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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 apps to make your Fourth of July fabulous
Here in the US we will close out the week with the best summer holiday -- the Fourth of July. The Independence Day holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Most people choose to celebrate the day with good food, even better friends, parades, parties and fireworks. If you are in the planning stages for your Fourth of July, here are some apps to make the holiday the best it can be. iExit [iOS Universal; Free] Desperately need a cup of coffee to make it to your parents house for the 4th of July, but don't know which exit has the next coffee shop? Then you should download iExit, a navigation app that displays the upcoming exits and the point-of-interest that are located off the highway. PicTapGo [iOS Universal; $1.99] It's the 4th of July, which means you will be taking a lot of photographs of parades, kids and fireworks. Download PicTapGo to grab a photo, apply a quick photo and send it to Instagram with minimal loss of quality. Omaha Steaks Steak Time [iPhone; Free] Not everyone loves steak on the grill, but those who do will appreciate the Steak Time app from Omaha Steaks. The app includes a steak grilling timer to help you find the perfect cooking time and works with iGrill bluetooth cooking thermometer for improved accuracy. It also supports recipes and has a details Steak 101 section for new and experienced cooks alike. If you are an Omaha Steaks fan, the app even has a link to the Omaha Steak store. Oh Ranger, Park Finder [iPhone; Free] Want to spend some time recreating before you swing by your friend's picnic? Then you should check out your local parks using the Oh Ranger, Park Finder Guide. The app uses your location to find local parks and provides detailed information on the park, its activities, hours of operation and more. Slow Shutter Cam [iPhone; $0.99] Slow Shutter Cam has a light trail mode that'll adjust the shutter speed and other settings of the iOS camera to allow you to capture moving light such as fireworks. Flickr image at the top from North Charleston's 4th of July Festival.
Five apps that'll help dog lovers care for their four-legged friends
It's new pet season for the staff at TUAW with both Editor-In-Chief Victor Agreda, Jr. and fellow editor Steve Sande both welcoming new kittens into their homes. Lest the dog-friendly folk be worried about us being overrun with cats, I am happy to say that we have balanced the scale with a new 9-week-old yellow labrador retriever, Remington. Being a techie pet owner, I just had to search the App Store for the best apps for new puppy and adult dog owners alike. Dog Park Finder Plus [iOS Universal; $1.99] One of the hardest parts about having a dog, especially in an urban area, is finding a spot to safely take Fido outside for a walk. Dog Park Finder Plus is an app for North American dog owners that lists over 6,000 dog-friendly parks and beaches as well as 12,000 dog-friendly restaurants for those necessary post-frisbee snacks. Pet First Aid by American Red Cross [iPhone; $0.99] After my 9-week-old puppy grabbed a scrunchy and gobbled it down in under a minute, I realized then that I needed to have a First Aid app on my phone for pets. Though not a replacement for a veterinarian, the American Red Cross Pet First Aid app provides quick access to easy-to-follow advice for those everyday emergencies that need attention, but are not life-threatening. The app also includes pet profiles that allow you to store important health details and veterinarian contact information for your pets. Peterest - Pet Photo Gallery [iOS Universal; Free] What pet owner doesn't absolutely love pictures of pets, especially when they are adorable? If you can't get enough cute animal photos, then your must download Peterest, a free social image gallery for pet pictures. BringFido - Pet Friendly Hotels [iPhone; Free] Traveling with a pet can be challenging as not every establishments is accepting of our furry, four-legged friends. If you plan to bring Fido along with you, then you should consult the BringFido app to find the best hotels, attractions, and restaurants that welcome pets. DogVacay [iPhone; Free] Sometimes taking your pet on vacation is impossible. For those moments, you can check out DogVacay, a US-based service that helps you find a loving sitter instead of a kennel for your animal best friends.
Five St. Patrick's Day apps that'll bring out the Irish in everyone
It's St. Patrick's Day, recognized in select countries worldwide primarily as a cultural holiday. The holiday honors Ireland's Saint Patrick and celebrates Irish heritage. Here in the US, it is the day we adorn ourselves in green, eat a corned beef dinner and pour out a Guinness. If you want to bring some of that shamrock-loving fun to your iPhone, then you need to check out these five apps that'll teach how to speak, drink and cook like an Irishman. Focal Me - Irish (Gaelic) Words & Phrasebook with Audio [iPhone; $1.99] Focal Me is a cheat sheet for popular Gaelic phrases with audio that'll help you pronounce each one correctly. Lucky Patty's Leprechaun Run [iOS Universal; Free] Lucky Patty's Leprechaun Run is a lightweight platformer that'll have you jumping over spiked clovers, hot kettles and more. Beer Buddy - Barcode Scanner [iPhone; $3.99] Beer Buddy is filled with over 300,000+ beers and millions of user reviews. The app allows you to browse and rate beers from local and national breweries. You also can find local stores, restaurants and bars that both serve and sell beer. Ireland Travel Guide by Triposo [iOS Universal; Free] A travel guide for destinations within Ireland for major tourist attractions such as Dublin, Cork, or Galway. Great for those with an upcoming Ireland trip or those who like to visit from afar. The Irish Farmers' Market Cookbook [iBook; $11.99] Both a cookbook and a culinary tour of Ireland that focuses on cooking with the fresh foods available at Farmer's markets.
Five apps that let you try out the new Fleksy keyboard
Fleksy announced this week that its SDK for iOS has exited the private beta stage and is now available for all developers to use. Integration with Fleksy is easy for developers to implement and takes just a few steps for users to setup on their device. To try out Fleksy, here are five apps that already support this alternative keyboard. To use Fleksy within these apps, you must first install the Fleksy iOS app and then enable it within each app by selecting a piece of text and looking for the Fleksy icon in the cut/paste menu. Cotton Notes [iOS Universal; $4.99] Cotton Notes is a polished note-taking app with a collaboration feature as well as Evernote and Dropbox integration. You also can use markdown to stylized your notes and add attachments like photos, GPS coordinates and more. You Doodle [iOS Universal; Free] You Doodle is a light-hearted image editor that allows you to doodle on images as well as modify them by cutting out parts, adding stamps and more. You can use Doodle to be as silly or as serious as you want. Vert 2 Unit and Currency Converter [iOS Universal; $1.99] Vert 2 is full-fledged converter with support for over 900 units across 34 categories and 164 currencies that are updated with the most recent exchange rates. The app is easy on the eyes and easy to use. MUDRammer [iOS Universal; $3.99] MUDRammer is a MUD client for the iPhone and iPad that allows you play online multiplayer text-based games. Now you can see if Fleksy can give you the edge when you are Mu*ing. SnapStatus [iPhone; Free] SnapStatus does one thing and does it well -- it allows you to post to Twitter and Facebook at the same time.
5 apps to help celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The birthday of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. has been celebrated in all fifty of the United States since 2000, honoring the memory of the man who championed the cause of nonviolent activism to successfully protest racial discrimination in federal and state law. Today we look at five apps that help to learn more about the man, his work, and the struggle for civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr Quick Quotes ($0.99) MLK was a consummate public speaker, who used the power of words to rally Americans to work together to fight racial discrimination and secure progress on civil rights. This universal app features a collection of quotes from the man, and allows for easy sharing of his words through Mail, Messages, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Alabama Civil Rights Trail (free) Alabama was one of the focal points of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel has created a free app to help highlight the "people, places and events that brought Alabama into the international spotlight". The app features a timeline of the struggle, from Jim Crow laws and mob violence to desegregation and the Civil Rights Act, and provides maps of civil rights landmarks across the state. Biographies of famous people like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. are included. W.E.B Du Bois: A Historical Collection ($9.99) From the Reconstruction era to the Civil Rights Movement, one man devoted his life to gaining equal treatment for black people. William Edward Burghardt De Bois was a sociologist, historian, novelist, activist and co-founder of the NAACP, and this iPad app highlights his writings, providing "the essential readings of all African American studies programs today." DocuApps: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (free) The iPhone app provides the full text of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, perhaps the most historically important pieces of legislation enacted during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The app includes a powerful search engine for looking at the details of the document, allowing users to do research from directly inside the app on Wikipedia and top search engines. What Do You Know: 100 Influential Black Americans (free) This amazing Black History education app provides background, video, and quizzes focusing on 100 of the most influential African Americans from Hank Aaron to Andrew Young.
Five apps to help you stay fit while you exercise indoors
It's that time of the year when everyone's focus turns away from their wish list and toward their waistline. Depending on how happy your holidays were, that waistline might need some extra attention. If the bitter cold of the polar vortex has driven you inside, you can still keep up with those New Year's resolutions with these five fitness apps. Spinning | Indoor Cycling & Heart Rate Training [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases Folks who opt to ride a bicycle instead of run on a treadmill should check out Spinning. It's full fitness app geared for cyclers and spinners who prefer to log their miles on two wheels, instead of two feet. The app tracks both indoor and outdoor workouts, allowing you to record your time, distance, speed, cadence and watts. It also integrates with fitness trackers and apps like Fitbit, Strava, RunKeeper and others. BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer [iPhone; $3.99] Running on a treadmill can be tedious, so you have to be creative with your workouts. One way to keep things fresh is to use BeatBurn from LoLo, which will mix up your music while you run. The app monitors your workout intensity and picks the best music to match the pace of your run or walk. It also includes a fitness trainer to motivate you when you need it most. Bodyweight Training: You Are Your Own Gym [iOS Universal; $2.99 with in-app purchases] Don't have weights or the time to go to a gym? Then check out this list of 200 exercises that use your body weight for resistance training. The app features a 10-week program with workouts that can last from two to 36 minutes. The videos are the highlight of the app, showing you in detail how to perform each exercise. Yoga Studio [iOS Universal; $2.99] Fitness isn't always about pushing yourself to your limit and then beyond. Sometimes flexibility, breathing and balance are more important than burn. For those times when you want to focus on your inner strength, then you should fire up Yoga Studio from Modern Lotus. The app includes 30 preset yoga classes with HD video and detailed information on over 280 poses. You can pick the best class length (15, 30 or 60 minutes) for your schedule or create your own custom class. 7-Minute Workout Challenge [iPhone; $1.99] The 7-minute workout is great for busy people who only have a few minutes to spare each day. The app includes videos, audio, images and text to guide you through the 12 basic exercises recommended in the 7-Minute workout program. Each exercise is performed for 30 seconds with 10-second rest intervals. The app tracks your workout progress and weight loss.
Five apps to help you read faster and remember more
Ever feel like you are trudging through an article, reading so slow that it makes your head hurt? If you want to improve your reading skills by reading faster and retaining more, then you should check one of these five outstanding apps that'll train you to consumer those words at a faster rate (all prices are USD). QuickReader [iOS Universal; $4.99] QuickReader uses a vast catalog of classic and modern eBooks to help you improve your reading speed. The app promises that you will never run out of content to refine your speed reading technique. QuickReader is chock full of settings so you can customize your speed reading plan to fit your needs. Velocity Speed Reader [iPhone; $2.99] Instead of eBooks, Velocity focuses on personal content, allowing you to tap into your email, personal documents and your Instapaper or Pocket Articles. The app has an iOS7-inspired design and includes a typeface for dyslexic readers. ReadQuick [iOS Universal; $4.99] ReadQuick mixes web content with partner content to provide you with all the material you need. The app allows you to access articles from Pocket, the web and partners like Talking Points Memo, GigaOM and more. It also supports Readability. When you start an article, the app gives you a target time to finish based on your current words per minute pace. It also shows you the words one at time, which helps you pick up the pace of your reading. Syllable [iPhone; $2.99] Syllable, as its name reflects, looks at more than just the printed word. The app tries to help you reduce subvocalization, which is a method of reading by repeating the words you read in your head. The app takes text and presents it on the screen at a predefined rate. Rather than saying the words in your head, you are forced to read them quickly. Less subvocalization equates to faster reading. The app accepts text input from URLs, Instapaper, Readability, Pocket, the clipboard and more. Acceleread [iOS Universal; Free with in-app purchases] Acceleread is more than just a speed reading tool. It's a guided speed reading course with lessons that'll improve your overall reading technique, so you can read faster and comprehend more of what you read. It's a custom course that you can tailor to your speed reading goals. The app is free, but you'll have to pay to unlock the full course. It costs $7.99 for the iPad upgrade, $4.99 for the iPhone upgrade and $9.99 for the universal iOS upgrade.
Five apps to help you give thanks this Thanksgiving
Here in the US, everyone is gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday, which is just a few days away. While you are cooking that turkey and charging up that credit card for Black Friday, you should also take a break to count your blessings. Here are five apps to help express your thanks this holiday season. The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks [iOS Universal; Category: Books; US$1.99] The Berenstain Bears reenact the first Thanksgiving and teach an important lesson about thankfulness and family. Has a religious theme. Ink Cards: Personalized Greeting Cards Delivered in the Mail [iOS Universal; Free] Ink Cards picks up where Apple's Cards left off, with an app that allows you to say thanks from the comfort of your couch. Ink Cards lets you create a personalized greeting card and send it off via regular mail to your friends. Each card is printed on 5 x 7-inch glossy card stock and costs $1.99 for printing and postage. justWink Greeting cards [iPhone; Free] justWink from American Greetings has more than 200 cards that you can use to say thank you to your friends and family. You can customize each card with your own message, signature and photos. Once created, you can send them off via email or share them on your favorite social network. You can also send them off via snail mail. Cheers - Celebrate Life and Happiness [iPhone; Free] If you want to share your thanks with other joyful people, then check out Cheers. The social community app encourages its users to share their happy moments with the optimistic people of the Cheers community. Thnkfl [iPhone; Free] Thnkfl challenges you to be thankful for three things each day. You can capture your thankful moments in words, photos or drawings and then drop it into your glass. You can review your thankful moments and share them with your friends and family.
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 lifestyle apps that'll keep you moving with the M7 motion coprocessor
The iPhone 5s has been out for a few months, which has given developers some time to work with the new M7 motion coprocessor in the device. We've covered some of the early adopter apps that took advantage of the technology when the 5s first debuted. Now, we are back with a follow-up post that looks at the latest crop of apps that use the M7 to measure your fitness level. Runtastic Pedometer Pro [iPhone; US$1.99] Unlike Runtastic Pro, which is all about running, Runtastic Pedometer is dedicated to walking. The app uses the M7 to track your walks and measure your steps as well as walking rate, calories burned and more. All the data it collects is shared with your Runtastic account, giving you access to this information across devices. Nike+ Move [iPhone; Free] Nike+ Move is the M7-enabled version of the popular Nike+ series of apps. It tracks your steps and includes a motivational feature to get you up and about every hour of the day. Runkeeper [iPhone; Free] The popular running app has added support for the M7 and now allows you to track your walking. It automatically detects when you are walking, so you don't have to stop or start and activity. The app also analyzes your stride rate and highlights the difference between running and walking. Moves [iPhone; Free] Moves is more than just a step tracker. It tells a timeline-based story of where you've gone and how far it took you to get there. The app now supports the M7 coprocessor, allowing it to automatically track your walking and running. The app allows you to plot your routes and measure your calories. Chronos Find Your Time [iPhone; $1.99] Chronos - Find Your Time is more a lifestyle app than a pure fitness tracker. It tracks all your daily activities so you know where you've been and with whom you've been spending your time. It uses the M7 for step counting.
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.
