5apps
Latest
Five apps that'll help you bike like a Tour de France champion
The 101st edition of the Tour de France is coming to close with only two stages left until the 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi) race is completed. If all this world-class cycling has you pining to improve your own road time, then you should check out these five top cycling apps the next you pull out your bike. Cyclemeter [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases] If you must have one and only one app for tracking your cycling progress, then you should check out Cyclemeter. Cyclemeter tracks a variety of metrics on your iPhone and compiles that data into beautiful bar and pie charts that can be analyzed on your iPad thanks to iCloud syncing. The tracking and planning features are unrivaled, though they do make the app a bit challenging to use. Routie [iPhone; $4.99] Routie is a basic GPS tracking app that makes it drop dead easy to track your bike rides and other fitness activities. The app provides live metrics of your workout, auto-pauses when you stop and allows you to add photos to your route using the lockscreen camera. iBiker [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases] iBiker is both a workout planner and tracking app that uses GPS to track your performance. It also integrates with a wide variety of fitness devices and apps including Withings, Fitbit, Jawbone Up, Runkeeper, Loseit! and more. Bike Gears [iPhone; $0.99] Bike Gears is the tool for bike mechanics and cyclists who like to tinker and customize their bike. The app allows you to calculate gear ratios and find the right gear combinations by changing the chainring, sprocket, crank length and tire sizes. Bicycling Magazine [iOS Universal; Free, subscription] Whether you prefer fat tires or thin ones, Bicycling Magazine is one the best bike mags for reviews, helpful tips and more. You can purchase a one-year subscription for $14.99 or buy each issue individually for $5.99 each.
Five iOS apps to help you find medical advice anytime you need it
Medicine is one field that is poised to change dramatically thanks to devices like the iPhone and iPad. Not only will doctors be using iOS devices to control medical equipment like ultrasounds, but they will also be using tablets and smartphones to interact with their patients. Here are five apps that are paving the way, making it easier for patients to seek medical advice from physicians and on their own. Urgent Care by GreatCall [iPhone; US$3.99 per call] Urgent Care provides you with round-the-clock access to a registered nurse who can consult a physician as needed. Similar to the other physician support app, the doctor can provide medical advice, diagnose a condition and prescribe medicine as needed. The app also includes a symptom checker and medical dictionary for personal use. It is backed by Great Call, the same folks who are behind the Jitterbug phone for senior citizens. Ask a Doctor [iOS Universal; Calls start at $17.99] Ask a Doctor provides access to a physician 24/7. Not only can you call directly with your questions, but you also can upload lab reports, X-rays and other images needed to help in a diagnosis. The service also includes specialists, but those calls cost $34.99. Teladoc [iPhone; Pricing varies, starts around $39] Teladoc provides access to doctors and pediatricians via phone or online video consultations. Adopted by several big-name hospitals, the app can be used to diagnose and prescribe medicine for common ailments like the flu, bronchitis, poison ivy, UTI and more. Pricing varies, but a hospital like Beth Israel in Boston charges $39 per consult. You can request a receipt for reimbursement if your medical plan supports these calls. Doctor on Demand [iPhone; $40 for 15-minute consult] Doctor on Demand is the latest entrant into the online medical advice market. The app allows patients to make a video call to a health care professional skilled in pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine or ER. Unlike its competition, Doctor on Demand is limited in availability -- doctors are only available from 7 AM to 11 PM and the app services customers in 15 states. Overseen by former White House Fellow Dr. Pat Basu, the service is expected to expand in the coming year. WebMD for the iPad [iPad; Free] If you want medical advice, but don't want to pay for a mobile consult, then you can check out WebMD for the iPad. The app includes a symptom checker and first aid essentials that'll walk you through treating minor injuries. There's also a medicine database and longer articles on medical conditions that are reviewed by physicians.
Six apps for the DIYer in all of us
Are you a seasoned maker looking for a few news apps? Or a new DIYer looking for some handy guides to get you rolling? Then you should take a look at these six apps below which will get you started drawing, sewing, repairing and cooking. If you have your own DIY favorites, please share them in the comments. Makr [iPad; Free with in-app purchases] Makr is a digital design studio that'll help you make invitations, stickers, business cards, postcards, labels, tags, recipe cards, announcements, stationery, greeting and holiday cards and more. Snapguide [iOS Universal; Free] Snapguide is your gateway to helpful how-to guides created by Snapguide members. You can make a request for a guide or make your own guide to help someone else. Craftsy [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases] Craftsy is the place to go for video courses on photography, baking, painting, sewing and more. More than just courses, you can join the community and both ask and answer questions. The app is free, but the courses require an in-app purchase. iFixit [iOS Universal; Free] The best iFixit manuals all in one place, ready to read on your iPad. The latest version of the app adds offline support and inline videos. How to Cook Everything [iOS Universal; $9.99] This best-selling cookbook is bundled up and ready for you to read on your iPad and iPhone. The app includes photos of recipes (iPad only), illustrations for more difficult recipes and shopping lists for those necessary ingredients. The Family Handyman DIY Tip Genius [iOS Universal; Free, with in-app purchases] Find thousands of tips on carpentry, plumping, painting and other common home repairs.
Five iOS apps to help you get educated online
In our connected world, there are a growing number of sites and services that you can use to get an education online. Here are five resources that have iOS apps, so your learning doesn't have to slow you down. iTunesU [iOS Universal; Free] iTunesU is Apple's educational resource. The app gives you access to growing digital catalog of courses from leading universities and other schools. There are over 600,000 free lectures, books and videos available at your fingertips. Khan Academy [iOS Universal; Free] Khan Academy offers free courses that cover math, science, humanities and more. There are over 4,200 videos and more are being added on a regular basis. TED [iOS Universal; Free] TED offers talks from some of the brightest minds and top thinkers of our day. Though not courses per se, the TED video collection will challenge you in ways you never would have never imagined. Lynda.com [iOS Universal; Free, subscription required) Lynda.com has a wealth of video courses to help you learn how to program, use your camera, create an image in photoshop and more. Requires a Lynda.com subscription to access the content on the iPad and iPhone. Pluralsight [iOS Universal; Free, subscription required) Pluralsight is a developer- and IT-focused training site that offers courses in Microsoft technologies like Sharepoint, web technologies like HTML5, iOS programming and more. Requires a Pluralsight subscription to access the content on the iPad and iPhone.
Five apps (and more) to help you write your NaNoWriMo novel
November is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. It's a month-long initiative that challenges you to get that unwritten novel out of your head and onto paper. We have a handful of tips to help you get started, and below is an updated list of our some popular writing tools for iOS and OS X. If you have your own favorites, please share them in the comments. You can also browse through this exhaustive list of iOS text editors provided by Brett Terpstra. Byword 2 for iOS and OS X editing (US$4.99 for iOS app, $9.99 for OS X app) Byword is a cross-platform Markdown editor for writers looking to sync their writing seamlessly across their iPhone, iPad and Mac. The iOS version supports search and has a handy dark theme for late-night writing under low light. The OS X version includes keyboard shortcuts and the same alternate dark theme. Editorial for iPad ($4.99) Editorial is a plain-text editor for the iPad with support for scripting, Markdown and Dropbox sync. It also has a smart keyboard designed for writing Markdown. iA Writer for iPhone and iPad ($4.99) iA Writer is advertised as "Two in one" as it runs on the iPhone and the iPad, and is able to sync documents via iCloud or Dropbox. A focus mode on the iPad lets you concentrate on what you are writing right then and there. It's our top pick if you want to write using any iOS device at your disposal. Scrivener for OS X ($45) Scrivener is the must-have app for budding novelists who primarily write on their Mac. Besides writing, the app helps you organize and format your novel as you go along. Usually available for $45 with a free 30-day trial, Scrivener is extending its trial beyond 30 days and is offering a 50 percent off discount to NaNoWriMo winners. If you don't complete your NaNoWriMo challenge, you still can enjoy 20 percent off the retail price of the app. TextWrangler, Nocs, TextEdit and Notes as free alternatives Nocs is a basic text editor for iOS that supports Dropbox syncing and Markdown. It'll let you write on the go and retrieve your content on Dropbox when you sit down on your Mac to write. TextWrangler is a text editor for OS X from Bare Bones Software, creator of the popular BBedit. It's great for writing code and can double as a text editor in a pinch. Its support for searching across multiple documents, FTP open and save and syntax highlighting set it apart from the OS X's built-in text editor. TextEdit is the default text editor in OS X. It's not cross-platform and it certainly doesn't have the feature set of many of the other apps described here, but it can definitely be your go-to free text editor for either plain text or rich text format (RTF) documents. Just look in your OS X dock for that familiar pen and paper icon. Apple Notes app on iOS and OS X. Notes app is free, easy to use and syncs across iOS and OS X devices. There are little to no features beyond entering text, but it could be a lifesaver if inspiration hits and your favorite writing tools are far away.
Five games to fill your Halloween with horror
Tomorrow is Halloween and it's one of the scariest nights of the year. Get ready for some terror-filled fun with these five horror-themed games. Slender Rising [iOS Universal; $2.99] The best Slender game for iOS. So scary, it'll give you nightmares. Dead Effect [iOS Universal; $3.99] Shoot down infected zombies in the science fiction-based first person shooter. With the intense background track, it's a chilling experience. Into The Dead [iOS Universal; Free] A survival game that throws you into the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Eyes - The Horror Game [iOS Universal; $0.99] Walk through an abandoned haunted house as you collect bags of money. Around each corner is a horrible threat that you must avoid at all costs. Yea. And those eyes on the wall... The Haunt 2 [iOS Universal; $0.99] Ghosts are scattered throughout the countryside as you solve a series of puzzling mini-games. You'll have to search for clues carefully as your make your way around dark and mysterious villages. If you want even more games, then check out Haunting Melissa and Year Walk, two unsettling favorites.
Five apps to up the spookiness as Halloween draws near
Fall is in the air, and the spookiest autumn holiday is right around the corner. To help get you in the mood for trick-or-treating, you should check out these five Halloween-themed apps. A StoryBots Halloween - Starring You as a Ghost, Vampire, Frankenstein, Werewolf & Mummy for Kids, Parents, Teachers [iOS Universal; Free] Add up to five photos to create a spooky Halloween video starring you and your friends or family. The app uses JibJab's iconic personalization technology to create these distinctive videos that you can share via Facebook, Twitter or email. Walking Dead: The Game [iOS Universal; Free] Zombies and more zombies, need I say more? A Stickman Pumpkin Shooting Showdown Bow and Arrow Pro : Halloween Edition [iOS Universal; $2.99] Can you shoot the pumpkin off stickman's head? Or will you miss and shoot him through the heart? Pumpkin Creation - Halloween dress game [iOS Universal; Free] Create your own virtual pumpkin carvings using five different shapes, 10 different skins and more than 20 kinds of facial features. Make each pumpkin as gorgeous or as ghoulish as you want. Halloween 13: Daily Spooky Surprises (2013 edition) [iOS Universal; Free] Engage in chilling daily challenges and uncover spooky surprises each day leading up to Halloween.
Seven apps that take advantage of the M7 motion coprocessor in the iPhone 5s
The iPhone 5s is the first iOS device to include the new M7 motion co-processor. The chip gathers motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass and translates that information into body motion. There are a small, but growing number of fitness apps that use the M7 to track your daily steps. Some are polished fitness trackers and some are basic pedometers, but all of them will give you a peek into the type of information that is being monitored by the M7. MotionX-24/7: Sleep Cycle, Snore, Heart Rate, Activity Tracker [iPhone; $0.99] MotionX-24/7 is an activity tracker and sleep monitor for the iPhone. It allows you yo analyze your sleep cycle, monitor your workouts and track your weight. A smart alarm feature will track your sleep cycle and wake you up at the optimal time. WeatherRun [iPhone; $1.99] WeatherRun is a tracking app that logs your outdoor activity along with the weather, altitude, humidity and temperature. ARGUS - Motion and Fitness Tracker by Azumio [iPhone; $1.99] ARGUS - Motion and Fitness Tracker is a multi-faceted fitness tracker that monitors your daily activities, food consumption, workouts, sleep, hydration, weight and more. M7 Pedometer - Steps [iPhone; Free] M7 Pedometer - Steps is a simple app that uses the M7 chip to shows your daily and cumulative steps. Strava Run [iPhone; Free] Strava Run is a social exercise app that tracks your running routine as you compete against your friends and climb up the leaderboard. Burning Meter Pro [iPhone; $4.99] Version 3.0 of this fitness tracker and educational app adds support for the M7 processor. It's meant for people looking to get started on their fitness program and is not for the seasoned athlete. Pedometer++ [iPhone; Free] Pedometer++ is a basic pedometer app that shows your daily and weekly step counts. StepTracker [iPhone; Free] StepTracker is a basic pedometer app that shows your daily step counts for the past 7 days. You can view today's data as well as scroll back to see what how much you moved a week ago. App is free, but iAd supported.
Five apps that look fantastic on iOS 7
Today is the big day you've all been waiting for since WWDC 2013. After months of reading about iOS 7, you can finally download this version of iOS and install it on your iOS device. Once you get settled in with the new features, you'll want to install some apps. To get you started, here are five of our favorite apps that look great on iOS 7. 7 Minute Workout "Seven" [iOS Universal; Free] No workout equipment, just seven minutes a day. Reach a goal of seven minutes a day for seven months using Seven, a seven-minute workout app from Perigree. Any.do [iOS Universal; Free] Simple, functional and pleasing to the eye. It embodies the design of iOS 7 and is worth every penny you spend on it. Around Me [iOS Universal; Free] Around Me is a location app that helps you find the nearest gas station or the best restaurant in the area. The latest version adds some color and a lot of iOS 7 style to the app. LetterGlow [iPhone; $1.99] LetterGlow is a newcomer to the photography category, and it made a big impression when it launched. The latest version of the text-over-photo app adds iOS support and a few new features. It's a wonderful complement to the fancy new camera app in iOS 7, and I can't wait to try it with the new iPhone 5s. TED [iOS Universal; Free] TED is known for its innovative talks from the world's brightest people, so it's not surprising the iOS app has a fresh new look to keep in style with iOS 7.
Five apps that landed politicians in hot water
It's not just a US phenomenon. Politicians worldwide have a habit of being caught doing inappropriate things with their iPhone, iPad or Mac. We couldn't cover them all, so we chose five scandals and identified the apps used in the offending acts. Read below to find out which iOS or OS X apps have gotten some of our world leaders in hot water. VIP Poker [iOS Universal; Free] This is the game Senator John McCain was caught paying during a hearing on America's possible use of force against the Syrian government. His subsequent tweet defending his behavior has not helped his cause. Rocket Bird [iPad; $2.99] Roberto Menia, coordinator for Italy's Future and Freedom party, was caught playing a version of Rocket Bird in Parliament. Apparently, the politician sitting next to him was playing along, too. Flick Kick football [iOS Universal; $0.99] Well-known Italian politician and sports fanatic Sabatino Aracu was spotted playing Flick Kick football while keeping his Parliamentary seat warm. Tweetdeck [OS X; Free] Remember Anthony Wiener's notorious crotch shot DM fail that led to the Representative's resignation from Congress? Well, that now-deleted tweet was sent from a version of Tweetdeck. Mobile Safari [iOS Universal; Free] Note to politicians -- browsing the web on the iPad during an important meeting can cause lots of headaches, especially when inappropriate content starts gracing your screen. Just ask Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, Thailand's Pongpan Sunthornchai or Indonesian lawmaker Arifinto.
Five apps to end your summer in style
It's Labor Day weekend -- the last big summer holiday before it's back to the grindstone of school and work. Here are five apps to help you recreate in these waning days of summer. Oh Ranger! Parkfinder [iPhone; Free] Plug in your location and find nearby local, state and national parks. Filter by activity to find public places with your favorite activities. History Here [iPhone; Free] Whether you are visiting a new area or spending time at home, fire up the History Here app to get facts, photos and maps of nearby historic locations. Jetpac [iPad; Free] Share the photos of your trip and view photos of your friend's vacations using this wonderful slideshow app that pulls its content from Facebook. Create a travel bucket list from these photos and plan your next trip. Postagram Postcards [iPhone; Free] Mail vacation postcards the easy way using your iPhone. You get two free postcards for signing up, and any additional postcards are available for a small fee. SnappyCam Pro [iPhone; US$0.99] SnappyCam Pro is one of the best photography apps for capturing action photos in rapid succession. Snap that perfect shot as you tube on the lake, dive into the water or reach to snag that ball before it goes over the fence.
Five social apps to help you make a decision
Anyone who knows me well understands that I hate making decisions. From what to eat to where to go on vacation, I'd rather have little to no choice in the matter. For decision-avoiding people like me, there are a growing number of social decision-making apps that let you turn to your friends or the internet at large to help you make a decision. Here are five of them I have stumbled upon recently. Seesaw for iPhone [iPhone; Free] Seesaw allows you take a photo of your choices and then share them with the community to help you make a decision. You can also send your seesaws to your friends in your address book and they can respond without signing up for the service or installing the app. Loop -- Social Polling [iPhone; Free] Loop is a social polling app that lets you ask any question and get an instant answer. People responding to questions can do so without downloading or installing anything. It's more than just life decisions -- you can loop in your Pinboard or Amazon items, so you can use it for shopping advice and more. The app also allows you to create private polls and display an infographic of the voting results from a poll. Deciderr -- Social Decision-Making [iPhone; Free] Deciderr is a social app that lets you post a "Yes or No" question to help you make a decision. You can post your own questions or respond to questions posted by the people you follow. You can also share your question on Twitter or Facebook. PeepAdvice [iPhone; Free] PeepAdvice allows you to get advice quickly by asking simple questions with two choices that are open for voting. Your followers can then chime in with their favorite choice. PeepAdvice is a wide-open forum for discussing health, romance, purchases and more. Polar [iPhone; Free] Polar is a social polling app that lets people both vote and comment on your polls. As you share polls, you can build a following and follow others on the social network. You can chat with others and create or share polls right within the chat messages. It's a social experience that's part talking, part decision-making.
Five fact-filled apps for Shark Week
It's Shark Week -- that time of the year when sharks take center stage on the Discovery Channel and beyond. This year's shows have been marred by the Megalodon controversy, but that doesn't mean you still can't enjoy learning about the shark species. Below you will find five shark-related apps to supplement your knowledge of the finned fish. Discovery Kids Sharks [iPad; Category: Education; $4.99] A fact-filled app from Discovery that teaches children about sharks. The app also includes interactive games and digital trading cards. Expedition White Shark for iPad [iPad; Category: Education; $3.99] Expedition White Shark allows you to receive near real time Great White Shark tracking data thanks to the scientists at the Marine Conservation Science Institute (MCSI). Data is collected from tagged sharks when they surface and are relayed via satellite to MCSI. Discovery Kids Readers: Sharks [iOS Universal; Category: Books; $1.99] Discovery Kids Readers: Sharks brings sharks to the little ones in your household. The book includes vivid photographs, fun facts and a quiz. Targeted for children 4 to 8 years old. Shark Net - Predators of the Blue Serengeti [iPhone; Category: Education; Free] Another shark-tracking app that allows you to follow sharks as they migrate off the coast of California. Data is compiled from the collaborative shark research of Stanford University scientists and the GTOPP -- the Global Tagging of Pacific Predators project. Learn Sharks Now! [iOS Universal; Category: Education; Free] Learn Sharks Now! includes 30 shark cards with pictures and facts about our this fish. A quiz mode will test your knowledge of the shark. And one bonus app for you gamers out there! Hungry Shark Evolution [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Free] Play as a shark and feed on sea creatures, swimmers and fisherman. Eat and grow from a pup into a full-grown Great White Shark.
Five apps for the summer blockbuster movie season
Summer is reaching its peak which means the blockbuster movie season is in full swing. Below is a list of five movie apps, hand-picked by the folks at TUAW, to test your movie trivia and make your movie watching experience more enjoyable. Check out the list below and add your own recommendations in the comments. Anything After -The Movie Credits Stinger App [iOS Universal; US$0.99] Don't miss that funny cut scene because you skipped the credits to hurry out to your car. Anything After will let you know when a movie has a bonus scene or extra content after the credits. Run Pee [iOS Universal; $0.99] Run pee will tell you the best time to take a bathroom break during a movie. You can relax while you relieve yourself knowing you won't miss an important scene. 4 Movie Scenes [iPhone; Free] Challenge your friends by asking them to identify the movies shown in a montage of scenes grabbed from popular flicks. Jumbl: movies [iOS Universal; $0.99] Test your movie knowledge by unscrambling the world jumble to spell the titles of popular movies. MediaStinger [iPhone; Free] Another stinger app that'll let you know whether a movie has extra content after or during a trailer. It also includes news, movie reviews, and trailers for your viewing pleasure.
Five apps to celebrate the weird and wonderful world of Wimbledon tennis
It's been a wild first week at Wimbledon 2013 with 13 people dropping out, reports of slippery grass and major upsets that ousted champions like Maria Sharapova. Check out these five apps below and get your tennis fix as you watch the second and final week of this prestigious tennis tournament unfold. Wimbledon Official App [iPad; Category: Sports; Free] Get breaking news, live coverage and more from the official Wimbledon app. Riversip Tennis News [iPhone; Category: Sports; Free] Riversip Tennis News brings you a live scoreboard, videos and news from the world of tennis. It compiles its content from sources like Tennis World, We Are Tennis, Tennis Now and others. miCoach tennis [iPhone; Category: Sports; Free] The miCoach tennis app is for court-side fans who enjoy playing as much as they do watching. Use miCoach training to help improve your tennis game by measuring your speed, rallies and the distance covered during your tennis matches. It uses data from the miCoach Speed Cell and supplemental lessons from tennis star Andrea Petkovic. Hit Tennis 3 [iOS Universal; Category: Games; Free with in-app purchases] Swipe or flick your way to tennis stardom in this arcade-style tennis game. Coach's Eye [iOS Universal; Category: Sports; $4.99] Coach's Eye is a video-based training tool that records you while you play tennis and allows you to critique your form. You can review the video and add audio commentary, annotations and slow-motion to provide tips for improvement.
Five apps to help you identify birds and their beautiful songs
Spring means migration and the return of birds to many parts of North America. It also means warmer weather and sunny days that are perfect for birding. Here is a list of apps to help you get outside and start learning about our feathered friends (all prices are USD). Field Guide for birds [iOS Universal; $0.99 to $19.99] There are several big-name field guides that include photos and illustrations to help identification, bird calls, range data and other information about each bird species. Included in this list of guides are Audubon, Peterson, Sibley and the all-digital iBird. Audubon Birds is a digital version of the popular paperback field guide. It has excellent images of the birds, range maps and multiple calls and songs for each bird. It also includes NatureShare which allows you to find and share local bird sightings. The Audubon Birds app is on sale now for $3.99, down from $14.99. Peterson is another pocket guide to North American birds that has made its way to the digital platform. Peterson has a full version of its paperback guide that sells for $14.99. The company also recently introduced a Pocket edition of its traditional guide that features a lower price tag ($0.99) and a fewer details. Sibley, another paperback guide, is known for its great illustrations and these details look great on the iPad and iPhone. The Sibley eGuide also has a handy comparison tool and a bird song repeat feature so you can call out to other birds while you are in the field. The Sibley eGuide to North American birds costs $19.99. iBird offers a variety of guides to suit your pocketbook and your geographical location. If you want a guide that covers 938 North American and Hawaiian species, then you should check out the iBird Pro Guide to Birds, currently available for $19.99. This version also includes audio songs and calls, a search feature that lets you save frequently used searches and iCloud syncing for your notes and favorite birds. There is also a Plus version available for $14.99 that has fewer search filters than the Pro version. iBird has affordable versions ($6.99) for regions like the Midwest, West, South and North. iBirds also has a backyard birds version that'll get you birding from the comfort of your deck longer for $2.99. Larkwire Birdsong Series [iOS Universal; $14.99 or less] If you want to turn memorizing bird calls into a game, then you should check out the Larkwire Birdsong series. Similar to the bird guides, Larkwire has several universal iOS apps to meet the needs of a variety of birders. A Master Birder version is available for both land birds and water birds. The master land bird version includes 394 sounds that cover 343 land species, while the water bird version has 253 sounds from 135 species of water birds. Between these two guides, almost all the major North American land and water birds are covered. Larksong's regional guides, core guides and backyard guide will introduce you to bird calling on a smaller scale. There's even a basic guide that includes 20 essential bird songs for free. Chirp! Bird Song USA+ [iOS Universal; $2.99] Chirp! Bird Song USA+ is part bird song app, part reference app. It uses GPS to find bird calls that are common in your location. As your bird-calling skills improve, you can branch out to include all 263 bird song and calls in the app. Besides the audio recordings, the app has snippets about each call and quiz feature to test your knowledge. Cornell Lab Bird Q&A [iPhone; $2.99] The Cornell Lab Bird Q&A app is an educational app about birds. It features a question-and-answer format that cover cool facts about birds, bird feeding, migration and more. These frequently asked questions are answered by the experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birdwatchers Diary [iPhone; $12.99] Birdwatcher's Diary is a journaling app that allows you to log your bird sightings while in the field. Each entry includes field notes, a time stamp, location information and more. When you are done, you can upload your birding lists to eBird or back them up to Dropbox.
Five apps that'll help you follow the 2013 NFL Draft
It's a big day for football fans who are gearing up for the 2013 NFL draft. The first round picks start tonight, Thursday, April 25, at 8:00 PM ET, followed by the second and third round on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Use one or all of these iOS apps below to bone up on the draft picks as well as follow the NFL draft live for the next few days. Draftpedia [iPhone; Free] Draftpedia offers comprehensive draft information for the NFL and NBA that extends back to 1970 for the NFL and 1969 for the NBA. It's a wealth of sports draft information right at your fingertips. 2013 Draft HQ - Pro Football [iOS Universal; US$2.99] 2013 Draft HQ - Pro Football is your one-stop shop for information about the draft. Follow news on the top players and read their stats from when they were in college. There are also mock drafts and forums so you can participate in the draft instead of just reading about it. CBS Sports App [iPhone; Free] The CBS Sports app will offer streaming coverage of CBSSports.com's Draft Show Live on the iPhone. The CBS app will also feature mock drafts, player profiles and a live draft picker with round-by-round picks. NFL Mobile [iOS Universal; Free] The NFL Mobile app will provide live video coverage of the NFL draft as well as other draft features like draft alerts and draft trackers, which allow you to follow your favorite prospects and teams. Note: Some features may require a subscription and may be limited to Verizon or Verizon Wireless customers. NFL 2013 [iOS Universal; Free] The NFL 2013 app also offers live coverage of the draft and includes Draft Xtra, a second-screen experience that you can monitor while you watch the draft on TV or over the internet at NFL.com/LIVE. There's also news, analysis and mock drafts. Note: Some features may require a COX, Cablevision or FiOS NFL Network subscription.
Earth Day 2013: Five apps that'll help you protect and enjoy our amazing planet
More than 1 billion people today will take part in Earth Day 2013. Governments, businesses, organizations and individuals will take time to celebrate the incredible planet on which we live. Below, you will find five apps to help you get outside and enjoy nature as well as take steps to protect the Earth in your daily life. iRecycle [iOS Universal; Free] Reduce, reuse and recycle. Use iRecycle to find convenient recycling opportunities when you are at home or away. iRecycle provides you with more than 1.5 million ways to recycle more than 350 materials. Vegetable Tree - Gardening Guide [iPhone; $3.99] Use Earth Day to get started on that garden. Vegetable Tree covers the basics of sowing, growing and harvesting of a variety of vegetables. There is also information on seed depth, germination soil temperature, pH Range, indoor and outdoor requirements and more. MapMyHike+ GPS Hiking [iPhone; $2.99] Get outside today and enjoy some fresh air. When you head out, don't forget to fire up MapMyHike+ GPS, which lets you track your hike and log them for future reference. Keep track of every path you follow and build an online journal of your hikes. WattchIT [iOS Universal; $2.99] WattchIT lets you analyze home electricity costs on a per room basis. Use the tips in the app to make changes in your electricity usage and save money. An excellent, but smaller companion to WattchIT is Stopwattch, which lets you set a timer to measure the energy usage of a single appliance or electronic device. Geography Quiz Game [iPhone; Free] Learn more about the world in the Geography Quiz Game. You can play online against other via Game Center or play against your friends in multiplayer tournaments.
Five apps to kick off the golf season
The prestigious Masters Golf Tournament is in full swing this weekend. Held during the first full week in April, the Masters kicks off the golf season for golfers in the northern climates. To help you track the pros and improve your own golf game, check out some of the top golfing apps available in the iOS App Store. The Official Masters Tournament app [iPad; Free] The official app of the Master tournament will keep you up to date with live streams, scores and news from the Augusta National event. There's also an iPhone version that is available for free. Rotary Swing Golf Instruction [iOS Universal; Free] Rotary Swing Golf Instruction is a video tutorial app that'll teach you how to swing like the pros. The app includes 16 free videos, and you can use an in-app subscription to get access to a library of over 100 videos. New videos are added every month. Golf Channel [iOS Universal; Free] Follow all the latest news and analysis about the current golf season from Golf Channel experts. Keep track of the leader board and follow your favorite players during tournaments. Golf Magazine [iPad; Free] The Golf Magazine app brings the popular Golf Magazine to your iPad. Each issue is filled with tips to improve your golf game. There are also interviews with the pros and gear reviews. You can buy single issue for $4.99 via an in-app purchase. You also can buy a 1-month subscription for $1.99 or a 1-year subscription for $14.99. Super Stickman Golf 2 [iOS Universal; $0.99] Super Stickman Golf is a golf game anyone can enjoy. The latest version includes 20 dynamic courses, customizable characters and both turn-based and race multi-player modes.
Five apps to help you follow the 2013 baseball season
Major League Baseball kicked off its 2013 season last Sunday and we are entering our first full weekend of games. If you are ready to fill your iPhone or iPad with apps to follow every home run, then check out our list of some the best baseball apps available for iOS. MLB.com apps [iPhone or iPad; varies] You can't talk about baseball apps without mentioning MLB.com's suite of outstanding apps. The list includes At Bat 2013, At The Ballpark, Beat The Streak and Full Count. At Bat's most compelling features (game audio and video) require a $19.99 in-app subscription for the season or $2.99 a month, but MLB.TV Premium participants get the app's full suite of options for no additional cost. Team Stream [iPhone; Free] Team Stream is a sports news aggregator that lets you set up personalized streams about your favorite teams. It supports notifications so you will be alerted with breaking news of trades, injuries and the like. Baseball Outs [iOS Universal; Free] Baseball Outs is a a mini-fantasy baseball game that makes watching a baseball game with friends even more enjoyable. You can create a game, draft players and compete against your friends. Fantasy Baseball apps [iPhone or iPad; $4.99 or less] The baseball season gets more involving if you're competing in your fantasy leagues against your friends. You can manage fantasy teams using the official ESPN Fantasy Baseball app or the official Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball app. If you use both leagues, then you might want to check out Fantasy Baseball '13 for ESPN/Y from Bignoggins Productions. Bignoggins also makes Fantasy Monster Pro, which supports ESPN baseball, Yahoo baseball and several different sports. MiLB [iPhone; Free] MiLB is for the minor league baseball fans in our audience. You'll get complete stats, schedules, standings and the latest news for every Triple-A and Double-A team. Like At Bat 2013 and the other titles above, the MiLB app is sold by MLB.com.
