you have to flip every page to reveal the other channels or stories within each channel. In addition to news, sports, and politics, you can include your Facebook and Twitter news feeds in your customizable stream. Most articles in Flipboard are automatically stripped of web ads, leaving only the text in a format that’s easy to read. You can share Flipboard articles on your social networks or via email, or place them in a Read Later section.
FOR ONLINE READING Instapaper ($3.99, bit.ly/S8pIvE) Instapaper was the first app to introduce the ability to strip articles free from ads, displaying content in a clear and easy-to-read format.
Readability (Free, bit.ly/S2pyJY) A great alternative to Instapaper, Readability also lets you strip articles down to their essence, as well as customize the font size and contrast.
Pulse (Free, bit.ly/RHMEFt) Pulse is another great aggregator with a beautiful modern design. You can save stories as you browse, and even send them to Pocket, Instapaper, and other apps.
Pocket (Free, bit.ly/T2esQJ) Use Pocket to tag articles, videos, or other type of online content from apps like Zite and Flipboard, and save them to read or watch later, even offline.
Circa News (Free, bit.ly/OCz1an) Circa uses actual human beings to summarize top news stories and give you condensed snippets of the main points. It’s perfect for quick news on the go.
Zite (Free, bit.ly/QoF8MQ) Like Flipboard and Pulse, Zite aggregates news stories from different channels, but it really shines in suggesting new content catered to your interests.
READING BOOKS AND MAGAZINES Zinio (Free, bit.ly/16JOHkA) Zinio is the largest digital newsstand in the world. All the major magazine titles (including yours truly) are available as single purchases or subscriptions.
iBooks (Free, bit.ly/OGoF9m) Purchase and read books through Apple’s iBooks reader. This beautifully designed app lets you customize the text font and color, highlight, search, and more.
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Kindle (Free, bit.ly/P91wN4) A great alternative to iBooks (some would say it’s the other way around), the Kindle app is the best way to read digital books purchased through amazon.com.
According to a June 2013 Gallup poll, only 21 percent of people prefer the Internet as their main source of news about current events in the U.S. and abroad. TV is still the preferred source of news for most respondents, with 55 percent listing it as their go-to medium.
BEST APPS
GAMES F E AT U R E D
Candy Crush Saga (Free, bit.ly/1bvuS02) This addictive puzzler will draw you in for hours and hours. But be careful—if you let it, it will eventually take over your life. “Work? Forget it, I’ve got candy to crush.” The purpose of the game is to match different types of colored candy to clear the board or solve logistical puzzles. Different candy combinations unlock new types of sweets with exploding and immensely satisfying results. However, as the levels get progressively harder, you’ll be tempted to purchase boosters or additional lives to get past the level. Avoid this at all costs! Seriously, the amount of money you’ll squander will probably trigger an intervention from family and friends. If you can keep yourself under control, crush away!
T H E M U S T - H AV E S LIMBO Game ($4.99, bit.ly/14yitCx) Intriguing and eerily satisfying, Limbo is a beautiful yet dark game that features no instructions. Your mission is to uncover all its secrets.
Temple Run 2 (Free, bit.ly/W0Bopx) The ultra-popular runner game gets an updated coat of graphics, along with new obstacles to navigate. It’s exhilarating, fun, and it never gets old.
Wipeout ($1.99, bit.ly/STQTys) Based on the hit TV show, this game lets you take a turn dodging, jumping, and bouncing on obstacles to get through levels. Unlock cool perks along the way!
Real Racing 3 (Free, bit.ly/Xccncc) EA has consistently pushed the boundaries of mobile gaming with Real Racing, and its third installment is no exception. Get ready for one hell of a ride.
Angry Birds Star Wars ($0.99, bit.ly/UxH99I) They’re still angry, but now the force is strong with them. Use your Jedi powers, light sabers, and blasters to destroy the nefarious Pig Star.
Joe Danger ($0.99, bit.ly/ZBOuYC) The Master of Disaster must ride through giant mousetraps, school buses, and sharks. Flick obstacles away with one hand; ride with the other.
MOST ADDICTIVE Flow Free: Bridges ($0.99, bit.ly/Y3EDLQ) A sequel to the popular game Flow Free, the Bridges edition adds a twist to the mind-bending puzzler, increasing its complexity and appeal.
Dots: A Game About Connecting (Free, bit.ly/15YgGg6) Connect as many dots as possible in the time allotted. Connect four dots in a square shape, and watch all dots of that color disappear!
Bejeweled (Free, bit.ly/UXJ7zT) Like Candy Crush, Bejeweled is one of those games that sucks you in and never lets go. Match and detonate the gems, and rack up a world of bonuses.
Tiny Wings ($0.99, bit.ly/RHqUGu) One of last year’s faves, this gem is still one of the most beautiful games out there. Its one-touch controls make it easy to keep playing again and again.
TETRIS ($0.99, bit.ly/VoUBOe) How could we not include this classic? Tetris is perfect for mobile gaming. It’s easy to play and will keep you entertained for hours. Download it now!
Subway Surfers (Free, bit.ly/U38Lox) Like in Temple Run, you must jump, dash, and hoverboard surf to get away from a pesky menace. The fast and engaging gameplay with keep you hooked.
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BEST APPS
A W E S O M E M U L T I P L AY E R S Super Stickman Golf 2 ($2.99, bit.ly/10N4E3p) This sequel to Super Stickman Golf keeps the same winning formula with simple graphics, charming courses, and a kick-ass multiplayer mode.
Spaceteam (Free, bit.ly/11LTflm) You play this frantic game with people in the same room via Wi-Fi, and you all try to control a spaceship with nonsensical commands. Hilarious fun!
Riptide GP2 ($2.99, bit.ly/167kpq7) There’s nothing cooler than a jet ski race. You can participate in four-way online battles with players from around the world or in the same room.
Frozen Synapse (iPad only: $2.99, bit. ly/149vkg2) This turn-based strategy game with random maps lets you set up a winning combat force and set it loose against your opponent’s troops.
Homerun Battle 2 ($0.99, bit.ly/XMeNPD) This game really knocks it out of the park. Ha! Get it? Six different gaming modes will keep you slugging away in beautiful stadiums.
Touch Hockey: FS5 ($1.99, bit.ly/19i6fTJ) You can play this game against friends in the same room on one device, or against online players via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Also features instant replays!
MIND BENDING Hundreds ($4.99, bit.ly/VxB8hl) To succeed in Hundreds, you’ll need fast fingers and a bright mind. The goal is to grow at least 100 points between all the circles in each puzzle.
World of Goo ($2.99, bit.ly/1a4UqmY) This elegantly built puzzler has charm written all over it, and even if you don’t beat it at first, you’ll enjoy it enough to keep trying.
Hero of Many ($3.99, bit.ly/16JWxrt) Lead a swarm out of darkness and solve intriguing puzzles. The visuals and sounds mesmerize and captivate. Plus the gameplay is really fun!
Stickets ($2.99, bit.ly/15EAnUC) Another seemingly simple game that will stretch your brain cells, Stickets features three challenging game modes, each with its own clever appeal.
Osmos ($2.99, bit.ly/V7tqXG) Osmos will take you to another world, and keep you there in a state of wonder and awe. The striking visuals alone are worth the download price.
Puzzlejuice ($1.99, bit.ly/1026HBM) Get ready to use your entire brain! Puzzlejuice combines color matching and word puzzles into an enjoyably frantic challenge.
B E S T T I M E WA S T E R S Ridiculous Fishing ($2.99, bit.ly/10RSXwg) When I catch fish, my first instinct is also to throw them up in the air and shoot them with a shotgun. This is just silly and endless fun.
D I D YO U KNOW?
Traffic Rush ($0.99, bit.ly/17nLOSh) Who hasn’t had the childhood dream of becoming a traffic conductor? (Maybe it’s a boy thing.) Here’s your chance to live out that fantasy!
Bloons TD 5 ($2.99, bit.ly/103W0fN) Build awesome towers and defend yourself from the oncoming horde of balloons! Features 30 tracks, 10 special agents, and more than 250 missions.
Moms are Gamers, Too According to Flurry Analytics, moms, like most other demographics, spend the majority of their time on their iOS devices playing games. On iPads, moms spent 48 percent of their time playing games, and on iPhones, they spent 31 percent of their time on games.
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BEST APPS
PHOTO & VIDEO F E AT U R E D
Afterlight ($0.99, bit.ly/14QPlaB) Afterlight has pretty much everything going for it. A robust photo-editing app, it features dozens of filters—including a special set of “guest filters” created by a select group of Instagram users—as well as a number of useful editing tools. You can crop images into shapes beyond squares and rectangles (hexagons and hearts, for example), adjust brightness and contrast levels, choose from over 75 frames, and add over 65 different types of textures. In addition to saving photos to your Camera Roll, you can post them to Flickr, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other apps. Afterlight could very well be the only photo-editing app you need.
BEST PHOTO APPS Camera+ ($1.99, bit.ly/OUb12n) An iPhoneographer’s staple, Camera+ has led the pack for several years. Their continuous upgrades and introduction of features are second to none.
Over ($1.99, bit.ly/13KM69f) If you’re looking for a creative way to add text to your images, Over is the app for you. It features an extensive set of fonts, colors, and artwork.
Percolator ($2.99, bit.ly/QCHEUa) Add a unique, mosaiclike effect to your images with Percolator, which has an image filter that resembles coffee bubbles of various intensities.
A Beautiful Mess ($0.99, bit.ly/17weyg9) As the app’s creators say, “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” Beautify all your pics with these stylish fonts and bright filters.
Snapseed (Free, bit.ly/TAMtxt) Another staple for your photo app arsenal, Snapseed includes a full suite of useful editing and sharing features. You can shoot photos from within the app!
Superimpose ($0.99, bit.ly/170CJzM) Superimpose lets you create blended or juxtaposed photo effects. Make your friends levitate, or replace your head with a dolphin’s!
BEST VIDEO APPS Viddy (Free, bit.ly/RrHXzw) With Viddy, you can capture 30-second videos, add filters and music, and share to your social networks. You can also browse featured videos.
Socialcam 5.4 (Free, bit.ly/1d3qh8x) This powerful video-creation app has no length limit, and features a variety of vintage video filters, editing tools, and sharing options.
Qwiki for iPhone (Free, bit.ly/12gW3W7) Want to quickly create and edit a mini film based on footage and photos from your summer vacation? It’s just one tap away with Qwiki.
Instagram (Free, bit.ly/Tx4F5X) But I thought this was a photo app?! Instagram’s new video-recording feature gives you the ability to record and share videos from 3-15 seconds long.
Magisto (Free, bit.ly/RzXtcp) Create quick movies complete with themes and soundtracks with this powerful video-editing app. Its facial-recognition feature detects family and friends!
Vine (Free, bit.ly/12e3cfl) Made by the creators of Twitter, this app lets you produce and edit six-second videos to share within the Vine network. Be sure to check out the top Vines.
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BEST APPS
T R AV E L APPS FOR RACKING UP THE MILES Kayak Pro ($0.99, bit.ly/UaC4rk) From buying plane tickets to organizing your itinerary, Kayak can handle it all. Use Kayak to compare flight, hotel, and car rental deals. And if you ever find yourself lost at an airport, use the app’s handy terminal maps.
Uber (Free, bit.ly/UhTpLm) This private car service is attempting to disrupt the entire taxi industry, and so far it seems to be succeeding. With the app, you can book a car, see how far away the driver is, pay, tip, and rate your ride.
Yelp (Free, bit.ly/PUQexy) When you’re visiting a new city, you’ll want to know where the hotspots are. Find the best restaurants, cafés, and bars with the help of Yelp. You can also make OpenTable reservations through the app.
TripIt ($0.99, bit.ly/TmiFGr) TripIt was built to help you manage your travel itineraries. It takes confirmation emails from sources like airlines and rental car agencies and organizes them into one itinerary that syncs to all your calendars.
GasBuddy (Free, bit.ly/RGrwgl) One of the biggest expenses on road trips is gas. Use GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas locations around you. The app relies on crowd-sourced data, so every time you report gas prices, you have a chance to win perks.
Word Lens (Free, bit.ly/P7O4YH) Can’t read what that foreign sign says? Open up Word Lens and point your camera at the sign; the app will magically recognize, read, and translate it. Language packs are sold individually via in-app purchase for $4.99.
BEST APPS
HEALTH & FITNESS F E AT U R E D
Fitness Buddy ($1.99, bit.ly/TIAA76) Featuring over 1,700 exercises and more than 1,000 videos in HD quality, Fitness Buddy is truly your best friend when it comes to getting in shape. The app categorizes exercises by the type of equipment you want to use, or by the area of the body you wish to work out. You can choose from over 75 pre-made routines, and you can also add new routines or mark specific types of exercises as Favorites. The app features great tracking tools that help you stay on top of body metrics (such as weight and waist size), as well as graphs that show you your overall progress over time. When it comes to getting in the best shape of your life, this is the only app you’ll need.
RUNNING AND WEIGHT LOSS Zombies, Run! ($1.99, bit.ly/Sd9AdQ) Building a regular running habit requires motivation. Let this pack of zombies whip you into unbelievable shape as you try to outrun them to stay alive.
DailyBurn (Free, bit.ly/PazjXj) Stop spending money on workout videos and download DailyBurn. For $9.99 a month, you get full access to several outstanding workout routines.
All-in YOGA ($4.99, bit.ly/1cogbwn) This is the only yoga app you’ll ever need. With over 300 poses and 45 predefined programs, you’ll be radiating bliss in no time.
Couch-to-5K ($1.99, bit.ly/RXXk27) Choose your own virtual coach and systematically work your way up to running a 5K race. The app was created by the supportive active.com community.
Running for Weight Loss PRO ($2.99, bit.ly/1dtMZaf) This running app, built specifically for those looking to lose weight, tracks your distances with GPS and offers nutrition and lifestyle tips.
Endomondo (Free, bit.ly/Z3V2nd) Over 17 million users use Endomondo to track their workouts. You can track your exercise duration, distance, speed, and calories burned.
TRACKING NUTRITION iDrated ($0.99, bit.ly/18xJLyv) Stay on top of your hydration levels with iDrated. You can track your water intake with a simple swipe, and see weekly hydration stats.
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Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker (Free, bit.ly/QR143i) This app by MyFitnessPal includes a food database of over 3 million items! Analyze single meals or track your overall diet.
Fooducate (Free, bit.ly/VYa4b2) When you use Fooducate’s barcode scanner, it will analyze and grade your food, then offer healthy alternatives. It includes info for over 200 thousand products.
According to several studies, competition among friends increases the motivation to try harder during workouts, and friends who exercise together have been shown to lose more weight than people who work out without a supporting group of friends or family members.
SPORTS
BEST APPS
APPS FOR SUPPORTING THE HOME TEAM Team Stream (Free, bit.ly/Tx3of8) Get real-time alerts from all your favorite sports teams. Team Stream scours the web, local papers, Twitter, and other sources for breaking stories about your teams and organizes them in one personalized stream.
CBS Sports (Free, bit.ly/TdBeZz) This app covers all the major sports leagues and offers the same level of news coverage as Yahoo! Sports and Team Stream. Where it shines, however, is in its ability to show live games and sports shows.
WatchESPN (Free, bit.ly/TQAD2i) WatchESPN gives you 24/7 access to sports programming available through every ESPN network, including ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, and ESPNews. Access is only free for existing cable subscribers, however.
Yahoo! Sports (Free, bit.ly/151q4Ra) This member of the App Store Hall of Fame consistently delivers the latest scores and news stories about your favorite sports. You can also customize reminders to alert you whenever a game starts, or if the scores are close.
theScore Mobile (Free, bit.ly/100zp3T) In addition to covering the major sports leagues, this highly customizable sports app covers Mixed Martial Arts such as UFC and Strikeforce. You can also set push notifications to alert you of key moments in a game.
TeamSnap (Free, bit.ly/YRrsBR) Whether you’re managing a neighborhood soccer team or your company’s softball league, TeamSnap can help you keep everything organized. The app lets you track your team’s roster, schedule, payments, photos, and more.
BEST APPS
MUSIC F E AT U R E D
GarageBand ($4.99, bit.ly/T1PnrL) Apple’s own GarageBand for iOS is a surprisingly full-featured tool—it could easily be your only music-creation app. You can either play the app’s drums, piano, guitar, bass, or line of string instruments manually, or experiment with the Smart Instruments, which allow you to create complex chord and note patterns. GarageBand is perfect for beginner to intermediate musicians looking to amp up their music-creation skills. That’s not to say that seasoned musicians won’t find it useful—GarageBand is a powerful tool, and a nearly limitless one in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing.
F O R P L AY I N G TableDrum (Free, bit.ly/12UddNO) This unique app allows you to sync drum sounds to real objects around you, so that when you tap your mug with a pen, for example, a snare sound comes out!
NanoStudio ($13.99, bit.ly/Q27pNN) This powerful mini studio has every feature you’ll ever need. Manage up to 6 instruments (up to 16 with an in-app purchase) and export to SoundCloud.
djay 2 for iPhone ($1.99, bit.ly/13fwbup) Become a DJ god with djay 2. Access all your own playlists, easily switch between turntables, and use samplers and drum pads to record mixes on the go.
BeatMaker 2 ($19.99, bit.ly/S5gSPw) This full-featured mobile music workstation is perfect for the home studio or live performances. It features over 170 high-quality instrument sounds.
bleep!BOX ($7.99, bit.ly/Z5JIUr) This drum machine, synthesizer, and sequencer app features no pre-made samples or loops; it encourages you to create your own from scratch.
MorphWiz ($9.99, bit.ly/12Ude4e) MorphWiz has unique music controls—all the sounds and instruments are arranged as a vertical grid that you can bend and morph with your fingers.
FOR LISTENING Pandora (Free, bit.ly/OuoIoy) Pandora was one of the pioneers of personalized Internet radio. This musthave app streams radio stations based on your favorite artists or songs.
SoundCloud (Free, bit.ly/YQy0Qr) SoundCloud is a massive community of musicians, producers, and other audio wizards. Discover and follow new artists with this social sound platform.
Rdio (Free, bit.ly/WKTHRa) In addition to its online radio service, Rdio has this beautiful app that allows you to follow friends and artists, and sync music for offline listening.
Spotify (Free, bit.ly/PUWncZ) Spotify’s radio rivals Pandora’s, but Spotify Premium, which offers instant access to a vast music collection, takes your listening pleasure to another level.
Slacker Radio (Free, bit.ly/TxaEM8) Another alternative to Spotify and Pandora, Slacker Radio features millions of songs and pre-programmed stations. You can also use it to listen to sports and news.
Songza (Free, bit.ly/UctJ8r) Let Songza provide the soundtrack for your life. It chooses the best music based on your activity—whether you’re working out, hosting a party, or sunbathing.
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FOOD & DRINK
BEST APPS
APPS FOR ENJOYING ENCHANTING MEALS Food Network In the Kitchen ($1.99, bit.ly/SFWdHM) This app features thousands of recipes with photos from Food Network chefs such as Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and many more. You can search by ingredient or by chef, then save your favorite recipes to the Recipe Box. Great Food Nearby: Ness (Free, bit.ly/1bwoEjb) Ness is the Pandora of restaurant recommendations; it learns from your ratings and reviews, and recommends places it thinks you might like. The app is beautifully designed, and it can sync with your social networks.
OpenTable (Free, bit.ly/TjoaEJ) Use OpenTable to make restaurant reservations from your iPhone. You can search for available tables in nearby restaurants, or search by type of cuisine or price range. Use it often and you’ll earn dining points!
Vivino Wine Scanner Pro ($4.99, bit.ly/15vaSMw) Can’t remember the name of that delectable wine you had a couple months back? Vivino can help. Take a picture of a wine label and the app will recognize it, tell you more about it, and save it for you in your list of favorites!
Speakeasy Cocktails ($4.99, bit.ly/15ZVGEv) Want to hone your bartending skills? Here’s your chance. Featuring over 90 minutes of HD video tutorials, over 200 recipes, and dozens of slideshows, this app is your one-way ticket to cocktail heaven.
Caveman Feast—Paleo recipes ($2.99, bit.ly/15vaOwj) For the healthy caveman in you, this app features over 200 Paleo-friendly recipes with attractive photos. The app was created by the popular blogger George Bryant from civilizedcavemancooking.com.
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BEST APPS
HANDY EXTRAS F E AT U R E D
Pimp Your Screen ($1.99, bit.ly/11J8gIO) Not gonna lie—we all really enjoy pimping our Home screens with this app, which boasts an incredible selection of backgrounds and wallpapers. It’s constantly being updated with new designs, including seasonal and holiday themes. You can choose from several types of backgrounds, like App Shelves, Icon Skins, or Home Screens. The skins are especially cool; they make each app icon stand out with additional outer layers made up of various colors and designs. The handy preview feature allows you to place app icons on each background simply by tapping the screen. To use a design, tap Save and it’ll automatically save to your Camera Roll. From there you can set it as a Lock screen or Home screen background.
ESSENTIALS Free Wi-Fi Finder (Free, bit.ly/RFqgJt) There’s nothing more distressing than finding yourself disconnected from the Internet when you need it. Use this app to find free hotspots all around you.
QR Reader for iPhone (Free, bit.ly/WkPqDl) Scan a QR code on a realworld sign or billboard, and it’ll take you to a site from a retailer or business. QR Reader scans these codes quickly and efficiently.
Rowmote Pro ($4.99, bit.ly/17s12Ha) This app helps you wirelessly control every aspect of your Mac from your iDevice, acting as a remote, trackpad, and keyboard.
Mercury Browser (Free, bit.ly/195LASf) This sleek and modern web browser is a great potential alternative to the default Safari browser, or even Firefox or Chrome.
Battery Life Pro (Free, bit.ly/18gPpqi) Can’t figure out what’s eating up your battery? Use this app to get unprecedented insight into how to extend your precious battery power.
Find My iPhone (Free, bit.ly/NQn2FH) Once you’ve turned on the Find My iPhone feature on your iDevices (which we highly recommend), download this app to pinpoint their exact location.
OTHER INTERESTING EXTRAS Sleep Talk Recorder ($0.99, bit.ly/1dY0u0x) If you’re still not convinced that you talk in your sleep, now you can put the rumors to rest. You can also use this app to record late night ideas or vivid dreams.
5-0 Radio Police Scanner ($2.99, bit.ly/12UmODK) Sneak a peek into what’s happening around town by listening to the radio frequencies of the police, firefighters, and others who use ham radios.
MagicPlan (Free, bit.ly/Z3nk1s) Build a floor plan of your house with this super cool, futuristic tool. You can measure every room and draw detailed floor plans just by taking pictures!
Speedtest.net Mobile Speed test (Free, bit.ly/Ttyv0R) Is your Internet connection slow, or just a certain website? Use this app to test your device’s speed, including download rates.
Work Time ($1.99, bit.ly/WRDVmH) Make your iDevice useful at all times. Work Time turns your desktop into a beautiful one-glance display, featuring a clock, calendar, and weather.
Delivery Status touch ($4.99, bit.ly/QEVvWz) Track every package with this superb app, which supports UPS, FedEx, USPS, and other services. You can also use it to track Amazon and Apple products.
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BEST APPS
E D U C AT I O N APPS FOR THE LIFELONG LEARNER Udemy (Free, bit.ly/UabKe9) Udemy features thousands of courses from contributing experts in areas such as programming, marketing, graphic design, photography, and much more. The courses are self-paced and priced individually.
WolframAlpha ($2.99, bit.ly/SXsw48) When it comes to indepth information about complicated subjects, nothing beats WolframAlpha. Get instant expert knowledge that seems straight out of a sci-fi movie. Math, chemistry, engineering—this app handles it all.
Khan Academy (Free, bit.ly/QowNJP) Khan Academy features a robust library of over 4,200 videos focused on K-12 subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics. All the courses are free, and you can download videos to watch them offline.
iTunes U (Free, bit.ly/Sa9bdA) Apple’s iTunes U is perfect for the lifelong learner. It features over 600 thousand free lectures from institutions such as Stanford, Yale, MIT, the New York Public Library, and many other sources.
Lumosity Mobile (Free, bit.ly/13Vw4H4) Need a brain workout? Lumosity’s personalized training program, which consists of challenging games, can help you enhance your memory, attention, and overall brain performance. It’s as close to Jedi training as you’re going to get.
Duolingo - Learn Languages for Free (Free, bit.ly/1b44ehg) Duolingo turns the process of learning languages into a fun game. It features several languages to choose from: Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. You can level up and compete with friends!
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THE
U L T I MAT E 2 013 G I F T GUIDE PERFECT PICKS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST
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RUGGED & PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR THE…
OUTDOOR ADVENTURER
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2 The Joy Factory aXtion Pro for iPad ($129.95, thejoyfactory.com) Fully waterproof and shockproof, this iPad case offers military-grade protection, making it the perfect companion on kayaking trips, rock-climbing excursions, or any other active endeavor.
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Vaavud Wind Meter ($45, vaavud.com) Your surfing, sailing, and paragliding friends will thank you when they find this nifty gadget tucked in their stockings. The Vaavud enables you to measure wind speed and see other users’ measurements via its companion app, so you can plan trips accordingly.
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The PowerPot® ($149, thepowerpot.com) Camping out in the boonies with a dwindling battery and no outlet in sight? Add water to the PowerPot, place it on a heat source, and watch as this 5-watt thermoelectric generator charges your iDevice via a heavy-duty, flame-resistant USB cable.
Philips Shoqbox Wireless Portable Speaker ($149.99, usa.philips.com) This drop-proof, splash-proof Bluetooth speaker is rough-and-tumble enough to handle all manner of rugged adventures. It features great sound clarity, plus a cool motion sensor and a built-in mic and speakerphone.
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use your touchscreen without freezing your fingers. The Stormsensor Gloves for men and women are designed with TouchTec leather, wind-resistant nylon, and microfleece lining.
Outdoor Research Stormsensor Gloves ($85, oudoorresearch.com) On ski trips or winter hikes, enjoy the freedom to
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9 7 Hitcase Pro for iPhone 5 ($129.99, hitcase.com) and ChestRMount for Hitcase ($49.99, hitcase.com) For outdoor-sport photographers, try this winning combo. The Hitcase Pro is a waterproof case that can endure all the bumps and drops any full-fledged adventure sport entails, plus it boasts a gorgeous wide-angle lens to capture all the action. Mount it to the lightweight yet rugged ChestR harness so you can shoot awesome footage while zooming down the slopes or riding the rapids.
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A-Solar Lava Charger ($105, a-solar.eu) Don’t get stuck with a low battery on long hikes— charge up to two iDevices at once with this compact yet powerful solar charger, featuring a 3.5-watt solar panel and large internal battery. Trek on!
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SPOT Connect ($169.99, findmespot.com) This handy pocket-sized device could be a lifesaver if you ever need emergency assistance during an
adventure trip off the grid. Pair it to your iPhone and you’ll connect to a global satellite network that lets you send SOS messages, GPS coordinates, and more from nearly anywhere in the world. Timbuk2 Catapult Sling Messenger Bag ($45, timbuk2.com) Nothing’s worse than biking or hiking with a toolarge pack. This lightweight mini-messenger sling perfectly fits an iPad and other small essentials and protects them from the elements. As a bonus, it offers a handy U-lock holster.
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Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell Boombox ($129.95, outdoortechnology.com) This bright Bluetooth speaker can handle a whole lot of wear and tear from the great outdoors. Featuring stellar battery life and a built-in speakerphone, the Turtle Shell lets you play tunes and chat to your heart’s content, whether you’re riding your bike or relaxing on a rocky shoreline.
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F I V E - S TA R - S O U N D G I F T S F O R T H E …
AUDIOPHILE
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Apogee MiC ($199, apogeedigital.com) Don’t have a recording studio? Think again—with this amazing microphone, plus GarageBand and an iPad, iPhone, or Mac, you’ve got all you need to start creating studio-quality recordings. The MiC’s ease of use and pristine sound quality make it a no-brainer for any vocalist or instrumentalist who wants to start recording. The possibilities it affords are endless!
Sonos PLAYBAR ($699, sonos.com) Ready for your home audio to reach epic proportions? Connect this stellar soundbar, which boasts a nine-speaker design, to your TV in order to enjoy full-theater sound for movies, games, and more. It also connects wirelessly to stream music directly from thousands of Internet radio stations. Bonus: you can control the PLAYBAR with an app on your iDevice!
Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater ($199.99, belkin.com) Let’s face it: the iPad’s sound could best be described as lackluster. This ingenious audio-boosting solution takes iPad gaming and movie-watching to the next level without adding bulk. Its powerful sound processor creates expansive acoustics, clear dialogue, and booming bass, and its clever design allows for multiple viewing angles.
Parrot Zikmu by Philippe Starck Wireless Stereo Speakers ($1,599/pair, parrotshopping.com) Not only are these cutting-edge speakers sleek enough to double as contemporary home décor, but they also offer superior listening flexibility: you can use them to play music from your Mac or PC via Wi-Fi, or from your iDevice via Bluetooth. And did we mention their powerful, crystal-clear sound?
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Bowers and Wilkins P3 Headphones ($199.99, bowers-wilkins.com) Beyond the brilliant, natural sound these headphones produce, they’re lightweight and comfy to wear. Fold them up when traveling, then slip them back on as quickly as possible to revel in their audio’s depth and clarity.
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Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A8 AirPlay Speaker Dock ($1,149, beoplay.com) Whether mounted on the wall, placed in a corner, or standing free, this gorgeous sound system delivers
outstanding audio that fits each positioning, thanks to its adjustable acoustic settings. Use it to dock and charge your iDevice, or stream your music via AirPlay. Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II ($299.95, bose.com) You shouldn’t have to sacrifice sound quality when you’re on the go. This lightweight Bluetooth speaker packs a sonic punch, ensuring that you’ll enjoy deep, robust sound, whether you’re at a late-night bonfire on the beach or indulging in a private Zumba party in your own backyard.
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Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 In-Ear Headphones ($249, beoplay.com) Comfortable and beautiful, with rich tones and dynamic, full sound, there's no question that these earbuds were designed for the audio aficionado. The H3s will transport you, whether you're walking to the corner market or flying across the Atlantic.
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WORKOUT-WORTHY GIFTS FOR THE…
FITNESS BUFF
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Denon Exercise Freak Wireless Headphones ($149, usa.denon.com) Say goodbye to tangled cords! These lightweight, sweat-proof Bluetooth headphones are built to handle your toughest workouts without getting in the way. Featuring a flexible rubber neckband, molded ear tips, and up to seven hours of battery life, they can withstand a kickboxing session, yoga class, and cross-country run all in the same day—can you?
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Armpocket i-10 Armband ($29.95, armpocket.com) Head out for your early morning workout without your bulky purse or duffel bag. Offering full touchscreen access, an ergonomic design with slip-resistant padding, and multiple pockets for headphones, cash, and other on-the-go essentials, the i-10 armband is the only workout buddy you’ll need.
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TYLT Band Case for iPhone 5 ($34.99, tylt.com) Let the sporty style of the TYLT Band case complement your workouts. Its slim design allows you to slip it into your exercise gear without feeling weighed down, while its impact-resistant shell with cushioned liner offers protection should your phone fall out of your pocket during a run.
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Jawbone UP ($129.99, jawbone.com) You might start using UP merely as an exercisetracking wristband, but it has the power to make over your entire lifestyle. This water-resistant band can be worn 24/7 to track your sleep, food intake, activity, moods, and more. Its app displays your data and offers insights to keep you progressing.
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PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR THE…
HOME & FAMILY
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Eastern Collective Covers ($13.95-$26.95, easterncollective.com) Sick of mixing your charging cables up with the kids’? Losing too many cords to your pets’ ferocious fangs? Color code and protect your iDevice cords with these bright covers, available for both 30-pin and Lightning cables.
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Griffin PowerDock 5 ($99.99, griffintechnology.com) At home or on vacation, charge the whole family’s collection of iPads, iPhones, and iPods with this space-saving solution. It’s got enough room to hold and charge five devices at once, even with cases, and its sleek design makes it easy on the eyes wherever you stash it.
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iGrill ($79.99, igrillinc.com) Keep an eye on what’s cooking from another room, thanks to this handy wireless meat thermometer. Using Bluetooth, the iGrill communicates with an iOS app, alerting you when your Thanksgiving turkey or sizzling Super Bowl steak has reached its desired temperature.
Tile ($18.95 pre-order, thetileapp.com) Never lose your keys or purse again! Attach Tile to your most important items and the Tile app will let you know as you’re getting closer—it’ll even sound an alert if triggered. Use one on each of your valuables, if you wish: each account can keep track of up to 10 Tiles.
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Made of a stretchy acrylic/spandex blend, these colorful gloves feature nano-metallic yarn on the thumbs and fingertips, so you can text to your heart’s content while keeping cozy.
Verloop Touchscreen Gloves ($29, verloopknits.com) These touchscreen-friendly, one-size-fits-most gloves are a godsend for techie teens and adults.
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Fitbit Aria ($129.95, fitbit.com) Toss out your old scale and get ready for an interactive health experience! Aria is a smart scale that tracks your weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, then wirelessly syncs the info to your Fitbit account. Use the corresponding app to set goals, log meals, earn badges, and more.
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Apple TV ($99, apple.com) Enjoy thousands of movies and TV shows from iTunes, Netflix, and more with this petite yet pow-
erful gadget. And together with AirPlay, Apple TV lets you wirelessly stream photos, videos, and games from your iDevice right onto your TV screen. A must-have home accessory for iUsers! iOstand ($100, iomounts.com) In the kitchen, home office, or family room, this minimalist-chic iPad stand will give you ultimate flexibility in movie watching, gaming, or browsing the web. Attached by a razor-thin magnet, the iOstand firmly holds your iPad, letting you rotate it into an infinite number of positions.
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Soundcast Melody Wireless Speaker System ($449.98, bestbuy.com) Bring Melody out to play next time you host a backyard BBQ—this lightweight, portable Bluetooth speaker is easy to tote anywhere, and it’s weather resistant to boot. Other great features include a battery life of up to 20 hours and a 360-degree speaker for omni-directional sound.
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MODERN & OUT-THERE GIFTS FOR THE…
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Keizus Quadropod+Clamp ($39.95, keizus.com) This futuristic figure contorts itself into myriad positions as a stand or tripod mount for your iDevice. Limitless poses, steady photos—we’ll take it!
perb sound and meticulous craftsmanship. Take your living room from so-so to sublime with a pair of these incredible speakers, if you can tackle the price tag and the fact that they’ll need an iOS-compatible preamp to play tunes from your iDevice. Worth it!
Puzzlebox Orbit Mind-Controlled Helicopter ($189, orbit.puzzlebox.info) Now you can say you’ve flown a helicopter simply by activating your Jedi mind powers! This innovative gadget with EEG headset pairs with your iDevice (and your utmost concentration) to create some good old-fashioned magic.
iFrogz Caliber Advantage ($59.99, zagg.com) This iPhone case and gaming console connects to Bluetooth and takes gaming on your phone to a whole new level with its buttons, thumb controls, and snap-shut design. And it can be used in portrait or landscape orientation!
Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus ($60,000/pair, bowers-wilkins.com) While we included the Nautilus in this category for its ultra-modern, striking looks, it would also make an amazing gift for an Audiophile (see page 44), thanks to its su-
POWERQUBE ($39.99, pwrqube.com) Gamers, programmers, and tech lovers of all types will love this sleek gadget that lets you charge up to nine devices at once with its three USB ports and six electrical outlets.
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STYLISH GIFTS FOR THE…
FASHIONISTA
2 4 1 5 3 Frends Taylor Rose Gold Headphones ($199, wearefrends.com) Why should your headphones be anything less than fabulous looking? Slip on the Taylors, crafted from smooth white leather and rose gold metal hardware, and you’ll be strutting to your own personal soundtrack in style.
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Marc by Marc Jacobs Tangram Wristlet ($188, nordstrom.com) Worn around the wrist or toted as a clutch, this chic wristlet is the perfect companion for a girls’ night out. This handy leather carryall securely stores your phone, credit cards, and cash, so you can relax and enjoy the evening!
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Rebecca Minkoff for Stellé Audio Clutch ($399, stelleaudio.com) This glittering clutch may look like just an ultra-
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stylish purse, but inside, it packs a secret weapon: a Bluetooth stereo system with a built-in mic for speakerphone capabilities. Fashion, meet function! Case Scenario Pantone Universe Case ($34.95, pantone.com) Pantone calls the shots when it comes to color— and you’ll be right on trend when you follow suit with this vivid hard-shell case in emerald, 2013’s Color of the Year (also available in 12 other stunning colors).
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Stellé Audio Pillar ($349, stelleaudio.com) Sleek, sexy, and small enough to tuck away when not in use, the 12-inch Pillar Bluetooth speaker lends a contemporary design—not to mention magnificent sound quality—to any interior.
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4 2 Joby GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic ($34.95, joby.com) This brilliant 2-in-1 accessory offers limitless positioning while taking photographs on unstable terrain. The GripTight Mount boasts rubber grips that secure your iPhone, while the GorillaPod Magnetic has flexible legs that wrap around anything, plus magnetic feet that attach to metal surfaces.
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Poppy ($69.99, poppy3d.com) Slip your iPhone into Poppy and use its magical optic powers to capture, view, and share 3D photos and video clips. You can also use it to watch 3D videos on YouTube, make wiggle GIFs, and more. What fun!
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Holga Lens Filter and Case Kit ($25.99, shop.holgadirect.com) Have a little fun with photo effects when you snap
this case and filter dial on your iPhone. It features nine different lens filters, including macro, split images, and atmospheric colors. Optrix iPhone Adventure Suit ($130-$180, photojojo.com) Capture stunning wide-angle photos and video outdoors and underwater with this rugged, waterproof action cam. Use the Super Sucker suction mount to get great surfing or skateboarding shots with no fear of losing your phone.
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Projecteo ($25.99 for projector unit, $8.99 per wheel, getprojecteo.com) This tiny doodad (only 2.85 in³) seamlessly blends the charm of old slide projectors with the current trend of iPhoneography, resulting in a vintage-esque gadget with high-tech appeal. Create mini slideshows by choosing nine Instagram photos per wheel and projecting them onto a nearby, light-colored surface.
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FUN & RANDOM GIFTS FOR THE…
WACKY FRIEND
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Boutique ID Felt Animal Cases ($28-$83, boutiqueid.etsy.com) Equal parts charming, cute, and creepy (hello, vampire bat!), these iDevice cases, available in several striking designs, are crafted from 100% wool felt with sparkling Swarovski rhinestone accents.
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PowerFlask ($89.95, digitaltreasures.com) Go ahead, fool everyone into thinking you’ve got a flask of booze in your pocket—you’ll really be packing 13,000mAh to power up to three iDevices at once. With intoxicating good looks and all the ports and cables you could need, this charger is a techie’s dream.
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Bermuda Rough iPhone Dock ($54, etsy.com/shop/treehouseoasis) Even when you’re stuck at your desk, a little part of you will always be on the green, thanks to this charming docking station, handcrafted from wood, faux grass, and a real golf ball. This case-friendly dock includes a 6-foot charging cord and is available for iPhone models 4/4S and 5.
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Mr. Ghost EMF Detector ($19.99, thinkgeek.com) C’mon, you know everyone’s secretly intrigued by ghost hunting. With this cool little gadget, you can make those Ghost Adventures fantasies a reality. Just plug Mr. Ghost into your iPhone’s headphone jack and use its free companion app to detect electromagnetic radiation sources. Spooky!
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Amplifear ($24.99, theamplifiear.com) This handy gadget clips onto the corner of your iPad and amplifies the sound coming out of its speaker by up to 10 decibels. It comes in 6 colors and includes foam pads in various thicknesses to accommodate different iPad models and Apple’s Smart Case.
Retro Cell Phone Handset ($21, fab.com) The perfect pick for your vintage-Chanel-wearing, Downton Abbey-watching friends, this retro receiver plugs into the iPhone’s headphone jack, allowing full functionality while shielding 99 percent of the phone’s radiation. And did we mention how sophisticated it makes you look?
Driftwood Charging Dock for iPhone 5 ($88, uncommongoods.com) Bring this beachy charger to the office—it’ll feel just like you’re on vacation! Well, not quite, but it’s a fun way to enliven the cubicle with a little nature nonetheless. Handcrafted from natural driftwood from the shores of Maine, each of these docks is one of a kind.
BERG Little Printer Starter Kit ($219, bergcloud.com) This adorable, innovative doodad connects to the Web and delivers “publications” of your choice— puzzles, news headlines, birthday reminders, and much more— from its inkless, thermal printer right to your fingertips!
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BG '13
The Best Accessories of
2 013 by Jim Karpen
T
o get the most out of your iPhone or iPad, you’ll want to consider a range of accessories. If, for example, you like using your iPhone to navigate, you’ll likely want a mount for your car. Or if you like always having your iPad with you when you’re out and about, you’ll want to get a shoulder bag. And certainly to get quality sound from your music, you’ll want to invest in some headphones or a Bluetooth speaker. This roundup of the best accessories of 2013 directs you to some of the most popular gadgets and some of the latest, most innovative gear—in a wide price range. Although the manufacturers’ suggested retail prices are given below, many of these items can be purchased for as much as 40 percent off through sites like amazon.com.
HEADPHONES Earbuds were all the rage following Apple’s introduction of the iPhone, but headphones are becoming increasingly popular. The engineering just keeps improving, offering you incredible sound and plush comfort. Let’s take a look at a range of options, from a popular low-end Bluetooth headphone set to a high-end set from Sennheiser.
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Kinivo BTH240 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones ($49.99, kinivo.com) The highly rated BTH240 from Kinivo has great sound for overthe-ear headphones that can be bought for as little as $30 online. The Bluetooth wireless connection to your iPhone or iPad is convenient and stable. You can control your music playback from the headset as well as use your headphones as a hands-free headset for making calls. The BTH240 is light and fairly comfortable. The micro-USB charging port gives you enough power for up to 10 hours of music and talking.
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Griffin WoodTones Over-The-Ear Headphones ($99.99, griffintechnology.com) The Griffin WoodTones not only offer unique hardwood styling in walnut, beech, or sapele, but the material itself helps give warm overtones and clear, low-frequency bass. In addition, the rectangular shape may offer a better fit for the oval shape of your ears than the common round headphones. The high-performance speaker drivers give top sound for headphones in this price range. The WoodTones come with a six-foot, heavy-duty, detachable cable for using the headphones as a microphone-enabled headset for your iDevice.
go high end, with Sennheiser offering headphones for as much as $1,500. But if you want to stay under $500, the Momentum is a great choice for audiophiles. The headphones are small and lightweight compared to other high-end Sennheiser models. They use a closed-back, over-the-ear design to reduce outside noise. The leather ear pads are soft and comfortable. The unit includes a detachable cable with built-in mic for making calls, as well as a standard three-button controller.
EARBUDS Earbuds offer the most portable option for enhancing the sound and functionality of your iPhone or iPad. They come in two different designs: buds inserted into your ear canal, or a small pad earpiece that rests on your outer ear. If you get a pair that fits well, they can even offer noise isolation to help filter out unwanted outside sounds.
Phiaton Bridge MS 500 ($299, phiaton.com) The Bridge MS 500 over-the-ear headphones offer a great combination of plush leather comfort and stunning sound. They feature a dual-chamber structure and multi-tune acoustic design, making them ideal for any application, from listening to rock or classical music to playing games or using multimedia apps. The MS 500 includes both a standard stereo cable and one with an embedded microphone. This is a top choice in this price range. Sennheiser Momentum ($349.95, sennheiser.com) Of course, the sky is the limit in terms of price if you want to
Panasonic RP-HJE120 In-Ear Headphones ($9.99, shop.panasonic.com) These bestselling earbuds on Amazon are hard to beat when it comes to low price, yet they still have respectable sound and comfort. They can be purchased for as little as $3 online. They come in a variety of colors and include earpads in three different sizes for a good fit.
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Griffin WoodTones Earbuds ($29.99, griffintechnology.com) As with the Griffin WoodTones headphones mentioned above, the WoodTones earbuds not only offer distinctive styling, but also enhanced midtones and bass and a special rich sound that only wood gives. The earbuds come with a drawstring bag for storage, three different sizes of ear pads, and a four-foot cable with controls and microphone. You can use the microphone to control your iOS device as well as to speak commands to Siri. These earbuds offer impressive sound for the price.
Klipsch Image S4i (II) ($99.99, klipsch.com) Klipsch offers a number of higher-end earbuds with an in-ear design, including the Image S4i (II), which is known for quality sound and excellent comfort. The S4i (II) is an update over the S4, with greater durability and a flat cord that resists tangling. It has an integrated remote/microphone for iOS devices. The unique oval ear tips help to provide noise isolation and make these earbuds comfortable. LG Electronics Tone+ HBS-730 Bluetooth Headset ($79.99, lg.com) This popular Bluetooth headset has a novel design, with a comfortable, lightweight neckband that’s worn like a necklace with
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wired earbuds reaching to your ears. The headset offers good sound that’s enhanced by noise reduction and echo cancellation. It includes standard playback controllers and a microphone. You get up to 10 hours of music time and up to 15 hours of talk time.
P O R TA B L E B L U E T O O T H S P E A K E R S Portable Bluetooth speakers have become extremely popular. If you’re going to get a speaker, you might as well get one small enough to take with you—a perfect companion to your highly mobile iOS devices. Even though they’re smaller in size, they often have excellent sound quality.
JBL Micro Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($59.95, jbl.com) The JBL Micro Wireless is among the most highly rated speakers in the category of ultra-portable speakers, which are typically palm-sized and so tiny that you can easily slip them in a pocket or purse (or even clip to your clothing). The sound is surprisingly full for such a small device, especially the bass. It’s compatible with any Bluetooth device and uses a USB cable for recharging the lithium-ion battery. It also has jacks for non-Bluetooth devices. Note: If you’re satisfied with a non-Bluetooth speaker, consider the very popular Kinivo ZX100 Mini ($30.95, kinivo.com), which can be purchased for as little as $18.
BG '13 OTHER AUDIO GEAR
Ecoxgear ECOROX Rugged Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker ($129.99, ecoxgear.com) One of the advantages of a portable speaker is that you can take it wherever you go. But you may be reluctant to take it to someplace like the beach, where it can get damaged. Not so with the ECOROX floating speaker. It’s 100% waterproof and ruggedized, so you can take it virtually anywhere. You can even submerge it! Yet the sound is as good as other speakers in its price range. A built-in waterproof microphone lets you make hands-free calls.
Jawbone JAMBOX Bluetooth Speaker ($179.99, jawbone.com) Another popular portable speaker is the Jawbone JAMBOX, which, at 6 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches, is nearly as portable as the palmsized devices above. It offers good sound for the size, and can also be used as a speakerphone. A unique feature is the ability to update it with apps, software, and new features via Jawbone's MyTalk portal. Plus, it’s available in several colors.
Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker ($199.95, bose.com) This diminutive speaker is just 1.5 lbs. and measures 2 x 7.1 x 2.3 inches, yet it comes with the famous Bose sound. The SoundLink Mini has clear and rich sound with a bass that may be best in its class (but not quite as wall-shaking as the larger Bose speakers). The rechargeable battery gives you up to seven hours of listening. This speaker is a top choice—but expect to pay the full price.
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Griffin SmartTalk Solar Bluetooth Speaker Kit ($69.99, griffintechnology.com) Some cars today have hands-free Bluetooth smartphone capability built in, such that calls automatically come in over your car’s speaker system and a built-in microphone picks up your end of the conversation. If you don’t have a car with that feature, you may want to consider the Griffin SmartTalk Solar, which is a small Bluetooth speaker in a case that attaches to your windshield with suction cups. It has a built-in solar panel to keep the internal battery charged.
Invoxia Audioffice ($299, invoxia.com) Invoxia’s Audioffice turns your iPhone or iPad into a full-function conference-room speakerphone. It connects with your device via Bluetooth as well as via the 30-pin and Lightning wired connectors. You can also talk via voice apps such as FaceTime and Skype. It has a coiled handset if you need greater privacy. The speaker of this award-winning device has great quality and can also be used simply to play your music.
I PA D B A G S If you have an iPad, you’ll want a convenient way to take it with you, especially if you don’t already carry a briefcase. Bags range from formfitting cases with handles and a shoulder strap to backpack-sized bags with a special iPad compartment. Since there is virtually an unlimited number of larger carryall bags in a
BG '13 wide range of styles, this review highlights those bags that are formfitting and functional.
AmazonBasics Netbook Bag ($9.49, amazon.com) This lightweight, padded bag may be the low-price leader for the 9.7-inch iPad. The Neoprene material is weather resistant and durable. It has handles that let you carry it like a briefcase, but no shoulder strap. You can fit your iPhone or power adaptor in a front zippered pocket.
Case Logic 10.2-Inch Netbook/iPad Attaché ($24.99, caselogic.com) The Case Logic Attaché, also quite popular, has a detachable shoulder strap in addition to handles. On the front is a small pouch that can accommodate items such as a phone, earbuds, or wallet. A larger zippered pocket is suitable for accessories and your power adaptor. The main compartment is padded. Depending upon the color you select, the exterior material is made of polyester twill or nylon.
STM jacket D7 sleeve for iPad mini ($24.95, stmbags.com) This STM bag is a popular choice for the iPad mini, and my personal favorite. It’s just the right size for the mini, and comes with a lanyard-like handle as well as a detachable shoulder strap. There’s a small pouch on the front as well as a pocket on the back. STM also makes several different bags for the 9.7-inch iPad. They’re slim-fitting shoulder bags that come in either horizontal orientation (such as the jacket, cache, and blazer) or vertical (such as the scout and linear). All are definitely worth your consideration.
Bear Motion Brazilian Buffalo Leather Shoulder Bag ($59.99, bearmotioncase.com) If you want to move up a step in terms of style, yet still retain a fairly slim silhouette and full functionality, the Bear Motion Leather Bag is worth checking out. In addition to being a bag, it also has some of the features of a quality iPad case, such as the ability to act as a stand and cutouts that let you use your iPad even without taking it out of the case. Essentially, it’s a case with a shoulder strap that has a front pocket with magnetic closures. It comes in brown and red.
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BG '13 S TA N D S You likely use your iPad for a variety of purposes, such as watching movies, playing games, and typing emails. Inexpensive stands can make it much easier to use your iPad for these purposes by propping it up or holding it at convenient angles. Plus, some of them come with built-in speakers to enhance the sound.
Satechi Divoom iFit-2 Speaker Stand ($29.99, amazon.com) At this low price, the iFit-2 is a great choice. It’s a solid stand that holds any iPad or iPhone both horizontally and vertically. The built-in speakers have a very good sound. The unit is rechargeable, with up to seven hours of battery life. And while it’s not a charging dock, it does have an opening in the bottom through which you can thread your cable so that your iDevice charges while in the stand.
SHARKK Tablet Stand ($8.99, amazon.com) The SHARKK is a highly rated portable stand that folds up to a pocketable size. Unfolded, it lets you position your iPad at multiple angles in either landscape or portrait view. It has a nonskid, rubberized material on the base to help keep it from sliding around on flat surfaces. This stand offers excellent versatility for your money.
Nest Stand ($14.95, bluelounge.com) The Nest is likely the most functional little stand for your buck. It holds your iPad at a low angle for typing, and has a slide-out tray that holds your iPad vertically for reading. Light and portable with an attractive minimalist design, it works with any tablet as well as with an iPhone.
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Mighty Dwarf Tablet Stage! ($90, mightydwarf.com) Like the SHARKK above, this versatile Bluetooth speaker stand quickly and simply folds up into a compact form for easy portability. Unfolded, it’s a full-sized stand for your iPad with a built-in speaker system that communicates with your device via Bluetooth. It also has NFC wireless connectivity with devices that have an NFC chip. The audio quality is surprisingly strong, thanks to a pair of slits in the base that act as a subwoofer. I really like the design of both the Tablet Stage! and the SHARKK.
BG '13 VEHICLE MOUNTS A wide variety of mounts are available so that you can use your iPhone and iPad in your vehicle of choice: car, bicycle, motorcycle, golf cart, boat, airplane, or whatever. The key with mounts is how securely they attach; avoid those with suction cups that lose their suction and fall off. Also, some states have laws against mounting GPS devices on your windshield.
iOttie One Touch Universal Car Mount Holder ($24.99, iottie.com) One of the most popular mounts is the iOttie One Touch, which has a large suction cup that attaches to your windshield or to other smooth surfaces. It’s called the One Touch because the mounting system locks and releases your iPhone with a mere push of your finger. It holds devices up to three inches wide, so you need not remove your phone from its case. The One Touch rotates 360 degrees for easy shifting between landscape and portrait view. Also popular and highly rated is the iOttie Easy View ($22.99, iottie.com).
Bracketron Golf GPS Mount ($29.95, bracketron.com) While this is marketed as a golf cart mount for GPS devices,
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it also can attach your iPhone to golf carts or bicycle or motorcycle handlebars. It’s easy to connect to your handlebars with an adjustable strap. It holds your phone securely between two well-padded arms, which can accommodate devices up to 4.5 inches wide. Bracketron also offers a Universal Tablet Windshield Mount ($39.95, bracketron.com) that attaches to your windshield or to a smooth dashboard surface.
RAM Mounts (From $23.83, rammount.com) RAM offers a variety of high-quality iPhone and iPad mounts, including those that attach to flat surfaces, cup holders, and seat rails in your car. The mounts that attach to the car’s seat rails do so without any drilling necessary, and may be a good choice for your iPad. RAM also offer mounts for a variety of other vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, trucks, ATVs, airplanes, and boats. RAM's online selection wizard helps you select the right mount for your particular device.
iMagnet Cradle-less Magnetic Mount ($25, imagnetmount.com) One of the highest-rated iPhone mounts on Amazon is the iMagnet Cradle-less Magnetic Mount. It simply uses a strong magnet, rather than brackets, to hold your iPhone in place. It uses a sticky gel suction cup to attach to your dash or windshield or any other surface. If it loses its ability to adhere, justwash it in water. It even sticks to textured surfaces.
BG '13 STYLUSES It’s interesting to see styluses making a comeback years after Apple disrupted the smartphone industry by introducing a device that you operated with your fingers. Some people still find styluses easier to use—or perhaps they simply prefer a pristine screen without smudges. Also, those who use their iPad for drawing will want to select a stylus that gives them more precise control and a wider variety of strokes.
and requires a specialized Pogo-compatible app such as Paper (free, bit.ly/RYVEGD) or Sketchbook Pro ($4.99, bit.ly/PHqYdX). Since iOS devices aren’t pressure sensitive, if you use the Pogo Connect with a regular app, it will simply work like any other capacitive stylus. This style is well suited to drawing.
Adonit Jot Pro ($29.99, adonit.net) The Jot Pro may be the best fine-point precision stylus. It glides smoothly on the screen, and uses a sound-dampening tip to simulate the quiet fluidity of pen and paper contact. It has sturdy construction and attaches magnetically to your iPad for greater convenience. This stylus is best suited to writing notes, sketching, and calligraphy. Simplism Grip Touch Pen ($14.99, simplism.jp/en) If you don’t have artistic aspirations and simply want a basic, inexpensive stylus, the Simplism Grip Touch is a good choice. It has a lightweight silicone body and a comfortable, soft grip. And its contoured design distinguishes it from other low-cost styluses. Plus, you can use the handy pen-like clip to attach it to your shirt pocket.
Wacom Bamboo Stylus duo ($39.95, wacom.com) If you want a combination pen and stylus, check out the Bamboo Stylus duo from Wacom. It gives you the convenience of having both implements in one device, with the pen on one end and stylus on the other. The body has a good feel, with its satintextured metal case. The rubber stylus nibs are replaceable, so there's no need to worry about the stylus wearing out.
Sensü Brush ($39.99, sensubrush.com) The Sensü Brush is among the best of the new brush-like accessories that function as styluses. It uses bristles made of conductive hairs that work with capacitive screens to give a brush-like, tactile experience for artists. Plus, when you put the protective cap on the bristles, a rubber nib is exposed that can be used as a traditional stylus. It’s hard to imagine owning an iOS device and not buying some of these accessories to get more enjoyment from it. Many accessories have low-cost, yet highly rated options, such that you can enhance your iPhone or iPad without spending a lot of money. Ѷ Jim Karpen, Ph.D, is on faculty at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA. He has been writing about the revolutionary consequences of computer technology since 1994. His Ph.D dissertation anticipated the Internet revolution. His site, jimkarpen.com, contains selected regular columns written for The Iowa Source. jim_karpen@iphonelife.com.
Ten One Design Pogo Connect ($79.95, tenonedesign.com) The Pogo Connect is a pressure-sensitive stylus that changes its stroke according to the amount of pressure and type of gesture you use. It communicates with your device via Bluetooth
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Sarah Sekula Age: 35 Location: Orlando, FL One-Line Bio: Sarah is a travel writer and TV host (sarahsekula.com) whose assignments have taken her to 27 countries on 6 continents. Right now, she's filming travel videos in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Tough life!
Instagram: This app makes me look like a much better photographer. I really dig the filters and the new video capability.
WhatsApp Messenger: I adore WhatsApp because it allows me to text my sister, who lives in Rome, for free. And I can keep in touch with all the international friends I make when I travel.
Temperature Convert: This app is helpful when I’m traveling anywhere in the world and need to quickly convert the temperature to Celsius.
Dropbox: I like being able to store a ton of photos in Dropbox.
Any.DO: I love being able to check things off of a list. This app allows me to create lists for any day of the week and to prioritize items by dragging and dropping.
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Evernote: As a reporter, Evernote comes in really handy. I use it on my iPhone or iPad to record interviews, and I can take notes while it's recording. Once I get home, it syncs with my MacBook Pro.
Track My Mileage: TMM makes it easy for me to keep a record of any miles I drive that can be recorded for tax purposes.
WordPress: This app offers a superconvenient way to update my website on the fly.
Dictionary.com: I'm a word nerd! Dictionary rocks because it lets me store my favorite words like hornswoggle and kerfluffle.
Goodreads: I love keeping track of all the books I read here. I also keep a list of books I'd like to read in the future.
SPONSORED CONTENT PortaGrip to the Rescue! ($29.99, panavise.com) Tired of smartphone holders that don’t live up to your expectations? Tired of stands that lose their suction, falling off every time the weather changes or there’s a bump in the road? Well, look no further—the new PortaGrip by PanaVise has come to the rescue! You can be sure that, when paired with PanaVise’s industry-leading suction-cup technology, your iPhone will remain securely attached to any smooth, non-porous surface. Designed for today’s smartphones with large touchscreens, thin bezels, and various button and data port configurations, the PortaGrip is the latest innovative product in PanaVise’s Mobile Solutions line. Like many PanaVise products, the PortaGrip utilizes the Tilt, Turn, and Rotate features, allowing you to adjust your phone vertically or horizontally in order to set the right angle. The low-profile, rubberized grips are adjustable and won’t press on any side buttons, allowing full access to the touchscreen. The ratcheted feet rotate to let you plug in an audio or charging cable. The new PortaGrip is the core product in the PanaVise Mobile Solutions line, which, for 20-plus years, has featured mounts and accessories designed for today’s smartphone user. Dashmats, NoSkid weighted mounts, and USB power adapters round out the accessories options.
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TOP IPHONE & IPAD CASES
BUMPERS
Cellairis Polycarbonate Bumper ($19.99)
A Buyer’s Guide to the Best Cases on the Market
This is the most minimal type of case; it’s simply a metal ring or plastic bumper that covers just the edge of the iPhone. Some examples include the Zagg Perimeter ($24.99, zagg.com), the Cellairis Polycarbonate Bumper ($19.99, cellairis.com), and the designed by m AL13 ($59.99, thinkbym.com).
LIGHTWEIGHT
by Dan Rasmus he vast iPad and iPhone case market demonstrates just how popular iOS devices have become. Not only are there cases available for a broad range of applications, such as rugged outdoor sports or business travel, but also for individual styles and preferences. In this buyer’s guide, I’ll describe different case categories, offer examples for each, and provide guidance along the way.
T
CASE BUYING BASICS If you’re planning on buying a new iPhone or iPad, shop for a case first. Don’t get stuck with the limited selection (not to mention high prices) that you find at a phone store or Apple store. Your instinct to quickly protect your new tech gem is a good one, but if you shop ahead, you can bring your new case with you and put it on before leaving the store. Pre-buying a case will save you time and increase your satisfaction because the device will feel like yours from the start.
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So, you’ve decided to shop for a case in advance—what should be going through your head? First, you have to determine the purpose of your case. Top consideration: basic protection. Your well-honed, silvery gem shouldn’t get scratched, or worse, cracked or chipped. Next, choose a case that fits your personality or reflects something about you. Finally, ask how well the case will integrate into your lifestyle. If you shop with those three factors in mind and armed with the info below, you should be able to pick out something that’s just right.
TYPES OF CASES Cases come with a variety of attributes and purposes. They can be lightweight, highly protective, stylish, customized, multitasking, or eco-friendly. In many cases, you can mix and match attributes. Here’s a look at some of the most common categories.
Hyper ThinShield ($19.95)
Lightweight does not necessarily equal poor protection—just minimal bulk. In this category, expect to have only the back and sides of your phone covered. The iPhone case that claims to be the thinnest and lightest is the Hyper ThinShield ($19.95, hypershop.com). Gel-like or flexible cases like the iSkin solo ($29.99, iskin.com) also fit into this category.
BG '13 BASIC PROTECTION
HEAVY-DUTY
Other utility cases include the Absolute Technology LINKASE ($49.99, absolute.com.tw), which enhances weak Wi-Fi signals, and the ReadyCase ($45, ready-case.com), which incorporates several nifty tools into the case body, including a bottle opener, screwdriver, kickstand, and USB drive.
Musubo Chamfer ($12.99)
Cases with basic protection offer a thicker material than the ThinShield, and usually wrap around the face so that when the phone is placed flat against a surface, it is raised above the dust and grime. Many cases fall into this category, like the Incipio EDGE ($29.99, incipio.com), the Musubo Chamfer ($12.99, www.musubo.com. hk), the TAVIK Digits ($34.95, shop.tavik. com), and others.Plenty of basic cases offer cool style options, like the three-piece Marware rEVOLUTION ($34.99, marware.com) or the sparkly, cases from the Bling My Thing Simple is Beautiful line (from $34.99, bling-my-thing.com).
MEDIUM PROTECTION
LifeProof frē ($79.99)
Medium-duty cases typically enhance a basic case with some form of shock absorption. The Otterbox Commuter Series (from $34.95, otterbox.com) is a good example, as are the Incipio DualPro ($29.99, incipio.com) and the Speck CandyShell Grip ($34.95, speckproducts. com). While these cases may not survive a 15-foot freefall or a dip into the pool, they do offer a good amount of protection against everyday bumps and drops.
ECO-FRIENDLY
A lot of people prefer to buy rugged, heavy-duty cases, using the logic that they just want one case and don’t want to have to worry about damaging or losing their iPhone while off-roading, spending a day at the beach, or even just cleaning the toilet. If you fall into the “I don’t want to worry” category, select an ultra-protective case such as the Otterbox Armor Series (from $99.95, otterbox.com), the Griffin Survivor + Catalyst Waterproof Case ($69.99, store.griffintechnology.com), or the LifeProof frē ($79.99, lifeproof.com). Bag manufacturer Slappa also just entered the market with its military-grade Hardbody iPad Case ($29.99, slappa.com). Heavy-duty cases should include complete protection from shocks and drops, dirt and dust, bumps and bangs, and—ideally— water. If you do buy a ruggedized case, keep in mind that it may take some effort to get your device in and out of the case. Be prepared for it to take some extra time if you plan on swapping cases regularly.
Speck CandyShell Grip ($34.95)
the wallet case, which holds money, ID, and credit cards. The Incipio Stashback ($39.99, incipio.com) and the Spigen Valentinus ($54.99, spigen.com) are great examples of cases that provide protection as well as space for flat valuables.
UTILITY
Apple Pie iPad Case ($19.99/3-pack)
If you want an environmentally conscious case, look to products like the Nite Ize BioCase (from $16.69, niteize.com), which is made of Green Dot GDH-B1 Bio Resin (a compostable elastomer) and comes in 100% post-consumer recycled packaging. For a leather iPad case that’s made with environmentally friendly methods, check out the Marware EcoVue ($54.99, marware.com). Or turn iPad protection into craft time with the Apple Pie iPad Case ($19.99 for three, applepieusa.com), a three-pack of recycled cardboard cases that come blank, ready for scribbles, stickers, or other crafty things that artists of any age might imagine.
FASHION
ReadyCase ($45)
Utility cases are easy to spot, because they usually do something other than offer protection. The most common kind is
In this category, personal style is everything. Ideally, people will select fashion cases that also offer protection and functionality. But one may be willing to compromise on more practical criteria for the right color, fabric, or look.
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BG '13 One downside to battery cases is that, no matter the model, they add significant extra weight—but the added convenience and feeling of security is well worth the extra bulk.
NICHE CASES
Louis Vuitton iPhone 5 Case ($315)
Fashion cases can be found in an extremely wide price range, from $30 to over $3,000. Some people like to splurge on high-end designer cases, like the Louis Vuitton iPhone 5 Case ($315, louisvuitton.com) or the Dolce & Gabbana Dauphine Calfskin iPad mini Case ($245, store.dolcegabbana.com), while others opt for stylish designer cases that don’t break the bank, like the kate spade new york Chevron Case ($40, katespade.com).
BATTERY CASES
PowerA Official Star Trek Next Generation Uniform Case ($29.99)
The iPhone case market, like the Internet, offers something for everyone. I’m a Star Trek fan, so I just put my iPhone into a PowerA Official Star Trek Next Generation Uniform Case ($29.99, powera. com). Anything that can be represented as an image or logo can be found on a case. You can also take your own image and turn it into a case, as with the Case-Mate Custom Cases (from $35, case-mate. com) or SkinIt Cases (from $24.99, skinit.com), or have your own logo or graphics etched into a custom metal Luxe Plate ($45, luxeplates.com).
SCREEN PROTECTION
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But there are options for better protection. The Cellairis Shell Shock: G Class Screen Protector ($39.99, cellairis.com) puts tempered glass between your screen and the dangers of the world. The four-layer LifeWorks Commando Screen Protector ($29.99, amazon. com) uses military technology to resist scratches, absorb shocks, and adhere to the device. Trü (truprotection.com) also sells a line of multi-layered protectors for both the face and the back of the iPhone.
A FEW ISSUES Some iPhone cases, particularly the ruggedized ones, present some issues when it comes to charging and using wired headphones. Since these cases are meant to seal everything in, the case engineers come up with some unique plugs and screws to keep everything tightly sealed while still providing access to charging and audio ports. If you buy a heavy-duty case, carefully read the specs so you know how much of an inconvenience to expect when you want to charge your phone, adjust the volume, or insert headphones. You could also consider buying a Bluetooth headset, which would eliminate the headphone jack issue completely. Another common (and more annoying) issue is dealing with a case that is too thick to allow for speaker or charger docking. Though most cases will permit charging with the standard Apple charging cable, many prevent proper alignment with sound systems and third-party charging docks. Even some third-party Lightning cables are too thick for small charging port openings.
mophie juice pack plus ($119.95)
One of the most popular—and useful—types of cases is the battery case. Unless you run out of power regularly, or don’t have access to a charger during the day, you generally won’t use them every day; rather, they’re handy for long plane rides or camping trips where getting power may be a challenge. Some great models are the Lenmar Meridian ($89.99, lenmar.com) and the mophie juice pack plus ($119.95, mophie.com).
ly drowning your iPhone is cracking your screen. Plastic screen protectors, which several companies include with their cases that don’t already include screen protection, are meant to protect the face of your iDevice from dirt and sharp particles that may scratch the glass. They aren’t meant to take on a five-foot drop onto a large rock, or be slammed into a set of keys at the local bar.
LifeWorks Commando Screen Protector ($29.99)
Outside of the rugged variety, most cases are designed to cover the back and edges of an iPhone, not its face. And the second likeliest calamity after accidental-
Before you settle on a case, make sure it fits your accessory situation. Will you have to remove the case every time you charge your phone or dock it on your home office stereo?
BG '13 UNIQUE FOR IPAD As much as we don’t want to admit that the iPad is just a big iPhone, when it comes to cases, 95 percent of the criteria for protecting the iPhone also applies to the iPad. All of the above case categories apply to both devices. But there are a few extra considerations to keep in mind when looking for an iPad case.
for business travelers and freelance writers who frequently need to type on the go. Some top keyboard cases include the ClamCase Pro ($169, clamcase.com), the ZAGG ZAGGfolio ($49.99, zagg.com), and the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover ($99.99, logitech.com).
OTHER STYLES
SECURITY
Fossil Hal Tablet Sleeve ($85) KeyFolio Secure Keyboard Security Case & Lock ($129.99)
It’s hard to lock down an iPhone—and, let’s face it, who isn’t going to take their phone with them when they leave a room? That could be true for an iPad as well, but it’s much more likely that someone will want to secure their iPad when leaving it behind. Kensington’s KeyFolio Secure Keyboard Security Case & Lock ($129.99, kensington.com) and SecureBack series (from $49.99, kensington. com) provide multiple options when it comes to protecting your iPad from theft.
KEYBOARDS
ClamCase Pro ($169)
Although some manufacturers make keyboards for iPhones, they’re intended more for incessant texters than professional typists. The iPad’s size offers enough surface space to employ a nearfull-sized keyboard, which comes in handy
Cases with handles not only make carrying the iPad more convenient, but they also often double as stands. The Newer Technology NuGard GripStand ($29.99, newertech.com) offers a highimpact, medium-protection case, while the Native Union Gripster ($19.99, amazon.com) offers a lighter-weight option. Both are compatible with the Apple Smart Cover ($39.99, apple.com). Other iPad case variations include 3-ring binder cases that fit notebooks, like the Griffin Binder Insert Case ($24.99, store. griffintechnology.com), and iPad sleeves, which offer excellent protection on long trips when you’re not using a particularly rugged case as the main device protector. High-quality sleeves include the DODOcase Durables Sleeve ($64.95, dodocase.com), the Incipio underGROUND ($29.99, incipio.com), and the Fossil Hal Tablet Sleeve ($85, fossil.com). Ѷ Daniel W. Rasmus, author of Listening to the Future and Management by Design, is a strategist and industry analyst who helps clients put their future in context. Rasmus was the Director of Business Insights at Microsoft Corporation, and today is a consultant and internationally recognized speaker. He blogs for Fast Company and iphonelife.com. You can reach him at dwrasmus@danielwrasmus.com
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Great Gifts Under $100 By Nate Adcock remember thinking as I walked through the showroom floor at CES back in January that it was going to be an exciting year for iOS gear. Accessory vendors are always finding new ways to push the envelope with products that are more attractive, intuitive, and compact than previous models, while still keeping prices competitive. Here are some of my favorite accessories from 2013 that are under the $100 mark.
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FAVI SmartStick Wireless Keyboard with Mouse Touchpad ($29.99, favientertainment.com) If you type with your thumbs or are just looking for a slim, portable keypad that works with your iDevice, Mac, or PC, look no further than the FAVI Keyboard. Not only does this Bluetooth keyboard feature function keys, player controls, and shortcuts,
but it also has a small yet surprisingly usable mouse pad, as well as discreet PowerPoint controls and a laser pointer.
Belkin FastFit Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard Case for iPad mini ($79.99, belkin.com) This slim, lightweight Bluetooth keyboard case is the perfect fit for the iPad mini. The key presses feel smooth, and the keyboard
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BG '13 includes common iOS shortcut keys so you can copy and paste text, control your media, and adjust the volume.
with a special clip on the back. It’s super easy to use—just pop your iPad into the case and snap it on to the stand. Want to mount your Mac or PC monitor? Ergotech makes affordable desk-arm mounting options for them as well!
Dolry 30-pin AirPlay Adapter ($89, amazon.com) Dolry, made by Swedish manufacturer C4 Electronics, is an ingenious Wi-Fi adapter that connects to your old 30-pin dock and turns it into an AirPlay and DLNA-compatible powerhouse. Connect it to your dock, and it starts up as a Wi-Fi access point in direct mode, allowing you to instantly connect and start playing tunes. Its trim form should fit easily onto any existing dock.
Divoom Onbeat 200 Bluetooth Portable Speaker ($79.99, amazon.com) The Onbeat is a well-designed Bluetooth speaker system with a powerful bass response and built-in speakerphone functionality. It’s lightweight enough to carry around in a backpack, and features amazing sound for such a small speaker.
MAPi Orion iPhone 5 Leather Smartcase ($90, mapicases.com) Handcrafted from quality leather, this outstanding iPhone case has a full cover that folds back into a stand for multiple viewing angles, leaving all ports and controls accessible. MAPi also offers an excellent assortment of other high-quality cases for iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini.
Ergotech VersaStand ($99, amazon.com) The VersaStand is a flexible yet sturdy iPad case and mount
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iRig HD ($99.99, ikmultimedia.com) Several of us guitar geeks at iPhone Life love the entire IK Multimedia line of music gear for iOS, but the iRig HD is my personal favorite. Connect one end of this audio interface to your device and one end to your guitar, and you have a complete effects package sans pedals—at HD-quality sound output!
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Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar Panel ($79.99, goalzero.com) This 7-watt, foldout solar panel can fully charge your iPhone in just two to four hours. Go off the grid and still keep your iPhone charged at full strength with this compact, portable power provider.
its features, the Sensus will only go as far as the app community that supports it. This innovative case could also help iDevice users who are sight impaired. Ѷ Nate Adcock is a System and Integration Engineer with experience managing and administering a variety of computing environments. He has worked extensively with mobile gadgets of all shapes and sizes for many years. He is also a former military weather forecaster. Nate is a regular contributor at iphonelife.com. Read more from Nate at natestera.drupalgardens.com or email him at nate@iphonelife.com.
TYLT Capio Universal Car Mount ($34.99, tylt.com) TYLT is the master of making eye-catching designs with Near Field Communication (NFC) smart features—hopefully iDevices will soon take advantage of NFC technology! Until then, though, you can still find great use for their products, like the smart and sturdy Capio, which holds your iPhone and attaches it to your dashboard or window with a durable, reusable adhesive. Sensus Case ($99, getsensus.com) Control your iPhone right through the case, instead of using up screen space with your fingers. The Sensus is a touch-sensitive case prototype that should be available in late 2013. The back and sides of the case function as a grid of touch-input points. Like a lot of accessories that need a catalog of apps to support
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Steve P. Young Age: 33 Location: San Francisco, CA One-Line Bio: Steve is the founder of Pixel Happy (pixelhappy.com), a growth hacking firm. He also hosts Mobile App Chat (mobileappchat. com), a podcast interviewing the top mobile entrepreneurs.
Sunrise Calendar: Fantastic calendar app! My favorite feature is the ability to wish someone a happy birthday on Facebook from within the app.
Yahoo! Weather: By far one of the most beautiful weather apps on the iPhone.
CarTunes Music Player: This is the slickest music player in the App Store. It's completely gesture-based and fantastic to use while driving.
Umano: News Read to You: Don't have time to read? Listen to curated news stories read to you by professional voice artists.
POP – Prototyping on Paper: This is fantastic to quickly prototype iPhone apps. Just draw your idea on paper, take a picture, and use POP to link the different screens.
Prismatic: Always Interesting: Prismatic displays articles based on popularity and your interests. It’s my favorite news reader app.
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Sleep Cycle alarm clock: Using the built-in accelerometer, this app monitors your movement to determine which sleep phase you are in and wakes you up during the lightest sleep phase.
Kindle: Most of my reading occurs on the train or while I’m holding my baby, so I need the ability to just use my thumb to navigate my books.
1 Second Everyday: Imagine a movie that includes a moment from each day of the rest of your life. Compile a video of your life by recording one second every day.
Songza: Stream thousands of original playlists handmade by music experts, with only one commercial per day!
Tweetbot: The best Twitter app! My favorite feature is that it blocks tweets that contain keywords so you won't see any spoilers.
Clear: A simple to-do list app that makes you focus on each day's necessary tasks.
LIVING THE iLIFE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG, TECH-SAVVY NEW YORKER
by Rebecca Santiago
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kay, so this article is built on a vaguely false premise: I’m only a sort-of New Yorker. A Manhattan apartment is definitely in my near future, but until I’ve saved up enough paychecks to swing it, I’m riding out my first few months as a college grad and real-life journalist at home in New Jersey. (Incidentally, I have not found any apps specifically designed to fend off the horrible people from high school who still roam the streets of my hometown.) But bridge-and-tunnel though I may be, I still spend the bulk of my waking hours navigating this chaotic, whirling city of dreams, which I could just as easily describe as a glorified cesspool, depending on my mood. Anyway, like a good little Millennial, I’m tethered to my iPhone and iPad every step of the way.
look up directions before hopping on the subway. (It happens more often than you might expect.)
9:15 A.M. I might be in my 20s, but I have the self-control of a toddler, and can usually wait no more than five minutes into my workday to dig into breakfast. If I don’t track my food intake/shame myself with Calorie Counter (free, bit.ly/ QR143i), I’ll probably just funnel an entire bag of caramel creams into my mouth before my midmorning meeting.
6:30 A.M.
Wake’s “shake to turn off ” feature will jolt you out of your groggy state.
I’ve never been an early-tobed, early-to-rise kind of gal, so I rely heavily on Wake ($1.99, bit.ly/16Tw4LS) to get my day going. It’s a very pretty, nearly dainty alarm clock app, but don’t judge an app by its interface—Wake means business. Aside from the promise of challah French toast, the only thing guaranteed to rouse me from a rainy-morning slumber is this app’s “shake to turn off” option. Even I can’t roll back over and doze after 20 seconds of rattling my phone back and forth to turn off the alarm. It’s a necessary evil, and well worth its $2 price tag.
7:45 A.M. Seriously, commuter life is the actual worst. Rather than suffer mind-bending morning traffic, I take the train from my hometown into the city. It’s about an hour-long trip on a good day, which is all good and well, but the New Jersey Transit is about as reliable as a Manhattan weather report. (Read: really, really not reliable.) Mass-transit demigod apps Embark NJ Rail (free, bit. ly/17QJzIi) and Embark NYC Subway (free, bit.ly/PG3AcU) let me know when my train is running late. That’s important when a five-minute delay can make all the difference between starting my day right with a toasted English muffin or having to settle for a granola bar from the office vending machine. Embark is also a super-useful navigation tool for any post-work shenanigans I may get up to. Unlike many maps apps, it doesn’t need Wi-Fi or cell service to function, so I don’t have to panic if I forget to
For better or worse, Calorie Counter keeps track of what I’m eating.
Sometimes the app takes a few minutes to sync with whatever I’ve entered online, but when it gets over that, it’s really easy to use. I love how it stores my previous meals, a.k.a. the same five Lean Cuisines because I’m too lazy to cook and too timid to branch out beyond that handful. I mean, their frozen paninis look kind of wack.
11:00 A.M. Is it 6:30 yet? Or at least lunch time? No? All right, I guess I’ll pull up Daytrotter (free, bit.ly/1azCLDW) on my phone to help the morning pass pleasantly. I’m so into this most excellent music app, which features jam sessions from all the best bands you’ve never heard of. I’m so cool. Forget Manhattan; I should live in Brooklyn.
12:00 P.M. Speaking of which, I should really check PadMapper (free, bit. ly/155ojlY) for the 907th time this week, so I can stare at all the pretty Lower East Side apartments I can’t afford. When I narrow down the search window to what I can afford, I get listings that say stuff like, “Who wants to pay for all that extra space, anyway?” and “This is a cunning postwar apartment.” Uh, dude, I’m pretty sure you meant “charming,” but maybe “cunning” is closer to the mark. Still, this app is the next-best thing to a broker, and it’s probably even more effective if you are the kind of person who saves their money for housing instead of forking over your debit card for not one, but two black leather baseball caps.
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1:30 P.M.
HealthyOut helps me find restaurants with delicious and healthy food.
Food time is the best time. I like to try to eat healthy lunches so I don’t get too sluggish at my desk (and, frankly, because I like to consume about three bowls of pasta for dinner). HealthyOut (free, bit.ly/1bq4nf5) is what helps me breeze past the many hot dog, pretzel, and gyro carts studding the streets of midtown, and carries me onward to restaurants that have delicious food that actually suits my personal nutritional needs. You can filter for cuisine, fat content, allergens, whatever. It’s not doing so great on “20-calorie eggplant parm,” though. Probably a software glitch?
3:30 P.M. Uh, wait, maybe I should clarify that I don’t spend my entire workday screwing around on my iPhone. I have a job and stuff. Even so, I’m due for a recharge, courtesy of the cute and colorful Mutant Charging Cable ($17.99, amazon.com). I tend to freak out if I don’t have a full phone battery after work.
5:15 P.M. Having done tons of actual work at this point, like an adult, I feel that I’ve fully earned a five-minute 7 Little Words (free, bit.ly/QN9Q6I) break. Spelling out synonyms from scrambledup groups of letters is a pretty good defense against the lateafternoon slump, and even when you max out the free levels and move onto the paid ones, the game is still way cheaper than a Starbucks skinny vanilla latte. Plus, it is clearly a smarter pastime than, say, Candy Crush (free, bit.ly/VcwQaY). Which is not to say that I don’t also sometimes play Candy Crush.
6:30 P.M. I signed up for a 5K on a whim a few weeks ago, which was a pretty foolish move for someone who could not run for five minutes in March without doubling over with a side cramp. Honestly, it’s nice to explore the city by foot, even if I’m moving a little faster than my lungs seem to think I should. Map My Run (free, bit.ly/14lU4nr) has been a great resource for finding run-
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ning routes and tracking my speed and distance. Just don’t be that jerk who links the app to your social media pages. Nobody likes a braggart.
6:30 P.M. It’s kind of late for dinner and a drink, but word on the street is that this city never sleeps. Anyway, networking is important here, and I schedule after-hours plans with current and former colleagues pretty regularly. Of course, picking a spot is always challenging, as the bulk of us are poor journalists trying to sustain ourselves in city that charges, like, $19 for spaghetti and meatballs. This is where Happy Hours (free, bit.ly/T99jGA) comes in. The app shows users local food and drink specials, without the annoying need to buy anything in advance, as you would with Groupon and its ilk. Restaurant-goers also use this app to rate venues (à la Yelp), which is a nice perk. You need not dine at some crappy Tex-Mex restaurant that serves margaritas in Styrofoam cups and uses spray cheese on nachos—unless, of course, that’s what you’re into.
9:50 P.M. Made the train just on time, and with a full day behind me, I’m more than ready to decompress with my iPad. Right now, I’m forging through the fourth Game of Thrones book on NOOK (free, bit.ly/Ylfpvq). I’m told that no one uses NOOK and I’m being a total dork for refusing to switch over to Kindle (free, bit.ly/P91wN4) or something newer and shinier, but the bulk of my pre-touchscreen youth was spent wandering the aisles of Barnes & Noble, and I guess I’m a little bit brand loyal.
11:45 P.M. I know there are a lot of great sleep apps out there, but this is the time of night that I like to put my phone away and completely unplug from technology. City life and iPhone life are exciting, demanding, and exhausting. I love the energy of it all, but even so, I think I’ve earned a good night’s sleep. Ѷ Rebecca Santiago is a writer and editor based in New York. She has written for Glamour, Marie Claire, Boston Magazine, and xoJane.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebsanti.
Jessie Johnson Age: 23 Location: Ithaca, NY One-Line Bio: Food blogger and recipe developer at Life as a Strawberry (lifeasastrawberry.com), founder of The Sustainable Seafood Blog Project, part-time graphic designer, master's candidate at Cornell University, and research advocate for the importance of home cooking.
Photos: Photo Stream lets me access blog photos from my iPhone, making it easier to stay on top of social media.
Pinterest: This site drives more traffic to my blog than any other site. Maintaining a presence on Pinterest keeps my visitor numbers high!
Sworkit: I never have time for the gym—Sworkit lets me choose a time limit and tailors a workout to fit my schedule.
foodgawker: This generates huge traffic numbers for food bloggers. I like to discover new bloggers whose photos appear here.
WordPress: The most important app on my phone. I can post, comment, edit, and check traffic for my sites wherever I am.
Facebook Pages Manager: This app lets me manage my Facebook Fan Page and interact with readers at any time.
Life As A Strawberry Widget: I love adding websites to my home screen. This lets me pull up my blog quickly to show friends.
Seafood Watch: I use this app to keep up on changes in the seafood market and communicate those changes to my partners at The Sustainable Seafood Blog Project.
Twitter: I'm obsessed. It's an amazing place to interact with other bloggers.
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Pic Stich: I love creating photo collages for my social media sites.
MY FAVORITE IPHONEOGRAPHY APPS AND GEAR OF 2013 BY JOHN TOMA
here are over 5 thousand photography apps in the App Store, and the number keeps growing. Since many of them offer similar features, choosing the best becomes a question of which apps best meet your stylistic needs. In this article, I’ll focus on my favorite must-have apps for 2013. Not all of the apps were launched in 2013, but the older ones have all released some major update that has brought them to the forefront again. I will also present the best iPhoneography gadgets and gear for this year, all of which I have either used or personally own.
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BEST IPHONEOGRAPHY APPS OF 2013 I selected my top apps using the following criteria: ease of use, quality of features, long-term support with frequent updates, and fun factor. Handy Photo ($1.99, bit.ly/13ZXOvL) Handy Photo is like Snapseed (free, bit.ly/ TAMtxt) on steroids. I love Snapseed, but Handy Photo does things I only wish Snapseed could do. For example, every time I select a filter in Handy Photo, the next filter moves into position in case I want to try it out. Also, my changes are non-destructive—like with Photoshop, if I don’t like a layer, I simply go back to the previous one. I also love the fact that I can control shadows and highlights. If you want an all-in-one app that gives you advanced options and interesting filters, you can’t go wrong with Handy Photo. FaceTune ($2.99, bit.ly/16hWAf5) FaceTune is a powerful portrait editor. Just as I use desktop software like Photoshop or Lightroom to edit photos taken with my DSLR, I choose FaceTune for portraits snapped with my iPhone. I can whiten teeth,
soften skin, focus and defocus, correct red-eye, and apply filters and paint using a tone palette—all with the slide of a finger. There are several apps in the App Store that have similar features, but none are as intuitive or enjoyable to use. Photo Editor by Aviary (Free, bit.ly/VrhiXn) This app is for the iPhoneographer who wants to pull a rabbit out of a hat, wowing the viewer with special effects. What Handy Photo does with stamps and cloning, Photo Editor by Aviary does with stickers and text art. VSCO Cam (Free, bit.ly/14jmjDf) VSCO Cam’s developers introduced an update in June that reinvigorated the app with excellent presets, simplified editing, increased creative control over the editorial elements, and full-resolution import and export capabilities. VSCO Cam is for iPhoneographers who want to create minimalistic, professional-looking photos without making them appear too simplistic. Tangent ($1.99, bit.ly/155lQDd) Tangent is for the uber-artistic, creative iPhoneographer. It lets you create fullfledged works of art from your images, using frames, customizable shapes, patterns, colors, and backgrounds. What a unique way to express yourself through your images! MYSTIC* ($0.99, bit.ly/17LPWNS) This photo-editing app offers tons of cool textures, color treatments, frames, text options, and more to individualize your pictures. You can adjust each effect’s level of intensity, and layer effects to your heart’s content.
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Mextures ($1.99, bit.ly/1aDA1AN) Similarly to MYSTIC*, Mextures offers plenty of awesome textures (over 70, in fact!) with which to enhance your images, and lets you customize each effect to suit your needs. Create endless options with this photo editor by layering textures, light leaks, and gradients— then save your favorite formulas for future use.
Retromatic ($1.99, bit.ly/VJ6rT7) With Retromatic, you can apply great-looking retro filters and select themes and designer elements in order to create modernday, retro-inspired poster art. Like Tangent, Retromatic is for the iPhoneographer who wants to add a unique flavor to his or her images.
Pixuru (Free, bit.ly/1404o5e) Pixuru is a wonderful print-fulfillment app. Ordering prints through Pixuru on your iOS device is so simple that you’ll probably forget how you ever did it from your desktop. Order canvas, wood, metal, and framed prints in just a few steps using an elegant ordering screen. You can also order custom-printed cases for your iOS devices. The prints are affordable and the quality is superb.
LightTrac ($4.99, bit.ly/113NBJd) LightTrac is an amazing tool that helps you determine the best time and location for shooting so you can plan your shoots during optimal lighting and weather conditions. You can even scout for locations based on the perfect sunlight angle or for a backdrop featuring a rising or setting sun or moon. A must-have for outdoor iPhoneographers!
BEST IPHONEOGRAPHY GEAR OF 2013 FOR LIGHTING
one sturdy yet compact device. The olloclip is quick to attach and remove, it works with all your favorite photo apps, and it features super-sharp lenses.
Pocket Spotlight ($30, photojojo.com/store) Sometimes a shot requires extra light, and the iPhone’s flash isn’t enough. For those times, I use the Pocket Spotlight. I simply insert it into the headphone jack of my iPhone, turn it on, and voila! The Pocket Spotlight is a continuous light source that you can purchase by itself or with gels. It’s rechargeable, powerful, compact, and can be used as off-camera lighting. I use the Pocket Spotlight when shooting still life or when I need fill light for portraits.
FOR GREAT VISUALS olloclip ($69.99, olloclip.com) The olloclip is the undisputed king of iPhoneography lenses. You can shoot macro, wide-angle, and fisheye photos using
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FOR PROTECTION LifeProof nüüd ($89.99, lifeproof.com) I take meticulous care of my photography gear, and I don’t skimp on protection when it comes to my iPhone. I trust LifeProof products because they're tested and proven in the conditions I work in. I dive, hike, obstacle race, and put myself in situations that risk the integrity of my phone in order to capture the perfect shot. The LifeProof nüüd is the perfect case; I usually keep an extra one in my vehicle in case I get the urge to go off-road with my iPhone.
FOR STEADY SHOTS
Square Jellyfish Pocket Tripod and Spring Mount ($14.95, amazon.com) This is my go-to mount for my iPhone. I put the pocket tripod and spring mount in my back pocket before I go on walks. When it’s time for me to capture a shot that requires a steady hand, I slide my iPhone into the spring mount, compose the shot, and snap with my Bluetooth trigger.
FOR LONG-LASTING BATTERY POWER
Battery On The Go PowerBar (From $29.99, batteryonthego.com) iPhoneographers never go anywhere without spare juice. I run Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, the Camera app, and background apps constantly, so my iPhone’s battery is always in low supply. Battery On The Go has excellent quality control and it provides some of the finest products to power your iOS devices. The PowerBar is sleek and attractive. I get asked about it all the time when I use it to charge my iPhone on the go. Ѷ John Toma is a professional photographer, writer, and public speaker residing in San Diego, CA. He is an accomplished iPhoneographer and has appeared on television to speak about the field of photography. John also is a sought-after speaker on topics relating to photography, technology, and media. Check out his website at johntoma.com, and follow John on Instagram @jt25.
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here’s a good chance that when Andy Williams crooned, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” he wasn’t the one in charge of all of the cooking and baking. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are full of family dinners, cocktail parties, and a not-insignificant amount of stress. This year, leave your cookbooks on the shelf—these apps couple all the recipes you need for your favorite holiday treats with sanity-saving extras like built-in shopping lists and preparation tips.
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How to Cook Everything ($9.99, bit.ly/1biwuuZ) The mobile version of Mark Bittman’s bestselling cookbook offers plenty of recipes for holiday staples such as pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, and dressing, but it’s more than just a cookbook. For novices, the Kitchen Basics section is like having a culinary instructor in the palm of your hand, with extensive instructions on how to roast a turkey and make gravy. The integrated grocery-list manager is also handy; with a tap, you can add all of the ingredients from the recipes you’ve chosen to a single shopping list.
Chow Thanksgiving Dinner Coach (Free, bit.ly/17A9tCk) If all you want is a classic Turkey Day menu with simple, straightforward instructions, look no further. This app doesn’t overwhelm you with a million variations on green bean casserole. Instead, it offers exactly nine recipes, with easy-to-follow directions that do everything but hold your hand. You’ll find all of your familiar comfort-food staples here: roasted turkey, apple and sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie, along with a brandyand-apple punch to keep everyone in a merry mood. Country Living Holiday Cookies ($2.99, bit.ly/17vuCcH) Santa knows what’s up—when the weather outside is frightful, what’s really delightful is a plate of warm cookies and a glass of milk. This app brings together Country Living magazine’s 50 best holiday cookie recipes in one sweet collection. If you’re not a master baker, have no fear; the app also includes baking tips and decorating tricks to guide you. BabyCakes - Vegan and Gluten-Free Baking by Erin McKenna ($3.99, bit.ly/179d1uu) Sweet treats are a big part of the holiday season, but for people who are gluten intolerant or have food allergies, those cakes and pies are sadly off limits. With the BabyCakes app in the palm of your hand, it doesn’t have to be that way. BabyCakes, produced by the famous New York bakery of the same name, features recipes that are gluten-free and vegan, meaning that they’re totally safe for people who avoid gluten, dairy, wheat, and eggs. In addition to recipes, the app includes videos, music, shopping lists, and a notes field for your own variations. Hanukkah Recipe HD ($1.99, bit.ly/15vvDlh) With more than a hundred recipes, this app is all you need for a delicious Hanukkah feast. It offers up traditional favorites such as latkes (both potato and Hungarian cheese varieties), rugelach, honey cake, and sweet kugel, along with preparation tips to help you create a meal to make your Bubbe proud. Mixology (Free, bit.ly/17vwF0i) From warm, spiced cider to champagne punch, alcoholic drinks are an essential part of the holidays for many. With thousands of recipes to choose from, you’ll find enough seasonally inspired drinks in this free app to keep the party going from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. The nifty Liquor Cabinet feature allows you to enter all of the liquors and mixers you currently have on hand and generate a list of drinks you can make from them. Ѷ After spending some time in college as a Management Information Systems (MIS) major, Jacqui realized she preferred words to numbers and ended up graduating with a journalism degree instead. Her love of all things geeky stayed with her, though, and she’s found a happy medium in her career as a tech journalist.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by Title 39 U.S.C. 3526)
1. Publication Title: iPhone Life 2. Publication no.: 1949-2014 3. Date of filing: September 5, 2013 4. Issue frequency: Bi-Monthly 5. No. of issues published annually: 6 6. Annual subscription price: $15.97 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 402 N. B St. #108, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 8. Complete mailing address of the headquarters of general business office of the publisher: 402 N. B St. #108, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher and editor: Publisher, David Averbach, 402 N. B St. #108, Fairfield, Iowa 52556. Editor, Alex Cequea, 402 N. B St. #108, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 10. Owners: Mango Life Media, Inc. 402 N. B St. #108, Fairfield, Iowa 52556; David Averbach, Alex Cequea, Raphael Burnes, Hal & Rita Goldstein. 13. Publication name: iPhone Life 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Vol 5 No. 6, Nov-Dec 2013. Average Number Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months
Actual Number Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date
a. Total No. Copies (Net Press Run) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86,333
91,298
15. Extent and Nature of Circulation b. Paid Circulation (1) Paid Mail Subscriptions stated on PS form 3541 (includes Advertisers’ Proof Copies/ Exchange Copies) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,835 (3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales (not mailed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,217 c. Total Paid Circulation (Sum of 15b(1) and 15b(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,052
11,020 31,954
42,974
d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (by mail and outside the mail) (4) Outside the Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,112
2,112
e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1) and (4)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,112
2,112
f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,164
45,086
g. Copies Not Distributed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,116
59,344
h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103,280
104,430
i. Percent Paid (15c/15f x 100) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89%
95%
16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the Vol.5. No.6 Nov-Dec 2013 issue of this publication. 17. Signed, David Averbach, CEO. September 5, 2013
Digital Circulation: The digital editions of iPhone Life are distributed through Apple Newsstand and the Zinio Digital Newsstand as enhanced digital replicas of the print issues. As of September 5, 2013, iPhone Life had a total of 31,999 digital subscriptions, with an additional 7,560 single issues sold. The digital editions of iPhone Life are available in the Apple App Store, Zinio.com, and the Zinio Magazine Newsstand & Reader app. They can be read through any iOS device including all versions of the iPhone and iPad.
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Free publicity for your app or accessory! iphonelife.com/vendor
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Jorge Bendersky Location: New York, NY One-Line Bio: Celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky appeared on Animal Planet’s hit reality show Groomer Has It, and is the author of the new book DIY Dog Grooming, from Puppy Cuts to Best in Show. He’s also a frequent guest on local and national TV shows. Learn more at planetjorge.com. Maps: I do house calls, so I need to know how to get to my destinations.
The Weather Channel Max: Since I walk to work, I need to know if I need an umbrella, etc. This ad-free app shows me the weather hour by hour.
Citi Bike: I use the new bikes at the Citi Bike stations to go from my house in Chelsea to Union Square. Candy Crush Saga: A fun game to play on the subway!
FatBooth: Sometimes I take a photo and put it in FatBooth to prevent myself from eating a burrito and french fries. Before I grab that extra taco, I look at myself plus 200 pounds!
SnapShot Greeting Card: I take photos of my clients’ dogs and turn them into greeting cards so my clients can see their picture-perfect pooches!
Receipts: This app helps me keep track of all my expenses on the go.
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Fandango Movies: Sometimes I have time to grab a movie between appointments; this app lets me see what’s playing.
Delivery.com: I use this app to order food (wraps or something else that’s quick and healthy) to my client’s home so I have food waiting when I get there.
Pandora: Pandora has a great variety of tunes. I choose stations based on the personality of the dog I’m working with (for example, if I need to calm him down, I put on the classics).
FREE TO PLAY 7 Great Games That Don’t Break the Bank By Brittany Vincent n this day and age, “freemium” games (free-to-download games with additional in-app purchases) are a dime a dozen. The business model is a lucrative one: allow players basic functions and normal gameplay for free, but place additional content and extras behind a pay wall for a premium price. This model gives developers a chance at exposure beyond that of paying customers, while still acting as a viable source of revenue when users decide the app is worthy of their time, attention, and—most importantly—their money.
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Well-made freemium games come with minimal interruptions and little need to pay for additional resources or features. Badly designed freemium games typically abuse the power of the inapp purchase, offering what feels like a glorified trial of the game that nickel-and-dimes customers with no goal in mind other than capitalizing on addiction (Candy Crush, I’m looking at you!). To help you out, we've compiled a list of seven great freemium apps that keep your (and your wallet’s) best interest in mind.
Jetpack Joyride (Free, app2.me/4317) This one has been an iPhone Life favorite for a while. Barry Steakfries is on the run through a crowded facility armed with an awesome jet-
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pack and a devilish grin. This endless runner is extremely popular, and it's accessible to all audiences. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can obtain most items in the in-game store simply by playing the game and accumulating coins. And while there are in-game features that allow for micro transactions, both the features and micro transactions are unobtrusive.
Rage of Bahamut (Free, app2.me/5856) It’s hard not to spend money on card game apps. Just like with real-world card games, additional cards, different decks, and promotional opportunities tempt you at every corner. Rage of Bahamut works extremely well within the freemium model. Despite having a fully stocked store of premium content, this game doesn’t require you to spend a dime in order to fully enjoy it. When you consider the larger price tags of other prominent card game apps, Rage of Bahamut stands out as a bargain.
Robot Unicorn Attack 2 (Free, bit.ly/1808J9n) The original Robot Unicorn Attack wasn't free, but it was a powerhouse of a runner. The second game in the series is completely free and
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keeps all the features that made the original so much fun, including daily challenges and power-ups. In fact, the only reason you might ever spend any money is to hear Erasure's "Always," due to licensing costs. Otherwise, you shouldn’t have to spend a dime on this gorgeous adventure, unless Team Rainbow is falling behind.
Pocket Planes (Free, app2.me/5946) Owning and maintaining your own airline has never been so exhilarating! Pocket Planes is an aircraft management simulator, created by the developers of the popular game Tiny Tower (free, app2.me/4323). You’ll probably recognize the same pixelated characters and design style. The game is exciting and challenging, and never pushes you to purchase additional resources.
Hero Academy (Free, app2.me/4885) Hero Academy is simple to learn, but tough to put down. A top-down strategy battler, this game gives you an entire army for free and plenty of randomized maps on which you can slay your enemies. The basic army that comes with the free version is up for plenty of randomized scuffles, and by the time you feel you've exhausted their usefulness, spending some realworld cash for new experiences suddenly doesn't seem so evil anymore. Turn-based combat this exciting is a bit of a rarity; it'll leave you hungry for more.
Robotek (Free, bit.ly/1cw4jee) No, we're not talking about anime (that's Robotech). Robotek is a turn-based robotic battler with a unique neon look and exciting random battles. It resembles a Kool-Aid-colored version of the Xbox Live Arcade game Geometry Wars, and what's more, it doesn’t require you to spend a cent to beef up your robots in order to stay on top. Dead Trigger (Free, bit.ly/X0yToG) If you've got an itchy trigger finger, Dead Trigger might strike your fancy. Sure, the zombie fad is a little played out by now, but Dead Trig-
ger keeps things unbelievably fresh. Originally, the game was supported by in-app purchases, but since it became free, it’s broadened its horizons. You'll likely want to drop some loot on a few of the grislier weapons available so you can rip through the zombie hordes, but it's not at all necessary if you only want to enjoy a good shooter. Ѷ Brittany has been covering various types of media as a freelance entertainment writer for five years. Until her dying breath she’ll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake, or find her work archived at pfhorthewin.com.
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iView Hal, along with his wife Rita, founded iPhone Life’s original publishing company, Thaddeus Computing, in 1985. You can reach him at hal@thaddeus.com.
Uber: A Game-Changing Taxi Service A fter hearing my iPhone Life partners Alex Cequea, Raphael Burnes, and David Averbach rave about using the Uber app (free, bit.ly/UhTpLm) to get taxis in New York and San Francisco, I looked forward to trying it on an upcoming trip to Los Angeles.
San Francisco Uber drivers, where pricing is lower. In general, LA’s Uber pricing is probably 15% higher than a regular taxi or limo service. However, in San Francisco, where the service began, Uber has begun to underprice its competition.
Using Uber Once I got to LA, I needed a cab, so I opened the Uber app and entered my credit card information, email, and phone number. A map came up of my current location, showing available cars on the surrounding streets and the number of minutes away of the closest car. After touching “Set pickup location,” which by default is the current location, I requested a taxi. A map appeared, showing me where the pickup car was and giving me an estimated arrival time. When the car arrived, I received a text. Upon arriving at the destination, no money changed hands; the fare and tip were automatically computed and the credit card charged. I was emailed a receipt. Then I rated the driver, and the driver rated me. The simplicity of the process reminded me of ordering from Amazon.
Uber's Options Depending on the city, Uber offers up to five car choices: uberX (an everyday car—the most affordable option), Taxi, Black Car, SUV, and Lux. For a 1.5-mile trip in Santa Monica, I received quotes of $7-$8 for an uberX, $15-$16 for a Black Car, and $25$26 for an SUV. The actual fare for the uberX ride was $8. You can also opt to split the fare with friends, contact the driver, or cancel the ride request.
Vested interests are battling Uber, which is shaping up to be a disruptive market force. For example, in California there is an effort to make Uber illegal. I would imagine, though, that over time, Uber’s approach will be too compelling for the resistance to succeed.
Drivers Love Uber—Concierges, Not So Much
Uber operates in 40 cities throughout the world, including LA, NY, SF, Chicago, Paris, Sydney, and Singapore. Uber has received almost 50 million dollars in startup funding from various investment entities.
Uber contracts its driving to qualified individuals and companies. All the drivers I spoke with loved Uber, and valued the fact that they could work when they wanted. One driver said he made 30 percent more income than without Uber the previous year. Another was a CPA between projects who drove his Prius a couple hours a day for Uber. He told me he found the experience more human than a normal taxi service. On the other hand, our hotel concierge was not pleased by our use of Uber. Typically, concierges receive a commission when they call a car. Similarly, non-Uber taxi and limo drivers do not appreciate the competition. I’ve also read of some concerns of
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Uber Online and Around the Globe
I used Uber four times, and was impressed with the experience each time. Visit uber.com to learn more and to sign up. You may even be able to find a coupon for your first ride by Googling “uber coupon.” Once you’ve used Uber, you can also use the website to view your past transactions. Ѷ