Photo Apps

Camera / Photo Editing
 
VSCOcam (Free. iOS and Android) This camera, photo editing, and photo sharing app packs a lot of features into a very easy to use user interface. The camera gives you a lot of control with  manual focus, shutter speed, white balance, and exposure settings. The photo editing gives all of the basic editing tools and an extensive filter library that includes many that are premium features that range in price. The user has control over the degree to which the filter is applied. Once users are finished with editing photos they can be saved and shared via social media of choice including VSCO's own photo sharing site.

Snapseed (Free. iOS, Android) Considered one of the essential  photo editing app Google's Snapseed gives users almost every tool they could want (it lacks curve editing controls). Some of the tools that are on Snapseed but lacking in other apps include: brushes, spot repair, and focal point editing (selective). Filters have multiple controls so that users have a high degree of control. The user interface utilizes gesture controls which is handy as it keeps the screen from being cluttered but it less intuitive.

I found a helpful website that will teach you how to get the most out of Snapseed: http://iphonephotographyschool.com/snapseed-tutorial/

Faded (Free. iOS only) One of the newer photo apps allows users to take take and edit photos. It has 34 included filters and 36 premium filters each giving users control over how much the filter is applied. I found that switching between filters gave me a blank screen but if you move the slider at the bottom the photo will appear. Two of the unique features available with Faded is the availability of 18 frames users can apply and the ability to overlap two photos. All of the premium filters and effects can be unlocked for $4.99.

Although it has a very user friendly interface the website gives some basic instruction and shows some photos to inspire users: http://madewithfaded.com/

Darkroom (Free. iOS only) A photo editing app that has straight forward easy to use tools and twelve filters. Unfortunately it does not give control of applying those filters but switches over to traditional photo editing tools so users can make manual corrections. There are a myriad of aspect controls including the 1:1 square that makes using in Instagram easier. Curves control is 2.99 extra. Made to be quick and easy it doesn't have all the tools of some other apps but is what most people want.

Photo Storage

One Drive (Free. iOS, Android, Windows) 8GB of free space if you enable automatic backup, more space if you get referrals, and Microsoft Office documents don't count toward your storage total.

Flickr (Free. iOS and Android) The app has camera and editing features that are good not great; where it shines is the 1TB (1000 GB) of free storage space. Users can also share their photos with other Flickr users or use a website plugin to share their photos easily on a personal website.

Photo Sharing

Instagram (Free. iOS, Android, Windows) A photo sharing social media platform that allows users to add filters, tag photos, add hashtags, like, comment, and follow contributors.

Storehouse (Free. iOS only) Users can group photos together and add comments to create a narrative that tells a story then share it with others.

500px (Free. iOS, Android, and Windows) A photo sharing platform for hobbyist and professionals that want to show off their best work, get inspired, and maybe get critiqued. Photos can be seen in all their glory because it allows for larger file sizes.

There were two apps that I actually did not get a chance to look at personally because they cost money but they look amazing.

Pro Camera ($5. iOS only) Giving you all the controls of a nice digital camera:  http://www.procamera-app.com/en/

Enlight ($3.99 iOS only) Here is a very thorough review that makes it look amazing.

http://iphonephotographyschool.com/enlight-app-overview/

Government Apps

NASA (Free. iOS and Android) Beautiful pictures of space and full of facts this app would be a great tool for children and teens doing a report or for adults looking to stay current on NASA news.

Ask Karen (Free. iOS, Android, and web) Created by the Department of Agriculture this app allows users to ask questions such as: “How long can food last in a power failure,” or  “How can I tell if a restaurant has adequately cooked my fish?” or even “How can you tell which cantaloupes are fresh in the store?” and the app will return helpful information. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a food safety expert is on hand to answer any questions you might have about food and food safety. Since many people die from food poisoning it can literally save a life.

http://askkaren.custhelp.com/

National Cancer Institute (Free. iOS, Android, Blackberry, and web)The app has a detailed dictionary of cancer terms, topics and up-to-date research. It gives users helpful advice about what to ask their doctor in the event of a cancer diagnosis, and can suggest new treatment plans that your general practitioner may not know of yet.

http://m.cancer.gov/

iUSAJobs (iOS) USAJOBS(Android) This free app created by the Office of Personnel Management lists the open positions with in all branches of the Federal Government. The app requires users to register on the  website first and then login to the app. The app will save job searches, send customized notifications, and keep track of applications users have started or finished.

http://www.usajobs.gov

My TSA (Free. iOS, Android, and web) Can I bring ____? Allows users to ask if a specific item is allowed through security. The complete guide is available along with videos, TSA PreCheck information, airport status, estimated wait time, and feedback. Easy-to-use with useful information and an intuitive user interface, a very nice looking and well functioning app.

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/

WISER Wireless Information For Emergency Responders (Free. iOS, Android, and Blackberry) WISER is really designed for hazmat teams and other first responders who would most likely be trained before using it. A searchable application with information it explains how to handle hazardous material. For example users could look up how to safely handle and dispose of radioactive Cesium. It can also be used to find what symptoms to look for when determining whether people have been exposed to a certain toxin. There is access to the Hazardous Substances Databank maintained by the National Library of Medicine. A lot of information that can be found, it asks what type of user is accessing the app so that it can tailor the user interface to be of best use. It has a section to help plan for different emergency situations.

FBI's Most Wanted (Free. iOS only)  Lets users see the 10 most wanted fugitives in the country, get information about missing children, see alerts by state and even submit tips to the FBI.

Alternative Fueling Station Locator (Free. iOS only) Created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the app is designed to help the public find fueling stations that offer electricity, natural gas, biodiesel, E85, propane, or hydrogen. Using information from the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, which houses a database of the locations of more than 15,000 alternative fueling stations throughout the US.

Ladder Safety (Free. iOS and Android) Created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the app aim to keep extension-ladder users safe. The app has a great interactive feature that uses visual and audio signals to assist users in positioning an extension ladder at a safe angle. The app also gives users graphic-oriented interactive reference materials, safety guidelines, and an extension ladder checklist which includes topics such as: selection, inspection, and accessorizing.

IDEAL Currency Identifier (Free. Android only) This Department of Education  app is designed for people with vision problems. The app uses advanced image recognition technology to read a bill and provide an audible response indicating the bill's denomination. Users must enable text-to-speech, after the start-up banner load the user must dismiss it, on first use allow 30-45 seconds to load and update, and it can have problems with mangled bills. It can identify Identify the following notes:  $1 (1963 - present); $2 notes (1976 - present); $5 notes (1993 - present); and, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes (1990 - present). Just position the bill under the phone's camera, does not need an Internet connection.

FCC Speed Test (Free. iOS and Android) The app allows users to accurately see the performance of their broadband connection. It provides an in-depth view of all performance factors, including download and upload speeds, latency, and packet loss. Speed Test runs periodically in the background and automatically performs tests when the smartphone is not in use (users can limit how much data it uses a month in its testing). The FCC has stated that the gathered data is anonymous and is used to build a map of mobile broadband performance across the country.

Recalls.gov (Free. Android only)  Users can see all the recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture. Users can access drop down menus to navigate to a product category or search by keywords. There are pictures of the recalled products and instructions for what to do or who to contact. Consumers can make a safety complaint with the "Report Incident" feature.

I chose to focus on apps that were "native" meaning that the information is accessed through a program "application" downloaded to a mobile device. I also decided to focus on apps that were interesting or useful to most people. There is a list of all the apps created by different federal government agencies, both mobile web and native, are available at: 

http://www.usa.gov/mobileapps.shtml

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.