Daily App Digest – October 5, 2011

iThinkerToolbox has announced that its first application, iThinkerBoard, is now available exclusively for iPad. iThinkerBoard provides a unique way to organize and visualize your ideas. It can be used as a life planner, project management tool, or task organizer. The possible applications are only limited by one’s creative power.

iThinkerBoard is a corkboard-like application specially designed for iPad. Besides text, a user can import images from the Photo Library or through the embedded web browser. One of the noteworthy features is that it provides an overview of the main topic with sub-themes arranged around it. 


$0.99/£0.69/Download

Kdan Mobile has released PDF Reader – (File Scanner, File Viewer, File Storage) 3.8, a major update to its powerful mobile reading application on iPhone and iPod touch. Top-ranked in the Utility category of App Stores throughout the world, the app has already proven itself to be the ultimate mobile reading solution for iOS devices. To further enhance users’ mobile reading experience, PDF Reader 3.8 is now equipped with a brand new user interface and optimized annotation tools. The new version also comes with features of PDF form filling, air play, support to RAR, ePub, CBR, CBZ files, and additional cloud storage options such as FTP download and GoogleDocs online editing.


The biggest strengths of PDF Reader, as pointed out by various reviewers and users, are fast file rendering speed and easy navigation interface. Both strengths enable users to scroll through pages effortlessly when viewing all major types of files. Furthermore, PDF Reader offers a way to transfer files easily and a handy built-in scanner, improving work efficiency of users from all walks of life. For students, PDF Reader makes it less of a hassle to take notes and work on team assignments. For sales or contractors, PDF Reader supports PDF signature and form filling that give users greater convenience.


$2.99/£1.99/Download

Magzter (for iPhone and iPad) has been updated to version 1.1 with ezRead, a feature that ensures a richer reading experience. Magzter is a digital newsstand that allows users to enjoy their favorite magazines across devices like iPhone, iPad, Android and also on the web. This game changer was launched a couple of months back and has been enjoying good reception from both readers and publishers.



Within two months of its launch, Magzter has captured the Indian market to become the largest digital newsstand in India. Now it includes magazines from the US, Europe & Asia. This newsstand is a boon to readers as it lets them easily buy new magazines, subscribe to them and view multimedia links and video content that may not be available on the print versions. This app is loaded with attractive features like keyword searching, free magazine preview, one click purchase and Facebook connect.


Free/Download

Kaiser & Kaiser has announced speedClock 3.1 for iPhone and iPad a significant update to their unique utility that uses the device’s built-in video camera to automatically measure the speed of any object, and the distance to any point. Speed is measured using the motion sensing of the video camera, timing the interval between the object entering and leaving the frame. The updated version also features a new video based speed tool that is ideal for catching small fast objects like balls. Because it relies for its operation on a built-in video camera, the app is presently compatible with iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, iPod touch 4 and iPad 2. The full support for iPad 2 is new in 3.1.



speedClock makes it easy to measure the speed of cars, boats, skaters, skiers, cyclists, running dogs, models, tennis serves, baseball pitches, football free-kicks, etc. The user simply holds up their iPhone, and allows the app to automatically measure the speed of any object passing through the frame of the viewing screen. The distance to the object can be entered before, or after, the measurement. Alternatively the distance can be taken from object itself.

$1.99/£1.49/Download

Alundus, LLC has announced another app release, "Social Map" app for the iPhone and iPad devices.
 Simply and effortlessly, log into your Facebook account and this app starts automatically plotting all your friends profile or check-in locations on a build in Google map. 

It is amazing, fun, interesting, and totally cool to see where all your friends are scattered around the world. 

Better yet, we have added over 1500 of the funniest status updates for your viewing or posting pleasure. 



$0.99/£0.69/Download

The wait for approval from Apple is over. Techno Gurus has released version 2.1 of their popular iBrr Bluetooth Receiver and Remote app – now available on the iTunes app store. iBrr v2.0 was released at the end of August. This update adds a few new features and fixes several critical bugs. iBrr is the *only* app that lets you choose a custom color for your music player. Plus, run iBrr on another iOS device and you have wireless control of iBrr on the first device. You can even connect over bluetooth if WiFi is not available.



In addition to the original core functionality of device to device music control, they’ve added a Swipe Mode so you don’t have to look at the screen to pause, adjust volume or skip a track – great for the car, jogging or video gaming. You can Skin the controls to ANY color you choose, and everything is BIG: a huge LCD-style clock, real-time weather display, giant buttons for Play, Pause, etc., and a much larger text display than you’re used to for Song and Artist Information. No need to squint, and no frustrations of missing tiny little buttons with those big fingers of yours! All of these features make it a great replacement for the built-in Music player app, even if you don’t need to control another device.


$4.99/£2.99/Download

Featuring drinks from the labs of Pocket Cocktails, 500 Cocktails for Pad showcases a wide range of cocktails from Martinis, Classics & Shooters to New Pop Culture Favorites, and over 100 Wines from around the world. Each Cocktail & Wine is accompanied by a large color photo.



The app was produced by Dee Jones, a cocktail connoisseur & app girl. Jones, a former ad-sales executive and nightclub manager now produces an eclectic assortment of titles including apps for Cookbooks, Dog Training, Algebra, Yoga, Weight Training and Knitting.

Dee has produced over 10 Cocktail apps including niche apps for Martinis & St. Patrick’s Day, even a poker themed cocktail app, "BlackJack Cocktails" with Texas Hold-Em Tips & Tricks, but this app is the most comprehensive free offering she has ever put together.



Jones is currently working on a Halloween update for her flagship Cocktails HD app, working with her mixology team and photographers to add spooktacular drinks in time for the upcoming season. "Its hard work, but at the end of the day we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor", according to Dee.


Free/Download

Announcing that Pixel Hauz, the developers of Learn ABC; It’s Munch Time, has launched an exciting new kids product for iPad users. This is a new application that makes it fun for toddlers and youngsters to learn their alphabet. Learn ABC: It’s Munch Time uses charming food characters, lively music and interactive activities designed to engage little ones and facilitate letter learning. Children trace letters, sing along to the ABC song, enjoy all of the special sound effects, and learn phonics sounds for a solid foundation for future reading skills.



Learn ABC; It’s Munch Time is a newly launched application that makes it fun and easy for toddlers and young learners to become very familiar with the alphabet.



The application uses adorably charming and interactive food and fruit characters to entice children to the alphabet learning experience. Kids can tap on the characters to animate them, immediately engaging little ones and holding their interest throughout the ABC learning experience.


$0.99/£0.69/Download

Breek has announced the release and immediate availability of My Memory HD 1.4, the new version of their card matching game developed for Apple’s devices (iPad, iPhone, Mac OS X). With it, you and your family will learn about barnyard, zoo and sea animals while having fun and developing your memory skills.



This version includes, free of charge, 42 new cards and 36 new sounds of zoo and sea animals in addition of the first 21 cards and sounds of the farm animals.



Features

* 1, 2, 3 or 4 players

* 20, 30 or 42 cards

* 63 high-quality drawings (42 new cards!)

* 58 animal sounds (36 new sounds!)

* 4 languages (English, French, German, Portuguese)

* Interface optimized for iPad

* iPhone and Mac OS X versions available

* Over 80 additional free cards in development

$2.99/£1.99/Download

Pyxwise Software Inc. has announced the release and immediate availability of Simplex Spelling Lite, a free version of their critically acclaimed spelling application.



Simplex Spelling uses a powerful and unique "reverse phonics" approach to spelling designed by Dr. Lisa Welburn Ph.D. This reverse phonics approach has been combined with contextually relevant spelling rules to help students learn "How to Spell" English words. The hint feature within Simplex Spelling works as a personal spelling coach on every word. Students can easily review their "Missed Words", and parents can quickly monitor their child’s progress to see which words they have been struggling with.


Free/Download

INTERSOG Mobile, a leading developer of mobile applications, has announced the release of Taptodo; Google Tasks(TM) client and personal organizer for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Taptodo is a useful personal organization tool that puts users in contact with their Google Tasks on the go, creating, coordinating, and controlling them easily and effectively. Simply put, the app gives anyone the power to organize and execute their daily Google Tasks regardless of where they are, right through their iPhone. Taptodo is currently available for download on the Apple App Store for free in the Productivity category.



This app was developed with a single overriding goal in mind: to provide users with the quickest and most straightforward platform to manage their Google Tasks through their iOS devices. Using a utilitarian spreadsheet layout Taptodo achieves exactly this, seamlessly integrating the user’s normal Google Tasks set up and allowing them to freely upload and download content from their Google Tasks anywhere and at any time.

Free/Download

Announcing that Morning Dew Apps, the developers of iCar Comfort, has released a revolutionary product for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. iCar Comfort is not only a new launch, it is also a unique product. This is the only application on the market capable of measuring a vehicle’s ride comfort level. Users can very easily get a comfort reading for any vehicle, including public transportation, with results displaying in graph and report form. As a special bonus, users are able to start, rev and stop a sports car from the app’s main menu.



Morning Dew Apps has proudly unveiled their newest product in the App Store. iCar Comfort is a unique application and the only one of its kind on the market.



iCar Comfort is an ride comfort measuring tool. It consists of specially formulated and calibrated algorithms that measure vehicle vibration using an accelerometer sensor. The user simply places their iDevice on a level surface inside a vehicle and drive, letting the app do the rest. Ride results are presented in both graph and report forms.

$0.99/£0.69/Download

Spiderweb Software, Inc. announced the release of a new update for Avadon: The Black Fortress HD, their Indie fantasy role-playing epic for the iPad. Avadon spent over a week as the #1 selling role-playing game, and the new version of Avadon HD is reworked to be ready for iCloud, Apple’s amazing, upcoming new backup system. Soon, your saved games will be stored online, ensuring that a lost device will never cause you to lose your progress and amazing magic items!



Avadon: The Black Fortress HD is an epic fantasy role-playing adventure in an enormous and unique setting. You can choose from four different character classes, each with dozens of unique spells and abilities. Explore cunning dungeons, hunt for hundreds of magical artifacts, and travel through an enormous world, full of secrets. Avadon features many different endings. Your choices will change the world, and there is plenty of replay value.



You are an agent of Avadon. The Black Fortress. Outside your lands, there are limitless threats. Barbarians. Fading, jealous empires. Titans and unspeakable horrors. The warriors and spies of Avadon are sent to keep them weak and divided. Your resources are unlimited, and your word is law.


$9.99/£5.99/Download

Created by Apostek Software, Spin2Win provides budding high-rollers a fun and modern Wheel of Fortune experience in a free iPhone app! It’s perfect for anybody who fancies themselves as a double-O agent (and who doesn’t?) but is less keen on losing the shirt from their back at a real casino. Spin2Win features a prize wheel offering 15 different virtual payouts, a fully stocked bar and many modern surprises and twists.



If you love spinning the Big Six or playing Roulette, why not challenge yourself to reach the top ‘Rich List’ honours on a new type of wheel in an online casino with gorgeous graphics optimised for retina display, refreshing downloadable content and endless game play?



When you’re not building your bankroll and competing with friends in the Game Center, you can relax in the players’ bar, but watch what you drink as it will have an impact on your play. Exciting twists on this traditional game include Weath Tax, Bet Multiples and the Joker, landing on the latter throws up a surprise that will leave you stirred but hopefully not too badly shaken.

Free/Download

Rogan Ventures, LLC has announced the release of Football Stats Engine ’11 for iPad, a first of it’s kind sports stats analytics app that helps users visualize current NFL player statistics through graphs, charts, and other data visualization tools. Football Stats Engine ’11 lets users view player production, determine weekly fantasy football decisions, compare game performances, and analyze advanced NFL statistics for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.



Football Stats Engine ’11 goes beyond the traditional box score to let users analyze statistical trends and compare a player’s game-by-game performances. It runs on PowerSpots technology, a new proprietary way to rank statistics, identify league leaders, see how each statistic compares to the rest, and visualize detailed player production.


$4.99/£2.99/Download

Vlad Polyanskiy proudly announces the release of iShutdown 2.0 – new version of iOS utility to shut down, turn on or restart your MAC or PC remotely. New great user-friendly interface and additional functions.



iShutdown 2.0 works both with Wi-Fi and 3G, it will scan your local network automatically and will find the reachable hosts. Now you can turn off your PC without leaving your comfortable armchair or warm bed. iShutdown will make it for you. Easily. Quickly. Conveniently.



New in 2.0 version:

* Wonderful, beautiful, user-friendly and intuitive new interface.

* German and French versions.

* Enhanced indication of active/inactive hosts.

* Easy and flexible settings management.

$1.99/£1.49/Download

Viaden Mobile, one of the leading fitness app producers on the App Store, has released Cyclist PRO GPS , the app for iPhone/iPod that combines the ultimate bike computer with pedometer, pulse tracker and calorie counter.



Cyclist PRO GPS+ has been designed primarily for enthusiastic bike riders who want to stay on top of their ride at any time. Its dashboard mode displays the most important ride parameters such as speed, cadence, distance, time, inclination and many other. But irrespective of its name, Cyclist PRO GPS+ is good not only for bicycle riding, but also for walking, running, nordic walking, roller skating, ice skating, snowshoeing, skateboarding and more.



What makes Cyclist PRO GPS+ stand out from the crowd is that it can serve as a workout buddy or even a coach thanks to the high-quality pre-recorded announcements of distance, speed, time, elevation and about a dozen more parameters. This makes progress tracking easy and does not distract the rider.



Thanks to the use of the GPS technology, users can track their route on the map within the app. The map mode includes special advanced map markers for distance, speed, pace, elevation and heart rate. The current path is shown together with the predefined route for progress tracking and navigation. This mode also allows the users to create new routes straight on the map.
$0.99/£0.69/Download

Are you curious about the Unknown? Have you ever had an experience you just can’t explain? Now you can View, Share, and Discuss REAL Paranormal Stories, Pictures, Videos, and Sounds with True Tales Of The Paranormal for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. 



The app currently boasts over 100 real stories and pictures about Ghosts, UFOs, and the Simply Unexplainable. Stories and pictures are from everyday people who have had extraordinary experiences and there are also stories and pictures from actual Paranormal Investigators and Owners of Haunted Hotels. Almost everyday new content is added.



Plus, after checking out the content, join the discussion and interact with others who are also interested in the strange and unknown.

Have you ever had a strange experience that you’ve always wanted to share, but never did. True Tales Of The Paranormal for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is the perfect environment, it’s safe and anonymous.



$0.99/£0.69/Download

PS Ventures Limited today announced that their new app, Walking GPS for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is now available as a free download from Apple’s App Store.



Walking GPS is a great new tool that allows walkers to see where they are, where they’ve been, how far they’ve travelled and how long it’s taken plus a range of other useful data, all in one free app.



Users can see their current latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, course, bearing and location accuracy all on one handy screen along with distance and time walked with an average speed and pace. The built in map also plots a line to show the user where they have walked.



Distance fields can be viewed in miles, kilometres, metres and feet. Speed fields can be viewed in miles per hour, kilometres per hour, metres per second and feet per second.


Free/Download

Pirate Monkey Studios lets you make tracks, share tracks and get rewarded with the latest release of Speedy Biker Extreme, the physics-based 2D motocross game. Available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, you can challenge the computer or your friends to race over bone-jarring jumps, dizzying whoop-de-doos, ramps, mud and obstacles galore. This latest release is also fully-integrated with Kiip Rewards, so gamers can now earn real rewards from awesome brands like popchips(TM), Sephora(R), Vitamin Water(R), Best Buy(R) and many more just for playing! 


Free/Download

Super Bit Dash is fast, fun, intuitive and addictive. Its two difficulty settings make sure even casual players can swipe away from start to finish before tackling the more challenging game modes.



One of it’s main features are the randomly assembled levels. Every time you play the game it stitches small rooms/levels together, combining the pleasure of carefully conceived level design with the surprise of randomly generated content. 



$0.99/Download

PS Ventures Limited today announced that their new iPad app, Bash the Frog, is now available to download from Apple’s app store. Bash The Frog is an innovative new iPad game that uses an iPhone or iPod touch as a wireless motion detection controller.



The game is simple but addictive. Players have one minute to bash as many frogs as they can. A crosshair is controlled by moving an iPhone or iPod touch left, right, up or down with the player tapping the ‘Bash’ button on their controller to hit the frog.



PS Ventures Limited director Philip Simpson commented "We’re very excited to be bringing a motion controller style game to the iPad. This style of gameplay has been made very popular in recent years by the big games console manufacturers and we’re very proud that we have been able to bring this to iPad owners."

$0.99/£0.69/Download

– "ElectroUnion Ltd" is pleased to introduce the TravelRussia App – the POI finder application for english speakers, who plans to visit Russia. TravelRussia allows you to easily find out information about your surroundings in this big country.



How many times while travelling have you found yourself in need of finding the closest ATM, hotel, museum, restaurant, supermarket or petrol station?



TravelRussia identifies your position and allows you to choose the nearest Bank, Bar, Petrol Station, Hospital, Hotel, Cinema, Shop, Pharmacy or Post office, etc. The application will show you a complete list of all the objects in the category you have chosen, and count the distance from where you are.


$0.99/£0.69/Download

Kdan Mobile today is pleased to announce a significant update for both the iPhone and the iPad versions of its highly-rated creativity app, Animation Desk. The latest versions allow users to insert background music, sound effects, or narration to their animated works, which not only strengthens the effects of storytelling in the animations but also turns them into a visual and audio delight for the viewers. Other than audio support, Animation Desk provides new export features including file sharing via e-mail and exporting animation into a series of progressive images presented in PDF format.


The drawing interface provided by Animation Desk(TM) resembles the real working environment of a professional animator who completes each frame of an animation on a specially-designed desk, the Animation Desk. Despite its professional visual design, Animation Desk(TM) is easy and fun to work with. "Our goal is to ensure a pleasant drawing experience for both professionals and amateur animators," says Kenny Su, CEO of Kdan Mobile.



iPhone – $2.99/£1.99
iPad: $4.99/£2.99

Independent developer Bassem Youssef is pleased to announce Crazy Cups HD 1.0 for iPad. Crazy Cups doesn’t mean a real crazy cup but it rather makes you crazy when you play it. On a table there are some cups where a ball is hidden beneath one of them, then the cups will switch. Our goal is to confuse. Your goal is to concentrate. How long will you stay focused? Though after each switch the game will get harder and more challenging. Compete against a computer cup switcher and prove that you are smarter if you can. Think it’s easy? Think again in crazy cups it is not, it is truly challenging and awesome.

The fun doesn’t even stop here but you get the chance to be in the computer’s boot. You can play against your friends where you get to move the cups and they have to concentrate.


$1.99/£1.49/Download

While the Social Networking Leader Facebook is unveiling its new Timeline profile to organize the chronology of personal activity, Chroniclr is ready to invite mobile users to create a rich narrative of their entire life in images and conversations as well as share their experiences with the world.

Chroniclr is all about choice and diversity, privacy and personalization. It brings all the social, personal and professional obligations in a streamlined fashion under one Timeline where users will be able to switch between aspects of their life, easily slide through it and re-live the moments over and over. Focusing on the important events in people’s lives, Chroniclr enables them to see vital information about their past life, keep track of the achievements and include the people who influenced them at various stages.


Free/Download

Schools have been searching for new ways to improve student writing skills, and, with mobile technology and interactive software, students are now actively engaged in learning writing and critical thinking. Niles Technology Group’s line of essay writing apps are perfect examples of how schools are getting students to write more, to write better and to communicate with strong arguments. Designed for the iPad and iPhone, Niles apps are changing the way students’ write.



"The untold story about the recent reports of the lowest reading scores ever on the SAT is that the scores for the writing section are even lower. Students may be dropping in reading skills, but in writing, they are not even on map," explains Michael A. Niles, president of Niles Technology Group. "Schools are clearly tasked with a lot to do and have to take choices on what is possible. Writing, unfortunately, has taken a hit in terms of curriculum emphasis. Yet, writing is the one skill that colleges and employers mention as most lacking. Niles Technology apps, such as Middle School Writing 1.0 and Essay Workstation 2.0, take the pressure off of schools and teaches the appropriate writing genres, all at one affordable price."


$16.99/£9.99/Download