Radio apps

8Tracks Radio (Free. iOS, Android, Windows) Nice user interface with unique channel options that are generated by users. There are no audio ads, less repetition in songs, and there is a wider array of choices offered to listeners to broaden their music horizons. Listening online also allows for some added social features. A subscription of $25 for six months eliminates banner ads.

Pandora (Free. iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows) The biggest name in streaming radio it has thousands of channels based on artists and genres. Channels are based on genre or artist all using what they term the “music DNA project” they uses like and dislike buttons to help customize the music users hear to their individual tastes. The only talk channels are comedy. Allows users to create 100 channels and is available on virtually everything from car radios, set-top boxes, stereo equipment, dvd / bluray players, gaming consoles, and stand alone radios. Ads can be repetitive and play more often on popular music channels than say classical music. For $4.99 a month remove all ads, eliminate pauses, and get unlimited skips. The user interface is utilitarian and the graphics are good not great.

Songza (Free. iOS, Android, and Windows) Radio stations that are by genre, activity, decade, or mood based. No audio ads, nice user interface. The playlists do not give allow users to specify specific artists.

Rdio (Free. iOS, Android, and Windows) Boasting a library of more than 20 million tracks and unlimited streaming users can listen to stations by genre, decade, create a playlist, or choose a list created by a musical artist. They have $3.99 mo. and $9.99 mo. subscriptions that allow for downloading, searching for specific songs, and no advertising.

Google Play Music (Free. iOS and Android) Users can purchase music from Google or listen to streaming radio channels. Music purchases can be used to create personalized playlists. The app has a clean minimal interface that is easy to use.

Spotify (Free or $10 monthly. iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows) The desktop version of Spotify allows users to select almost any song by any artist but with the Spotify app users can only listen to streaming radio stations for free. By paying $10 a month users are ad-free, can listen to any individual songs they like, they can download music for offline listening, and they can access their playlist on any device. The user interface can take a little learning but that is because there are so many features. Spotify is also available on a wide variety of electronics, similar to Pandora. A recent article stated additional new features are coming: multiple running modes, adding video, and users will be able to select music played at their local Starbucks. http://techcrunch.com/2015/05/20/spotify-for-runners/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29#.gn3ejv:Zrwd

TuneIn (Free or $9.99 Pro. iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows, Nook) – Over 100,000 radio stations in 230 countries and 4 million podcasts. Users have a wide variety of choices including talk radio, college stations, police and fire station radio feeds. The Pro version eliminates banner ads and gives users the ability to record what they are listening to. The user interface is spare and not very appealing visually.

iHeartRadio (Free. iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, Amazon) This radio app has a large selection of the biggest and most well-known radio stations across the United States. Streaming channels based on genre, activity, and artists are available as well. It doesn’t have the selection of radio stations that is available on TuneIn but it is has a superior user interface: more color, better graphics, and bigger buttons.

Slacker Radio (Free. iOS, Android) 100’s of hand crafted stations that include genre and activity. Talk stations include: news, sports, weather from ABC, ESPN, American Public Media and The Weather Channel. The app has a gorgeous user interface, nice graphics, and shows how many songs you can skip. Utilizing both a human constructed playlist and algorithm that takes your preferences in mind it creates the best of both worlds. On the hand crafted stations there is a DJ that makes quick banter every couple of songs, I thought it would be annoying but was mostly enjoyable. For $3.99 a month you can have unlimited skipping, eliminate ads, and download songs for offline listening.

RadiON Free (Free. iOS and Android) The idea behind this app is classic radio in a modern app. The app provides FM and AM channels from around the world with a clean radio looking interface. Users can see what is playing on each channel in real-time; the "scrap" feature allows you to record Title/Singer/Radio Channel/Dates information for later use; an alarm feature allows users to wake up to the radio station of their choice (shake your device to turn it off).

Vocab Building Apps

Vocabulary Builder by Magoosh (Free. iOS and Android) A vocab building game with 1200 important words, it has three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Created by a GRE tutor with over 10 years experience it uses words in sentences and it designed to stick. Track your progress and practice online http://gre.magoosh.com/builder/vocabulary . Includes  free access to all of Magoosh’s general, GRE, SAT, and TOEFL vocab quizzes.

PowerVocab Word Game (Free [with in-app purchases] Android only) With 350 words and a flashcard teaching style this app helps users gain vocabulary skills for SAT, GRE, GMAT, and ASVAB tests.  Key features include learn words, challenge quiz, search words which is like a handy dictionary, and an audible pronunciation. Extremely bright colors and playful graphics keep the app fun and fresh.

Vocab Builder (Free. Android) Match the definition to the word to help build your vocabulary. Designed for users studying for SAT or GRE tests, it has a dictionary and tracks progress but seems to lack the colorful user interface or features of some other apps.

Vocab Genius by Brainscape (Free. iOS only) Created as a sort of gateway app to their other products that teach foreign languages and GRE vocabulary this app created by former executives of Kaplan and Princeton Review in conjunction with cognition scientists from Columbia and Yale uses a unique algorithm that creates a pattern of flashcards to help each individual learn new vocabulary quickly. Feedback, statistics, and visualization help users view their progress. The app will ask if you'd like study reminders which may be helpful. It uses Facebook profile information to send e-mails which may get annoying. I did not like it as much because you don't really answer questions, you say how well you know the word.

IntelliVocab (Free. iOS, Android, Windows) With 287 words the app uses a quiz style to teach users vocabulary. The user interface is simple and easy to use. Questions ask users the correct definition or which word correctly completes the sentence. Focusing on words that a user gets wrong it provides an order of questions that best help the user learn new or difficult vocabulary words. The app has an audio pronunciation available. There are over 4500 additional words that can be unlocked for a fee. 

SAT Vocab by MindSnacks (Free. iOS only) An app with a very cute graphics, it looks like it is designed for elementary school or middle school children. I found the colors and artwork engaging. The app has an easy to use interface that walks you through how to use it the first time you open it up. Users are required to set-up an account or connect via their Facebook account. The app uses a flash card style games to teach SAT vocabulary words. I found it a lot of fun and could see it helping all ages learn new vocabulary. Unfortunately, three games are free the other SAT games (they call them lessons) within the app cost $4.99. All lessons which include a variety of languages, math, and science 400 lessons cost $19.99.

There are also several apps that provide a "word of the day" or "word of the week" these include: Push Vocabulary Builder, Dictionary.com, and Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

This week I saw two interesting articles that were app related that I thought some of you might be interested in reading. The first has to do with apps designed to record police interactions and automatically or quickly send them to a third-party like YouTube or the ACLU: http://www.wired.com/2015/05/right-film-police-apps-can-help/. The other article is about apps that sell your items for you and they pay you a percentage "8 Apps for Cleaning Out Your Closet and Making Money" : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2483574,00.asp

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/