Best Game Apps

Alto's Adventure ($1.99. iOS only) Many tech blogs and podcasts have raved about the beauty and design of this game. It is a one touch game where you snowboard in an Alpine environment and rescue llamas. The screenshots look amazing and the trailer is mesmerizing

http://altosadventure.com/

Monument Valley ($3.99. iOS, Android, Amazon) Featured in the show House of Cards, the game is like being trapped in an elegant M.C. Escher painting. An never-ending journey through a mind-bending landscape. Watch the trailer, it's simply beautiful http://www.monumentvalleygame.com/

Badland ($3.99. iOS, Android, Amazon, Blackberry, Windows) Game of the Year in many publications, it is now also available for gaming consoles and Steam. The game side scrolls a creature through a strange alien world where you navigate traps and obstacles to investigate. A visually stunning game but has had a lot of reviewers remarking about its in-game physics and music design. There are 80 levels in single-player mode, two packs of 20 levels can be purchased seperately, and there is a multi-player mode that allows up to four at once.

See more about it here: http://badlandgame.com/

2048 (Free. iOS, Android, and web) You start with three tiles that have the number 2 and when you slide together a pair of the same number they become the product, so in this case 4. Every time you slide the tiles another tile is added. The goal of the game is to combine like numbers until you get the number 2048. It sounds strange and easy but it is neither. You can play it online here: http://gabrielecirulli.github.io/2048/ *I must also put that some people believe this to be a rip-off of another game "Threes"  which is very highly rated and reviewed available for purchase for $1.99. 

Limbo ($4.99. iOS and Android) This game is also available for other gaming devices PS3, PS4, PS Vita, XBox 360, and Steam. Winner of over 80 awards this monochrome mystery starts you off as a little boy in a forest. With no explanation you figure out traps and obstacles in your way. It's dark and foreboding, the music is so wonderful that they made the soundtrack available for purchase. Take a look at the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBwfZ8iAYU

Framed ($4.99 iOS only) Also available on Steam, this noir detective mystery is a puzzle solving game where you rearrange the panels to try to figure out who done it. Lush genre graphics and a peppy jazz soundtrack. Trailers and screen shots look fantastic: http://framed-game.com/presskit/sheet.php?p=framed

Knightmare Tower (Free or $3.99. iOS and Android) If you ever played Doodlejump, this is similar but has some really awesome additions. You're a knight that rockets upward through a tower trying to save the princesses. To navigate left and right you tilt your device and to use your weapon of choice you tap the screen. Cute graphics and addictive game play, also available on Steam. Check out more: http://knightmaretower.com/

Other Notables that I highly recommend:

Angry Birds Star Wars 2

Plants vs Zombies 2

Asphalt 8

Ridiculous Fishing

Device 6

Drop7

The Blockheads

Year Walk

80 Days (kind of an interactive book with game elements)

Hitman Go

Infinity Blade

Time-Wasting Apps

A dozen apps that will help you waste time on a plane, train, or bus. In the case of the last app on the list it will show you why you got nothing done today.

Cheezburger (Free. iOS and Android) If you like silly pictures of pets and hilarious memes this is the time waster for you.

Songify ($2.99 iOS and Free Android) Record yourself talking or singing and the app will allow you to add musical accompaniment and auto-tune. So, you too can sound like the Black-Eyed Peas or a silly You Tube video. 

Whisper (Free. iOS and Android) If you've ever seen the PostSecret books you will know that they are about anonymously sharing your deepest darkest secrets. This app allows you to post your secrets with meme-like art. You can also read others secrets, comment on them, like them, and share them within the app.

Sago Mini Doodlecast ($3.79 iOS only) Really an app for kids but parents may use it to distract little ones. It records the doodling and the sounds that occur while they are creating their masterpiece. [If you don't have kids, some parents like to record their baby / toddler gibbering.]

Meme Generator (Free. iOS and Android) Creating short message silly graphic art is called a meme. [If you are not sure what I'm describing Google it.] Sometimes to be funniest you have to be fast or inspiration may hit at anytime. The meme generator app helps you create with stock art and the requisite fonts to quickly create hilarity.

1 Second Everyday ($2.99 iOS. Free with in-app purchases Android) A very popular trend in the tech world / social media is the creation of one-second a day videos. You can see how your life changes over time or snippets of a trip. Create different sets for your children, pets, or spouse, then assemble a video days, weeks, or years from now. You can also share your one second video with others to create a group project. [If you saw the movie "Chef" the son uses the app to document his trip with his dad] 

Picr (Free with in-app purchases. iOS only) -  Take a selfie each day, then at the end of a month, year, decade or more, you'll be able to generate a movie of your facial changes through time. 

FrontBack (Free iOS and Android) - Your phone has a camera on the front and back and this app uses both. Take a picture that shows what you're are seeing and what you look like seeing it. The app allows you to e-mail it or share via social media.

Moodies Emotions Analytics (Free. iOS only) The app records you talking for 20 seconds and then reports your primary and secondary mood by analyzing pitch, volume, timing, and energy used. 

Unstuck (Free. iOS for iPad and web) Feeling stuck in your rut, looking for personal growth, or motivation. This self-help app has won both a Webby [website awards] and Appy [yeah you guessed it an app award]. Give it a spin and see where it takes you, there are worse ways to waste your time.

Original Virtual Bubble Wrap (Free iOS and Android) It is what it says it is, virtual bubble wrap. You pop bubble wrap and that’s about it.

Moment (Free. iOS only) The opposite of a time waster this app helps you see how much you use your phone and for what.  It will tell you how many times a day you pick up the iPhone, track where you take the phone, and set limits for how often you can use it. If family members have it on their iPhones you can see how much they use it and set times when everyone in the family has to go without a screen.

Private Communications Apps

Two of the principles that libraries and librarians believe in adamantly is the freedom or information and the protection of privacy. Unfortunately, privacy has become a scare commodity in our digital world. Recently it has been discovered that the NSA, CIA, and Great Britain's equivalent agencies have been putting lines of code into the basic programming of hard drives in foreign and the SIM cards for smartphones. This video discusses the recent discoveries: http://publish.dvlabs.com/democracynow/ipod/wx2015-0220_soghoian.mp4

Although these intelligence agencies are tracking and recording calls and texts; there are ways to get around this. There are apps that allow you to send instant messages and make phone calls using your data and those messages and calls are encrypted, which means your conversations are protected with code that puts a digital lock on them.

iMessage / FaceTime (Free) iOS only. This is a built in feature on iPhones and is available on Apple computers. The messages pass through Apple's servers and they encrypt the data so no one except the addressed parties can read the message. Unfortunately both parties must have an Apple product for iMessage to work.

Signal (Free) iOS only. Produced by Open Whisper Systems this app allows for phone calls and send text messages that are clear, fast, and safe. They are protected with end-to-end encryption and compatible with RedPhone and TextSecure which are apps that do the same thing in Android. It has nice archiving and organization features. The app uses Wi-Fi so that it does not use up your data and you can make free international calls. Unfortunately the person you are trying to call or text needs to have Signal, RedPhone, or TextSecure in order to communicate.

RedPhone (Free) Android only. Created by the makers of Signal, this app is the Android version. It has all the same features: archiving, encryption, international calling, organization, and uses Wi-Fi. It also requires each user to have RedPhone, TextSecure, or Signal to communicate.

TextSecure (Free) Android only. This app started with a different development group but is now a part of Open Whisper Systems. Like the other apps it uses open source software that is encrypted. Fast, safe, and secure is the mantra and the app delivers by using end-to-end encryption. It allows group chats and archiving. It has a nice feature that will delete everything the user has done on the app basically cleaning itself out so there is nothing left to see. It has a few problems with group texts and it has ads which have been complaints from some users.

Silent Circle ($12.95 - $39.95) iOS, Android, and Windows desktop. The apps go by the name: Silent Phone, Silent Text, and Silent Contacts. The app allows for encrypted phone calls and secure VOIP when connected to Wi-Fi. It also provides secure video calling and it allows you to contact non-users but that provides one-sided encryption, which some might say is sort of useless. The pricing is based on the number of calling minutes and text messages. This family of apps has a high standard for its encryption and has been recognized multiple times by the Electronic Frontier Foundation for its services providing private secure communication. Silent Circle has also created a privacy minded smartphone called Blackphone that has a special version of Android and proprietary software that makes it secure with no back doors, SIM card vulnerabilities, and other built-in privacy apps.

Wickr (Free) iOS and Android, and Windows desktop. Remember in the TV show / movies Mission Impossible the message would self destruct, well Wickr is very similar. It automatically deletes all messages after a period of time. The app collects no user data, keeps no metadata, and has no vulnerabilities. The founder of the app has a $100,000 prize for anyone "that could find a vulnerability in its app that could critically jeopardize the confidentiality or integrity of its users' data". One of the standout things is that it marries security with features and a nice platform.

There is another secure texting app for Android called Surespot but it had mixed reviews. There is a secure calling / texting app called TrustCall but it is $45 for a chip or $119 for a membership which made it's target audience really small. 

There are a lot of popular instant messaging apps such as SnapChat, Kik, and What'sApp but they aren't secure and some that are encrypted have vulnerabilities. Users who ask about them or use them should know that whatever they send is not very private and can intercepted with varying degrees of difficulty.

In Other News:

An web-based app has been developed to treat tinnitus:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/19/a-new-audio-app-claims-to-treat-tinnitus/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

OverDrive is being purchased by a Japanese company:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/19/us-overdrive-m-a-rakuten-idUSKBN0MF0EN20150319

There are about 1200 Android apps vulnerable to the FREAK attack:

http://www.cnet.com/news/more-than-1200-android-apps-still-vulnerable-to-freak/

Cloud Storage

One of the things that I have had a basic understanding of and appreciation for is cloud computing. A lot of people find the concept complicated and worrisome, but really, it is very simple. You are saving your files on a computer (server) provided by a company over the internet instead of on the computer (or smartphone or tablet) in front of you (known as your local machine).

Which company or website is best for me?

How about all of them! It doesn’t hurt to have multiple copies and for some people it helps to keep different kinds of documents (photos, music, etc.) on different accounts.

Google Drive – gives you 15GB but Google docs, sheets, maps, etc don’t count toward that total

Flickr – 1TB of pictures

Dropbox – depends but you can get up to 16GB free

SkyDrive – depends but generally 7-25GB, if you have Office 365 those items don’t count toward your total

Amazon Cloud Drive – depends 5GB but Prime members get unlimited photo uploading

Spider Oak – this only gives you 2GB but it has the best security / encryption (for sensitive or highly valuable / personal data)

Box – 10GB but limits each file size to 250MB

Almost all of these allow you to share your files with family, friends, coworkers, etc. It also helps you access files wherever you are.

To learn how to use Dropbox, Google Drive, and Sky Drive there are some great instructional videos by Jessica Riggins of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium:  http://tblc.org/events/tech-grind-fueling-your-inner-geek-cloudcomputingandstorage

To learn more about maximizing your free cloud storage: www.lifehacker.com/how-to-maximize-your-free-storage-space-on-every-cloud-1690775421

Organize Your Life with Apps

Evernote (Free) iOS, Android, Web - Evernote is one of those apps that is hard to describe because it can do so much. It will take a while to truly appreciate all that Evernote can do. At its heart the app is a basic word processing app that you can use to take notes or create documents. Beyond that you are not limited to text, you can also save pictures and music as notes. It syncs your notes across all devices and can be accessed via the web or mobile app. Evernote's Pennultimate app is an iPad (or iPhone 6) app that allows you to sketch or take hand written notes and by pairing it with your Evernote account it automatically saves and syncs as a note in your Evernote account. Evernote Food allows you to find recipes and automatically save them in your Evernote account. The Evernote Scannable app allows you to take a picture and make it a scanned copy, which means the text can be searched within the Evernote app. Scanned items can be saved as notes in your Evernote account or sent to others. Last but not least, Evernote makes a Chrome extension called Evernote Web Clipper. It allows you to save web pages as an image or select text that you can import to read, edit, and use as you wish.

Sunrise (Free) iOS only - There are a lot of great calendar apps for iPhone but Sunset seems do to what matters best. It syncs calendars from Google, iCal, Facebook, and Outlook. If you use the Reminders app or set a reminder using Siri it will be added as a calendar item in the  app. Users can include people in the calendar item so that they get an invite to add it to their calendar. Through the use of the "Place" feature get directions through Google Maps. The app has a widget on iOS 8 that allows you to see scheduled items for the day at a glance. The reminder feature can be customized to remind users from 2 days before to 15 minutes before. The color coded calendar items alert users to what calendar the item comes from. The clean platform and easy to use interface make this a great calendar app.

Jorte (Free) Android and web - This app considers it self more of a personal planner than a calendar app, but that's where its strength lies nonetheless. Extremely customizable calendars, users can color code their events, change background and fonts, and start their week on the day of their choosing. Event calendars include lunar, professional sports, weather forecast, news, and food recipes. Jorte will give you countdown clocks for events. Sync Yahoo!, Facebook, Google, Outlook, and many other calendars using Jorte Sync app. Jorte Cloud website allows for multi-device synchronization and cloud backup. The widget gives today's events at a glance. Users can import or export calendar contents using a CSV file. In addition to the calendar there is a diary that allows you to include photos and a to do list manager. There are in app purchases for special backgrounds and some advanced features.

IF (Free) iOS, Android, and web - One of the basic concepts in programming is that you create a condition if this happens then this happens. IFTTT means "if this then that" they shortened the phrase to an acronymn and then to just IF. Users can create "recipes" that allow for automated processes to occur such as if I post a photo on Instagram THEN share it on my Twitter account (or save to my Dropbox or Google Drive). If I favorite a tweet THEN copy it to my Evernote notebook of "Sweet Tweets". Users can automate Fitbit info into a Google Spreadsheet. There are hundreds if not thousands of possible recipes and the website now has categories of recipes to suggest for users recipes for: school,parents, photographers, social media users, news followers, road trips, and so many more. Take a look and you might be surprised at a recipe that can help make your life easier, keep track of something, or help you communicate better.

Any.do (Free) iOS, Android, Chrome, and web - Any.do is one of the most popular organizational apps available, users create projects / to-do lists that they can create tasks and subtasks that can be crossed off and have the ability to collaborate with others. The app allows for notification, automated messages, commenting, pictures, file attachments, recurring tasks, reminders, and subtasks, On top of all that it has a  planner. You get five lists / projects, limited file sizes, and limited collaboration unless you pay either $2.99/mo. per month or $2.50/mo. for a year commitment. With that premium payment you get several additional perks: color themes, support, and custom tasks. The app has a clean minimalist display, has some fun gestures, and a how-to walk through when you first use it.

Dropbox (Free) iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows, web. There a lot of cloud storage options available but Dropbox has its charms. Users can share folders with others which is great for collaboration or sharing resources with out the hassle of setting up a server and a network. Files are available on almost any device imaginable and there are numerous apps that integrate with Dropbox as the primary option of cloud storage. In many cases you can automatically backup files to Dropbox. There have been concerns about security but Dropbox states that no users' information has been accessed. By inviting others, sharing your experience, and other tasks Dropbox will increase your storage capacity.

LastPass (Free or $12/yr) iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, and most web browsers. Creating secure passwords can be tough and then remembering them, changing them when there is a security breach, and all the related hassles. LastPass will remember your passwords for you and it will generate secure passwords. It will alert you if you are using duplicate passwords and give you an assessment of your password security vulnerability. Users can create form fill profiles that will fill out online forms when you prompt LastPass to fill them in. With secondary verification and sesame encryption if you desire it is extremely secure. LastPass for your web browser is free but to access it on your mobile device and use some of the advanced features require the $12 yearly fee.

Pocket (Free) iOS, Android, Amazon, Kobo, Blackberry, Chrome, Windows web. When you want to save a recipe, article, tweet, picture, or anything else you see online or in one of the 800 apps Pocket integrates with you can save it for offline (or online) reading across multiple devices. A premium account $4.99/ mo. or $44.99/yr. saves your items forever no storage maximum and even if it disappears from the web you have it, custom tags that can be selected with a tap, and a powerful search for all that stuff you're saving forever.

Best Pet Apps

Watch My Puppy Grow Free. Android. Create a video of your puppy, captured in daily or weekly pictures used to make a fun video that morphs your puppy from her first day to full growth. You can also make it into a slide show. The image is taken and stored, and a transparent overlay is created for the next image that is added so that each image is in the same position as the one before it, highlighting the changes as they take place. A very cool way to capture the memories.

Guide to Dog Breeds .99 iOS only An educational tool that will allow you to learn about most if not all dog breeds (over 400). You can search by name of breed or by origin country. Beautiful pictures of each breed and an impressive array of information. Users can make notes, bookmark favorites, and submit pictures of their dog for consideration in future versions of the app.

Petsie Free. Android only. A fun pet breed information app that has features such as "which is cuter", pet breed quizzes, and social feature that allows owners to create a profile for their dog. With over 110,000 pet profiles and 1.5 million pet photos it is a large online community for dogs (or dog owners). Learn about breeds, figure out what mix your dog might be, and much more.

Petoxins 2.99 iOS only This app created by the ASPCA helps owners keep cats, dogs, and horses from ingesting plants and vegetation that may be hazardous to the pet's health. Pictures of vegetation, its effects on pets, and what to do if ingested are listed. There is a link to call the ASPCA Poison Control if you are concerned your pet may have ingested something harmful. The app will help you choose houseplants that are not dangerous and be mindful of environmental hazards to your pet in your area. Thirty-five percent of the app's purchase price helps fund the ASPCA.

Pet First Aid by American Red Cross .99 iOS and Android This app really covers a lot of ground. It teaches owners how to respond to 25 different situations instructing through illustrations and videos. Early warning information helps you respond quickly to possible medical situations. It can keep track of veterinarian information,medications, and visits. You can contact emergency services or the pet's vet through the app. There is a finder feature to locate pet-friendly hotels while traveling. Contains both cat and dog content. Interactive quizzes help you learn and earn badges.

MapMyDogWalk Free. iOS, Android, and Web. Similar to other fitness apps it tracks your dog walk with GPS and keeps track of calories burned. Users can take pictures of your dog and include it in the record; share walks with friends via e-mail or Twitter. The app syncs across multiple platforms so users can access their data on smartphones, tablets, or online. The app also allows users to control their music, connect to heart monitors, and track their nutrition. Easy to use interface make this an easy to use app.

 Doggy Datez Free. iOS and Android. A social platform for dog owners. The main function is to "mark your territory" by geo-tagging a location users take ownership of an area (200m radius) in the physical world to see who else "visits" your spot, just like dogs do. User profiles are searchable to other members by gender, age, dog gender, dog age, and/or breed. 

Tagg Free app. (GPS tracker $99) iOS and Android. The app allows owners to track pets, monitor their activity, gives map / direction to get to your pet, and alerts you if they go beyond certain preset boundaries. The Tagg is durable, rechargeable, and waterproof.

Bring Fido Free. iOS only and web. Easily find dog friendly hotels, parks, beaches, and restaurants. Allows users to filter hotels for pet size, breed polices, or some that do not have a pet fee. Users can book rooms through the app and find nearby attractions for both owner and pet. Nice, friendly design and an easy to use interface.

Dog Park Finder Plus $1.99 iOS only. With over 6,000 parks / beaches and 12,000 dog-friendly restaurants Skejo Studios is working to provide an comprehensive app for owners to easily find a place to take your pooch. Features include maps to the park and of the park, easy search capabilities, email to friends, detail facilities information for each loaction, website for parks / restaurants, and the ability for users to write reviews and post pictures of locations.

Dog Clicker Training Free. iOS and Android. OK so this really is two different apps that have the same name. What I mean is that the version for iOS has a different developer than the Android so each has a different display and features. They both are highly rated with the basic clicker that professionals use in dog training. The iOS app has some pointers and good information for helping train a dog. The Android app has a dog whistle and some additional information for using the clicker or whistle for training. The iOS app has a beautiful interface while the Android looks a little busy and cluttered, but they are both free.

P5 Dog Training app by Purina Free. iOS and Android. I looked through several dog training apps and each had a host of issues. This app came out on top for comprehensive training, lack of in-purchase requirements, interface, lack of bugs, etc. It has an easy-to-use interface and a beautiful platform. It syncs with MapMyDogWalk and tracks your dogs activity, nutrition, and progress.

POOPEE PUPPY Free. iOS only. Very cute app helps track your dog's... well, business. The app alerts you when it might be you puppy's time to go. It also allows you to keep a log of meals, pet problems such as vomit, and vet visits. By keeping tack of accidents the apps help you see progress and praise your puppy as it progresses toward being house broken

A few less essential but cute pet apps:

iSqueek $1.99 iOS only. 16 virtual squeak toys that work just like the real thing beware your pet may want to bite and chew your device.

Pet Acoustics $1.99 iOS only. Cats, dogs, and horses have better hearing than humans so an acoustics company has created an app with music and sounds that is made for their hearing in mind. Highly rated by users it helps pet deal with periods or incidents that make them anxious by helping them relax.

Game for Dogs Free. iOS only. Cats or dogs will be attracted to the screen by the sounds and animated dog, squirrel, or cats racing across the screen. Be careful though one owner commented that their 90 pound golden retriever destroyed the iPad it was on. Some parts of the app require in-app purchasing.

Exercise instruction and tracking: more apps that help you lose weight (or just be healthier)

These apps are intended to help you get more out of your workouts, help you do quick but effective exercising,and track your exercise.

JeFit (Free. iOS and Android) While there are many apps that focus on cycling or running this app focuses on weight lifting. It will give you all kinds of plans for killer abs, bulking up, wider back, and much more. You can specifically chose a body part and it will give you weight lifting exercises to do with a timer and rest periods. It tracks your progress and you can take a picture to do side-by-side comparisons. There are 1300 exercises with small how-to graphics. There is a community of users that can answer questions, inspire, and motivate. You can create custom exercises and log your workouts. The step-by-step directions when you first start to use the app are helpful. There are ads at the bottom of the screen but they are not obtrusive. The user interface is typical and the layout average.

7M Workout by Johnson & Johnson (Free. iOS and Android) This app has a clean modern platform with an easy to use interface. The functions are intuitive and the options and features are given small how to instructions for the user. The app connects to the Apple Health app for iOS users, recording exercises and importing your personal details so that you do not have to enter information like age, height, sex, and weight. Each workout announces the exercise and shows you how to do it. Smart workout asks questions to create the best workout to meet your needs. You can view the videos to learn exercises at anytime. There are 23 workout plans to choose from, the smart workout feature, or you can create your own custom workout. You can learn set workout reminders, adjust audio prompts, and allow it to post to Twitter. All of the exercises are body weight exercises.

Nike Training Club (Free. IOS and Android) Much like the 7 Minute workout app this exercise app focuses on Pilates / body weight exercises but also includes weight lifting. The user can choose what their goal is: get lean, toning, strength, or specific parts of the body. The app has a beautiful user interface that is very intuitive. There are no ads and no premium in-app purchases. You can add friends, create your own exercises, and track progress. It syncs data from Nike's running app. With countless exercises for users of all levels and motivations this app is useful for a wide audience.