2011 Iphone App

180 PAGES OF ESSENTIAL iPHONE ADVICE AND APP REVIEWS
The 2011
the 2011
app guide
241
All you need to know about filling your iPhone with the very best apps
Revealed! The best social, gaming,

travel, entertainment, sport and iPhon
revieweedapps
creative apps of the year a
rated nd
Printed in the UK £12.99

ABZ01 2010
www.techradar.com
From the makers of
Create Explore Enjoy Work Play

Future Publishing Limited
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Editor Christian Hall

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Production Editor Richard Hill
Images Chris Hedley, iStock Photo,
Future Photo Studio, Apple
FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED

Publisher Charlotte Morgan
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UK Chief Executive Mark Wood
Group Senior Editor Paul Newman

Group Senior Art Editor Steve Gotobed
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Editorial Director Jim Douglas
MARKETING
Brand Manager Daniel Bruce
Campaign Manager Sharon Pillai
Promotions Executive Joanne White
CIRCULATION
Trade Marketing Manager Stuart Brown
Welcome
Trade Marketing Director Rachael Cock
PRINT & PRODUCTION

Production Co-ordinator Craig Broadbridge
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Head of Production Richard Mason
LICENSING
International Licensing Director Tim Hudson Make more of your iPhone or iPod touch with our pick
Phone: + 44 (0)1225 442244 Fax: + 44 (0)1225 732275
of the most essential apps for work and play
Printed in the UK by William Gibbons on behalf of Future.
Distributed in the UK by Seymour Distribution Ltd,
T
2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT. Phone: 0207 429 4000 he joy of the iPhone and iPod touch comes from the hundreds of thousands
of apps that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, either from your
PC or Mac, or while you’re out and about on the iPhone or iPod touch itself.
Apple recently said that over 200 apps are downloaded every second from the App
Store, totalling more than 6,500,000,000 downloads to date!
While having thousands of apps to choose from makes the App Store a rich
resource of multimedia content for your iPhone or iPod touch, it inevitably means
that there's plenty of poor apps out there as well as the really good ones. That's why
we've sampled the very best from the App Store to bring you over 240 outstanding
apps, with star ratings and both UK and US pricing for your convenience. We also tell
you which iOS version is required and what's new in the latest versions.
All contents copyright © 2010 Future Publishing Limited or published We’ve reviewed dozens of apps from each category on the App Store and rated
under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be
reproduced, stored, transmitted or used in any way without the prior them accordingly. Whether you’re looking for a shopping app or photo editor, or
written permission of the publisher. The 2011 iPhone app guide is the a fun game or music-making tool, we’ve got all you need to know about the very
trademark of Future Publishing Limited. best apps available right now.
Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in If you’re keen to give app-making a go, then we’ve covered the process of
England and Wales. Registered office: Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth developing iPhone apps as well. We’ll show you how to get started with our expert
Street, Bath BA1 2BW. All information contained in this publication is
advice; we’ve also got the lowdown from developers who are making cash from the
for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time
of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors world’s biggest provider of downloadable content. ■
or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact
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The 2011 iPhone app guide 3

YOUR iPHONE EXPLORE
Discover the appeal of the iPhone and iPod touch ... page 6 Streamline your travel plans........................................... page 58
6 Meet the iPhone and iPod touch 60 Sat-nav on the iPhone

16 25 things to do with your iPhone 64 Apps for out and about
TUTORIAL ENJOY
Download apps, and back them up ............................ page 24 Find an app for every part of your lifestyle ............... page 70
26 Install apps with iTunes 72 Can an iPhone get you fit?

30 Install apps with your iPhone 76 Lifestyle & Leisure apps
32 Back up your apps 84 Social networking apps
88 Media & Entertainment apps
94 Research & Relaxation apps
CREATE
Edit photos, make movies and create music............ page 34
36 Edit photos on your iPhone

WORK
Turn your iPhone into a mobile oﬃce ........................ page 96
38 Photography apps
42 Art & Visual apps 98 Access your iDisk on your iPhone
48 Music & Sound apps 100 Office tools
106 Utility tools
112 Apps for internet assistance
YOUR iPHONE The iPhone family
Say hello
6 The 2011 iPhone app guide

The iPhone family YOUR iPHONE
to iPhone
Discover the appeal of all the
iPhone and iPod touch models
you can buy today
T
here are over a quarter of a million apps
you can use on your iPhone, providing
everything from the simplicity of tip
calculators and fart noise generators to the
sophistication of ‘augmented reality’ tools that
present live information on your iPhone screen
based on what you’re looking at through its
camera. And, of course, there are tens of thousands
of games, from solitaire and quizzes to 3D virtual
worlds and racing games of the kind you normally
expect to see only on a PC or PlayStation.
But you can’t have apps if you don’t have an
iPhone. Over the next 10 pages, we introduce you
to the complete iPhone family. We start with an
overview of all available models, explaining the
key distinctions and offering a full run-down of
every iOS device you can buy. Then we go in depth
to look at the iPhone 4 and its pocket-sized
siblings, the iPhone 3GS and the new iPod touch.
Although iPad apps aren’t covered in this guide,
we round out the iOS range by briefly introducing
you to the potential of this magazine-sized device.
Whether you’re getting your first iOS mobile or
upgrading from an older model, we’ve got
everything you need to make an informed buying
decision. Let’s get started…
Whether you’re getting

your first iOS mobile or
upgrading, we’ve got
everything you need for an
informed buying decision
A LONG WAY… Launched as recently as 2007, the original iPhone (left)
has inspired three subsequent models, as well as the multi-touch iPod and
innovative new iPad. iPhone users have over 250,000 apps to choose from

Choose your
ideal iOS device
Pick between an iPhone, an iPod touch or an iPad
E
ach iOS device that
Apple offers has a
distinctive set of
characteristics that
define it, but it’s just as
important to look at
what unites them. What
are the key attributes that
iPhone all three iOS products –
pricing iPhone, iPod touch and
iPad – share?
The iPhone prices we Every iOS device design
quote are typical if you
take out a Pay & Go tariff. is dominated by its screen,
You can get any iPhone a sheer glass plane you
model for much less – or can touch to activate
even for free – if you get
a pay-monthly contract.
controls. Inside the case is
Visit your local phone the processor that runs the
carrier store for details. device, solid-state storage
to hold your data and apps,
and a highly efficient
battery. There’s also wireless
networking, enabling each
device to connect to Wi-Fi
networks in your home, in The iPad can be used in landscape or portrait mode, with the screen rotating automatically.
your office or in hotels, coffee
shops, pubs and transport hubs Building on this foundation, each iOS The other pocket-sized device in
while out and about. product within the range offers a the iOS range is the iPhone 3GS, which
Then, of course, there’s the combination of further features to suit preceded the iPhone 4 and remains
iOS itself: this is the name of different needs and budgets. The available as a more affordable option.
the operating system (the iPhone 4 is the most complete package, Although it’s a very capable phone, its
equivalent of Windows or Mac with call and messaging functionality built-in processor is slower than its
OS X on a computer) that all alongside wireless networking, plus a successor’s and the display offers a
these devices run. Formerly high-resolution display that’s more like lower resolution.
known as iPhone OS, iOS reading from paper than a screen. The final iOS device is the iPad: a
provides the framework that There’s also GPS, the technology that’s wholly different proposition from the
enables anyone to write apps for more colloquially known as sat-nav, others. This magazine-sized machine is
you to use, as well as offering a enabling the iPhone 4 to feed your more suitable for using around the
set of built-in apps you can run
from the first time you switch
on your iOS device. iOS is
Building on one foundation, each iOS product
periodically updated to offer
new features: the latest release is
offers a combination of further features to suit
iOS 4. All the iOS devices shown different needs and budgets
opposite are able to run this
version, although iOS 4 won’t precise location to relevant apps, like home or office than on the street. Its
be available for iPad until Maps and Camera, with the latter much larger screen means that apps
November. iPhone 3GS’ slower logging where you are while taking look and behave more like they do on
processor means that it isn’t able each photo, for example. a computer. All iPads offer wireless
to support some of iOS 4’s Alongside the iPhone is the iPod networking, but you can also choose
features, such as the Camera touch, which looks very similar to its a model that can use a 3G mobile
app’s HDR exposure system. sibling but has a few important phone network – although only for
differences. There’s no phone or GPS data use like the internet rather than
4THOUGHT The iPhone 4 offers a new form inside, although wireless networking is making phone calls. Unlike the iPhone
factor and some exciting new features, such as supported. The display is not quite as and iPod touch, the iPad doesn’t have
a front-facing camera for video chat good as the iPhone 4’s, either. a built-in camera.

iPhone
Released June 2010
iPad
Released May 2010
iPhone 3GS 8GB iPhone 4 16GB iPhone 4 32GB

£419 (Pay & Go) £499 (Pay & Go) £599 (Pay & Go)
• Available in black • Available in black or white • Available in black or white
• 3.5-inch widescreen • 3.5-inch widescreen • 3.5-inch widescreen
• 320x480 pixels • 640x960 pixels • 640x960 pixels
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
• Quad-band GSM, tri-band 3G • Quad-band GSM, tri-band 3G • Quad-band GSM, tri-band 3G
• Assisted GPS • Assisted GPS • Assisted GPS
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Photo and video geotagging • Photo and video geotagging • Photo and video geotagging
• Battery lasts up to 30 hours • Battery lasts up to 40 hours • Battery lasts up to 40 hours
(audio) / 10 hours (video) / (audio) / 10 hours (video) / (audio) / 10 hours (video) /
12 hours (talktime) 14 hours (talktime) 14 hours (talktime)
• 62.1x115.5x12.3mm • 58.6x115.5x9.3mm • 58.6x115.5x9.3mm
• 135g
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista
• 137g
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista
• 137g
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista iPad 16GB
or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later
£429 (Wi-Fi)
£529 (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen
• 768x1,024 pixels
• 1GHz Apple A4 processor
iPod touch
• Up to 10 hours surfing on Wi-Fi, watching video
or listening to music
• 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speaker
• Microphone
• 189.7x242.8x13.4mm
Released September 2010 • 68g (Wi-Fi model) / 73g (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista or 7 /
Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later
iPad 32GB
£499 (Wi-Fi)
£599 (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen
• 768x1,024 pixels
• 1GHz Apple A4 processor
• Up to 10 hours surfing on Wi-Fi, watching video
or listening to music
• 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speaker
• Microphone
• 189.7x242.8x13.4mm
• 68g (Wi-Fi model) / 73g (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista or 7 /
Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later
iPod touch 8GB iPod touch 32GB iPod touch 64GB

£189 £249 £329 iPad 64GB
• Up to 1,750 songs • Up to 7,000 songs • Up to 14,000 songs
• Up to 10,000 photos • Up to 25,000 photos • Up to 50,000 photos £599 (Wi-Fi)
• Up to 10 hours of video • Up to 40 hours of video • Up to 80 hours of video £699 (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• Available in black • Available in black • Available in black • 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen
• 3.5-inch screen • 3.5-inch screen • 3.5-inch screen • 1,024x768 pixels
• 640x960 pixels • 640x960 pixels • 640x960 pixels • 1GHz Apple A4 processor
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) • Up to 10 hours surfing on Wi-Fi, watching video
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR or listening to music
• Nike + iPod support • Nike + iPod support • Nike + iPod support • 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
• Battery lasts up to 40 hours • Battery lasts up to 40 hours • Battery lasts up to 40 hours • Built-in speaker
(audio) / 7 hours (video) (audio) / 7 hours (video) (audio) / 7 hours (video) • Microphone
• 58.9x111x7.2mm • 58.9x111x7.2mm • 58.9x111x7.2mm • 189.7x242.8x13.4mm
• 101g • 101g • 101g • 68g (Wi-Fi model) / 73g (Wi-Fi + 3G)
• Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista • Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista • Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista • Requires Windows XP SP3, Vista or 7 /
or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later or 7 / Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later


F
ollowing all the hype and hysteria
we have come to expect with the
MOBILE PHONE launch of Apple products, the
iPhone 4 has landed in the UK. For the
iPhone 4
first time, it’s been launched
simultaneously with the US and has
appeared on most UK phone operators’
rosters straight away.
As you may know, the arrival didn’t
go as smoothly as Apple might have
wished, with a troubling signal loss
Reception issues for some don’t issue for anyone holding the iPhone 4
stop the new iPhone being the ‘incorrectly’. Who even knew prior to
iPhone’s June debut that there was a
best mobile you can get ‘correct’ way to hold mobiles? You live
and learn…
There is no denying, though, that the
iPhone 4 is a stunning-looking piece of
tech. It’s 24 per cent slimmer than the
3GS at just 9.3mm thick; beautifully
compact, but with considerable heft;
and has a hard-edged industrial
sexiness instead of the more
curvaceous, tactile charms of the earlier
iPhones. The glass front and back is
very tough: we’ve dropped ours a few
times, and it’s come up smiling… so far.
A more contentious design feature is
the steel band that separates front and
back – not for aesthetic reasons, but
because it’s also the aerial, and the
cause of the iPhone’s well-documented
reception issues, seemingly something
to do with contact between it and
human skin. We’ve found we can live
with it. You may take a different view.
Bizarre reception flaws aside, the
5 iPhone 4 is a great showcase for Apple’s
technological and design prowess, with
the new iOS 4 operating system and
a noticeably faster processor than the
3GS, making operation a smooth and
enjoyable experience. It all chugs along
nicely, from the media player to the
apps to the web browser. The latter
app is better than ever, despite the
lack of compatibility with Flash for web
The details KEY INFO

4 1 Noise-cancelling mic:
A new noise-cancelling mic
for clearer phone calls
2 Two cameras: Five-meg

cam with LED flash on the
back, and a front-facing cam
115mm
for video calls using FaceTime
3 Volume controls:
These are now individual
buttons – bigger and easier
to locate with one hand
4 Stainless steel band:

This band acts as part of
the iPhone 4’s antenna. You 59mm
can blame it for all those 9.3mm
pesky reception issues Price 16GB, £499; 32GB, £599
Screen 3.5-inch, 640x960 pixels
5 Micro sim: Insert your
smaller SIM into this
space-saving slot
Processor 1GHz Apple A4
Storage 16GB or 32GB solid-state
Connectivity 7.2Mbps HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR,
802.11b/g/nWi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm audio
Battery 7 hours 3G talk, 10 hoursWi-Fi browsing,
6 hours 3G browsing, 10 hours video, 40 hours audio
Camera 5 megapixels with tap to focus; LED flash
Video 720p; up to 30fps
Size/weight 59x115x9.3mm/137g

KEY FEATURES OF THE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM video. That’s just not going to happen,
The lowdown:
according to Apple, so get used to it.
And in any case, more websites are
starting to use iPhone-friendly
alternative technologies.
The processor is the same sprightly
iOS 4 revealed
Apple A4 chip found in the iPad. You’d
think that this much power would
drain the battery at speed, but we can
confirm the new iPhone’s battery life
is slightly better than the 3GS.
These all come as standard on the iPhone 4, and The 3.5-inch Retina Display is a big
improvement over the 3GS’s screen –
can also be applied to the iPhone 3GS. Some and those of all other mobile devices,
features also work on the 3G and iPod touch for that matter. With an 800:1 contrast
ratio and 960x640 resolution, it sets a
new benchmark for mobile displays,
Multi-tasking being a joy to use indoors and at most
outdoor light levels. It becomes
Long overdue unless you
jailbroke your 3GS – and of
reflective and difficult to admire when
course you didn’t do that, in direct, bright sunlight, but it’s still far
because it would be evil – superior in this respect to the displays
multi-tasking on iOS 4 is a bit found on most new Android phones,
of a fudge at present.
To get at it, you double-tap for example.
the Home button. This brings The only downside is that older apps
up a sub menu of apps, so you and their icons can appear dated and
can quickly swap between
eBay, Safari, email and games.
grainy on the Retina Display – app
The latest Spotify app is developers will have to improve their
an example of how to do multi- wares for the iPhone 4.
tasking well, while developers Another area they’ll have to look at is
of messaging apps such as
Windows Live Messenger and multi-tasking. As expected, iOS 4 brings
IM+ have been quick to this to the iPhone table – but at the
support iOS 4 fully. moment, by no means all apps support
Most apps, though, still
require you to log out and then
the feature: they have to be updated.
back in as needed. No doubt It’ll be interesting to see if iPhone
this will change over time. purchasers start clamouring for all apps
to support multi-tasking, or whether
they’ll conclude that it’s really only
iBooks music and social networking apps that
require it…
The iBooks app and store have been available since the
launch of the iPad, which is obviously ideally suited to
Apple’s iOS 4 has other tricks up its
displaying books. The iPhone is less ideal, but it makes sleeve. You can create folders for your
a decent fist of ebookery. Reading from the 3.5-inch apps – a great addition – and set your
screen is only bearable for short periods of time, but it’s own home screen image, scrapping
great for short commutes. Apple’s iBookstore offers over
60,000 new books along with free out of print titles, the any-colour-as-long-as-it’s-black
which you download to a virtual bookshelf. The choice is approach of previous models.
piddling compared to Amazon Kindle, but the user
experience is better, and there’s a Kindle app should you
want more. Attention to detail is fantastic: as you turn
pages, you can even see the copy through the page. In just 12 months since the iPhone 3GS
launch, Steve Jobs and his band have
More key features again redefined mobile handsets
Email accounts you flick through endlessly
Control multiple email to find anything, iOS 4 lets
accounts for Gmail, Yahoo, you organise apps into
iBooks makes the jump from iPad to
Exchange and more from folders. Simply hold down iPhone with the arrival of iOS 4 and
one unified inbox and an app and move it over a offers up text of impeccable clarity,
organise messages by second to create a new thanks to the Retina Display, although
thread. It makes reviewing folder. Click a folder to go
messages far simpler. inside and view the apps obviously the type is of insufficient size
lurking within. for anything more than half an hour or
Spell checker so of comfortable reading. Crystal-clear,
Compatible with Mail, Background
Notes and other apps. Bored of the black
well-defined fonts similarly enhance
backdrop? Pick your own. web browsing, email and all other text-
iAds based functionality.
Starting to filter Gift apps The on-screen keyboard is visually
through now, these allow Lets you buy apps and gift
developers to place them to a fellow Apple unchanged and still excellent. We
interactive ads with video user, just as you already would have liked to have seen support
and online content in apps. could with music in iTunes. for numbers and punctuation on the
They can make use of the
location services to offer Game Center
same keys as the letters, as on the HTC
advertising tailored to Included in the iOS 4.1 Desire, but auto-correction of your
where you are. Boy, are we update, Game Center is spelling seems even better than in
looking forward to that… a social gaming network the previous iOS.
for iPhone, letting users
Folders challenge each other and The camera’s been improved, too.
Instead of having compare scores. It’s very Don’t get your hopes up too high: stills
numerous home screens early days for this one. are not suddenly of compact camera

DISCREET DISPLAY The

iPhone 4’s Retina Display
is brighter and less NOW EVEN BETTER THAN EVER
reflective than other new
Killer features…
display technologies
of the iPhone 4
1 iMovie
To make the most of
the iPhone 4’s excellent 720p
varies depending on which
of the five themes you select.
Bright and Modern are the
video capability and sound, most unobtrusive, but we’d
aspiring video editors need have liked a few more to play
the iMovie app, available on with. Once you’ve finished
the App Store for £2.99. editing, you can export in
iMovie’s been available as one of three resolutions, the
part of the iLife suite for best being 720p HD.
ages, so the user interface Unsurprisingly for an app
will be familiar to many Mac that’s cheaper than a pint,
users. It’s just as slick and there are limitations. You
easy to use on the iPhone 4, can’t control the volume, and
with the A4 processor music can only go at the
speeding things along nicely. beginning of a clip. But by
Tap video footage to bring making video-editing
up video-trimming tools, capability accessible to
and double-tap to add anyone on the move, iMovie
transitions, the style of which is an essential iPhone app.
quality, but they are much better than

on the 3GS (as well as the HTC Desire)
2 FaceTime
Remember when
everyone thought that video
users on Macs. Quality is far
better than existing 3G
mobile video calls, displayed
and also bigger at five megapixels, with chat would be the future – at a decent resolution. The
the welcome addition of an LED flash. then it arrived and nobody option to switch to the rear
Video has undergone an even more used it? Apple hopes to cam to show your chat
striking improvement. The 720p HD change that with FaceTime, buddy what you’re looking
footage looks pristine, both on the the iPhone 4’s video-calling at is a nice touch, and there’s
Retina Display and when uploaded to function, which uses a front- no noticeable lag if you’re
your computer, although some detail facing camera to facilitate both on a decent broadband
seems to be lost when compressing for 30fps video conversations. internet connection.
direct uploading to YouTube. In-camera You activate FaceTime via FaceTime’s a nice idea, but
editing is also straightforward, and you your Contacts; for it to work, it needs to work over 3G and
can add the iMovie app (£3) if you want the person you’re calling with other devices if it’s ever
more sophisticated editing. must have both Wi-Fi and to take off. Video calling’s
In addition to the main camera on an iPhone 4 (or new iPod been tried before and made
the rear, there’s a second, front-facing touch) of their own. You can’t little impact: we’re not
one. This is to facilitate Apple’s attempt yet make video calls to other convinced anyone’s
to popularise mobile video calling with devices – not even iChat clamouring for it now.
its Skype-style FaceTime app. It’s more
fun than essential – it needs to work
over 3G rather than just Wi-Fi, for a
start – but it’s a worthwhile addition.
Finally, iPhones have always been
great media players, and that’s still true.
3 Camera
One regular complaint
about earlier iPhones was
Sharp, with decent contrast
and bright colours, results
are better than the iPhone
Should you choose to use Cover Flow, the mediocre camera. 3GS. The LED flash means
it seems slightly quicker to us, as do Apple’s upped the quality of you can finally use the
syncing and copying tracks, though the iPhone 4’s one and also camera in poorly lit areas.
improvements are minimal. hiked the resolution to five We would have preferred a
The iPhone 4 is another classic slice megapixels, letting you xenon flash, of course. You
of Apple. In just 12 months since the produce 13x10-inch prints, also get a 5x digital zoom –
3GS launch, Steve Jobs and his band if you’re that way inclined. not a lot of use, in truth –
have again redefined mobile handsets. Composing pictures on the and the ability to geotag.
From the simply beautiful Retina sharp screen is so natural The iPhone 4’s camera is
Display to the addition of HD video, and enjoyable, and tapping great for taking snaps on the
and from the idiot-proof user interface the screen is a simple way to go. There’s no way to adjust
to the attempted reinvention of video focus. There’s still no solid settings, so it’s no challenge
calling, the Apple iPhone 4 is a majestic shutter, but response time to a compact camera – but
piece of kit that will no doubt steal is quick, and you can also in terms of general quality,
hearts. As long as that signal-loss issue switch from stills to videos it’s easily in the top rank of
doesn’t prove to be a killer, anyway. ● in a trice. smartphone cams.

KEY INFO
Price £419
Processor 600MHz ARM
Storage 8GB solid-state
Connectivity 7.2Mbps HSDPA,
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 802.11b/g
Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm audio
Battery 5 hours 3G talk, 9 hours
Wi-Fi browsing, 5 hours 3G browsing,
10 hours video, 30 hours audio
Camera 3 megapixels
with tap to focus; no flash
Video VGA (640x480); up to 30fps
Size/weight
62.1x115.5x12.3mm /135g
SUBTLE The iPhone 3GS looks

identical to the previous iPhone 3G
model – not great for show-offs!
MOBILE PHONE
iPhone 3GS 8GB

An affordable option for anyone who doesn’t need an iPhone 4
P
robably the most technically 3GS still lacks a flash, but brings a MobileMe gallery or YouTube, or email
advanced smartphone available 3MP-resolution camera with a macro or MMS it to a friend. Bear in mind that
today, iPhone 4 is a highly capable lens to the party. Focussing is it takes a long time to send video, even
device: so capable, in fact, that some automatic, but you can also tap on the on a Wi-Fi connection, so you’re only
people may feel that it provides more area of the screen to focus on that spot. going to want to send very short clips.
power than they actually need. If The white balance and exposure are Uploading to YouTube was flawless;
you expect your app use to be too automatically adjusted too, which is MobileMe (perhaps slightly predictably)
infrequent to justify an iPhone 4, Apple pretty clever. The extra megapixels help proved less reliable.
maintains its predecessor the iPhone enormously in picture quality, but The oil-resistant screen is fantastic:
3GS as a more affordable option. taking pictures in low light levels just wipe the screen on a piece of
The 3GS is essentially an enhanced remain a problem. The macro lens takes clothing and the smudgy fingerprints
version of the iPhone 3G, which was good close-up shots, without the made during regular use are gone. Also
released in 2008. Thanks to a faster blurring that afflicted previous new to the 3GS is Voice Control. Press
processor, it feels much snappier than generations, but it’s still only and hold the Home button until you
the 3G. In a side-by-side hear a beep, then call a
test over Wi-Fi, the BBC The iPhone 3GS is video-capable and can contact from your
4
News site loaded in address book by saying
seven seconds, edit… drag the start and end points of your “Call Graham”, for
compared to 12.5 example. Voice Control
seconds on the 3G. clip, tap the trim button and you’re done also works in the iPod
The battery life is app, where you can
much improved, too: we can last comparable to a camera that some request music by voice command;
a whole day without going low four-year-old mobile phones have. however, this can be a bit hit-and-miss
on power. Apple isn’t claiming any More importantly, the iPhone 3GS with exotic band names.
increase in talk time over the previous is video-capable. And the really clever
model, but video, music playback and thing is that it has capabilities for For first-timers
web browsing all show improvements. editing video on the phone as well – If you’re a potential first-time iPhone
A great introduction to the just drag the start and end points of owner who hasn’t made the jump yet,
world of iPhone, but get Better camera your clip and tap the Trim button and then the time is now – the iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4 if you want a The iPhone 3G was rightly criticised you’re done. It all works surprisingly has got everything you’ll need to
better display and a more for its poor 2.0 megapixel fixed-focus well. Once you’ve shot your video, become a paid-up member of the
capable camera camera without a flash. The new iPhone you can upload it straight to your iPhone revolution. ●

KEY INFO
Price 8GB, £189;
32GB, £249; 64GB, £329
Processor 1GHz Apple A4
Storage 8GB, 32GB
or 64GB solid-state
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR,
802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi, 3.5mm audio
Battery 7 hours video,
40 hours audio
Camera 0.7 megapixels
with tap to focus; no flash
Video 720p; up to 30fps
Size/weight
58.9x110x7.2mm/101g
TOUCHTASTIC
The new, thinner
iPod touch has
a Retina Display
and cameras for
FaceTime video calls
PORTABLE AUDIO PLAYER
iPod touch
A better screen, two cameras and video calling grace this updated device
W
here the iPhone leads, the iPod services, they’re invariably less accurate iPhone 4. Now, iPod touch users can
touch follows – and the latest than on the iPhone, because there’s no join in the fun, because you no longer
update brings the flagship GPS. Instead, the device uses Wi-Fi make a regular mobile call first. When
iPod arguably closer to the iPhone than networks to work out where you are. you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network,
ever before. You get the Retina Display, The cameras are a welcome addition you call someone using their iPhone 4
A4 processor, FaceTime video calls and to the iPod touch, but they’re not the mobile number or their FaceTime email
HD movie recording, all at a much same as those on the iPhone 4. The address. Making calls worked without
lower price than the iPhone 4. And, of rear-facing one shoots stills at just 0.7 a hitch, although we found that we
course, there are no extra costs like megapixels (compared to 5 megapixels didn’t get any notification if our
phone contracts involved. on the iPhone). There’s no moving focus recipient’s device wasn’t connected
The Retina Display in the iPod touch either, so while this can do the job if to a Wi-Fi network.
isn’t quite the same as the one on the you’re out without your ‘proper’ camera, General performance is on a par
iPhone: the viewing angles aren’t as any cheap compact model from the last with the iPhone 4, thanks to the A4
good. This wasn’t a problem when we five years will trounce it. processor (which also powers the iPad).
were using it on our As a portable gaming
own, but when a group As a portable gaming device, the iPod device, the iPod touch
5
crowded round, there is great, and will only
was a noticeable touch is great, and will only get better as get better as the new
difference compared to Game Center grows in
the iPhone 4. That said, the new Gamer Center grows in popularity popularity. If you’re
the display is still after a music player
fantastic: text is crystal-sharp, and When it comes to video, however, that can double as an internet device or
colours are bright and vivid. things are different. The iPod touch phone when you’re at home, look no
records 720p HD footage that’s better further. Even if you do want to use the
Not so wireless in some ways than the iPhone 4. We web when you’re out and about
The iPod touch can’t connect to a preferred it for everyday point-and- occasionally, an iPod touch and a MiFi is
mobile data network, which means no shoot footage, since panning was cheaper than an iPhone. While we’d like
phone calls, or web browsing outside a smoother. You can then edit and to have seen a lower price, especially Get yourself iPhone 4
Wi-Fi signal. There are ways around this, publish your work by buying iMovie for the 8GB model, and the camera is a performance and some
of course, such as Novatel’s MiFi device, from the App Store. disappointment, the new iPod touch is great features at a fraction
available in the UK via the 3 network. Then there’s FaceTime video chat, an incredible package, at a price far of its price. The iPod touch
While the iPod touch supports location which until now was limited to the below the iPhone. ● just got even better

YOUR iPHONE 25 things to do
things you never

knew you could
use your iPhone for…
F
rom the moment you turn
it on for the first time, your
iPhone can make calls, access
the internet, send and receive
emails, and even tell you what the
weather is like in Kuala Lumpur.
But it can do much more besides,
thanks to the App Store… This
list highlights the ingenious
applications that can transform your
iPhone into a television, a plumb
line, an atomic clock and more.
Over the next eight pages, we’ll
show you the fun and possibly
unfamiliar uses for your iPhone.
Most of them will work with the
iPod touch as well – although the
lack of camera and always-on
internet may mean they become
less useful or less convenient – and
all are available, either free or for a
small fee, from the App Store. You
can buy them through iTunes on
your Mac or PC, or download them
direct to your iPhone via its own
App Store app. Turn to page 24 to
find out how it’s done.
So, let’s discover some great new
uses for your iPhone. Who knows
what it’ll become next? ●

25 things to do YOUR iPHONE
TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…
1 Radio & TV 2 Unit converter

with Tuner Internet Radio and BBC iPlayer with Measures and Convertbot
T W
here’s a bunch of ways of hether it’s Celsius and
getting media on to an Fahrenheit or gallons
iPhone. The BBC’s iPhone- and litres, there are
optimised iPlayer website far too many different and
(www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer) is very conflicting ways of measuring
good, offering new and recent the same thing. With Measures
BBC TV and radio programmes Unit and Currency Converter
to stream. Its high quality (59p/99¢) on your iPhone,
means that it requires a Wi-Fi however, you’ve got a great
connection, though, and you way of quickly converting
must be in the UK to access it. between pretty much any
You could also record TV direct measurement units that
to your computer using, say, you can think of.
one of Elgato’s TV tuners, then Measures has a whopping
export the content to your 1,000 units in 38 categories to
iTunes library, ready to be choose between. What makes
synced to the iPhone. the app a joy to use, though, is
As far as apps go, try Tuner the great interface, which uses
Internet Radio (£2.99/$4.99), scroll wheels for selecting
a centralised service for different options. You can also
thousands of streaming radio wipe to clear the input and start
PLAY TIME The iPhone-optimised iPlayer site from stations from all over the world. a new conversion. CONVERT Turn your iPhone into a convenient unit
the BBC is a textbook example of mobile web apps It works over Wi-Fi and 3G. We also like Convertbot converter with the lovely Measures application
Also, Last.fm (free) is a (£1.19/$1.99), which is able to
brilliant service that creates recognise mixed units; it’ll
personalised music stations convert 5 feet, 9 inches into
tailored to your tastes. ● metres, for example. ●
TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…
3 Dictionary 4 Instant library

with Concise Oxford English Dictionary with Classics and Stanza
Y A
ou may have access to an pple has launched its
internet-full of definitions own electronic book app
with an iPhone, but web with iBooks (free), and
dictionary pages can be slow to Amazon’s Kindle app (free) is
load and are rarely optimised also popular, thanks to its huge
for the iPhone’s screen. selection. But Classics (£1.79/
Step forward, the Concise $2.99) offers something neither
Oxford English Dictionary of these apps do: a ready-to-
(£11.99/$19.99). It’s a native read library of high-quality
app, so once it’s launched, it’s literature without you needing
much snappier than a website. to browse through bookstores
The interface could be more or spend time downloading.
elegant, and the quality of Offering over 20 of the
spoken pronunciations could greatest works ever written,
be better, but it’s great to have from Homer to Kafka, Classics
the OED in your pocket. is polished throughout, with
If £11.99 seems like a lot of a bookmark that keeps your
money for an app, bear in mind place when you switch
that the equivalent print edition between different books. You
costs at least £16, even through can’t add your own books to
bargain online booksellers – it, but the developers are
STUCK FOR WORDS? Get your dictionary definitions and you can’t carry the Concise committed to adding more. LOVE LITERATURE Become well read (or have it just
in an instant with the Concise OED (and optional OED’s 240,000 words and If you’re looking for a more to look like you’re well read) with a library of Classics
thesaurus) for iPhone
phrases around as easily with a extensible reader, Stanza (free).
1,700-page hardback. You can can read many text formats, so
get the same dictionary app you could fill up your iPhone
with a thesaurus for £17.99. ● with copyright-free classic texts. ●

5 Retro camera 6 GPS logger

with CameraBag with Trails GPS Tracker
U I
sing CameraBag (£1.19/ f you want to track where you’ve been
$1.99), you can apply while hiking or riding a mountain bike,
special effects either to Trails (£2.39/$3.99) records your position
pics – whether they’re taken at regular intervals, then plots the path
directly with your iPhone’s you took on to a satellite or terrain map,
camera or transferred over via complete with altitude data, for you to
iTunes – to make them look a review. You can also export the waypoint
lot more interesting. All of the data to use in other GPS devices or
effects are based on the results computer software. ●
generated by various camera
models throughout the
generations. You can apply a TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…
super-saturated effect called
Helga, go mono, use a fish-eye
lens effect, make it look like a
7 Lightsaber
Lomo shot, apply a Polaroid
effect, or make the shot look with Lightsaber Unleashed
as if it were taken in 1962 or
W
1974, if you really wanted to. e’re happy to recommend fluff,
The effects are remarkably and it doesn’t get much fluffier
convincing, and we like the fact than Lightsaber Unleashed (free),
BYGONE BAG Go retro with your photos by using that, if you set the preference, which whums and buzzes convincingly as
CameraBag to emulate classic cameras of the past the app will save the original you move your phone around. You can
shot from the camera as well as choose your light colour and hilt to emulate
the cropped, edited shot, ready your favourite Star Wars character, and can
to be emailed or transferred to even create a custom character with photos
your computer. ● from your collection. ●
8 Rock group 9 Tape measure

with Band with iHandy Carpenter
Y R
ou can think about Band guitar, an interactive appreciative ulerPhone (£2.39/$3.99) calculates
(£2.39/$3.99) in two ways. audience, the drum kit shown lengths by getting you to take a
It’s either a little tinkering below and a fun 12-bar blues photo of what you want to measure
device for songwriters on the creator. You can layer instruments with a credit card placed in the scene for
move, giving them a pad that they together and overdub them as reference. iHandy Carpenter (£1.19/$1.99)
can jam with to try out ideas; or you start to put together your goes further, packing a ruler, two spirit
it’s a pretty meaty multi-track mini musical masterpiece. levels, a protractor and plumb line into a
recorder that you could, in theory, It’s not perfect; the timings single app. You can measure not only
use to create a whole piece of can be tricky to get right and the lengths, but distances and angles. ●
music from scratch. export options are a little limited,
There’s a range of musical by the nature of the iPhone, but
instruments included in the it’s good fun and is a great app to TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…
application: a keyboard, a bass have to show off your iPhone. ●
10 Games console
with Super Monkey Ball et al
O
ne of the first
iPhone games to
be seen in public
before the App Store
launched, Super Monkey
Ball (£1.79/$2.99) got
iPhone gaming started.
Now the gaming scene
has exploded, with over
65,000 titles. Check out
our reviews of the best
MUSIC MAKER If you have the patience, Band is a great little creative app for making music on the move games from page 114. ●

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…
11 Digital housemaid
with Bathomatic and Rimote
U
nique Automation’s Bathomatic (free) enables you to remotely
control the company’s bespoke bath management systems. This
actually lets you turn on the taps and run a bath to your chosen
temperature while commuting home. Sister app Rimote (free) controls
your Bathovision network-enabled high-definition TV. The catch? You’ll
need a fully-automated home control system by the likes of Crestron or
AMX, costing in excess of £20,000. Need a cold shower after seeing that
price? Unique’s iShower app (£2.39/$3.99) has that covered. ●

12 Weight scale
with WiScale
N
ot content with measuring your weight, the
Withings Connected Scale also beams the
results for computer analysis. It’ll weigh you,
calculate your body fat percentage – by running a
low intensity current through your body where
your feet make contact with the scales – and figure
out your body mass index (BMI), a rough indicator
of whether you weigh what you should.
With the accompanying WiScale app (free),
information about the extent of your portliness is
sent via Wi-Fi to your iPhone, where you can use
the data to make graphs that track your weight,
BMI and body fat percentage changes.
This speak-your-weight machine for the iPhone
era mirrors the stylish look of Apple’s device, with
tempered glass over a curved metallic back.
Hopefully it’ll help reduce the size of your curved,
non-metallic front… ●

13 Remote control 14 Number pad

with Remote, Air Mouse and LogMeIn Ignition with NumberKey
T T
here are so many ways he keyboard on a laptop is fine, but
to use your iPhone as a if you have to punch in loads of
remote control that we numbers using the horizontal strip
can barely fit them in. Apple along the top of the keyboard, it’s a pain.
makes two apps: Remote (free) NumberKey (£1.19/$1.99) connects to your
controls your iTunes library laptop (or desktop computer if necessary)
over your Wi-Fi network, and via Wi-Fi, so you can use the iPhone screen
Keynote Remote (59p/99¢) as a numeric keypad. It makes entering
enables you to control figures into spreadsheets so much easier. ●
presentations running in the
version of Keynote that comes
with iWork ’09. TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…
Air Mouse Pro (£1.19/$1.99)
gives you a virtual keyboard
and mouse on your iPhone that
15 Translator
you can use to control your
computer (using either with Talking Phrasebook
Windows or Mac OS X). You can
T
control the cursor trackpad- he iPhone is a life-saver when you
style or by waving your iPhone need the right phrase for the occasion
around. LogMeIn Ignition on holiday. Coolgorilla’s Talking
TAKE CONTROL The Air Mouse Pro app gives you (£17.99/$29.99) lets you assume Phrasebook series is among the best:
a virtual keyboard to remotely control your Mac full control of your computer French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese
over the internet, so in theory and Spanish are free through a deal with
you can access it from lastminute.com; Dutch and Japanese are
anywhere in the world. ● also available for 59p (99¢) each. ●

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…
16 Storage device 17 Ice-breaker
with Air Sharing with OldBooth
W
e have a soft spot for Launch Air Sharing, and it tells you
W
the slick FileMagnet app what IP address your phone is on hen the conversation lulls, just pull
(£2.99/$4.99), which lets the network. You can then use out your iPhone; with the right
you load docs onto your iPhone Connect to Server on the Mac to app on display, you’ll be the centre
and view many popular file types mount it as a network drive. It of attention. OldBooth (£1.19/$1.99) is a
when you’re on the go. But it does works on Windows XP and Vista brilliant app that enables you to put the
mean you need a helper app and Linux too, so it should be faces of your friends and colleagues onto
installed on the computer you possible to connect Air Sharing the heads of American yearbook-style
want to connect to. Air Sharing from any computer. Performance shots, so you can all see how you might
(£1.79/$2.99) gets around this is good, and while it struggles a have looked in another era. ●
by effectively turning your iPhone little when asked to view complex
into a little NAS (network-attached documents on the iPhone, it’s
storage) device. mostly very robust. ● TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…
18 Atomic clock
with Atomic Clock (Gorgy)
W
hen only the precise time will
do the job, Atomic Clock Gorgy
Timing (£1.19/$1.99) syncs with
Apple’s European or US time servers over
the internet to get the most precise time
possible outside the Royal Observatory, the
London home of Greenwich Mean Time.
Yes, it’s pointless, but we think it’s fun, and
the display mimics that of a classic LED
clock created by time-measurement
specialist Gorgy Timing. You can also use
NETWORK DEVICE Load files from your computer to an iPhone and view them on the go with Air Sharing the app to set really precise alarms. ●

19 Shopping mall 20 Phone!

with Amazon et al with Truphone
Y Y
ou can buy and directly download es, you already have a phone (unless
stuff with Apple’s App Store and you’re an iPod touch owner), but
iTunes Store apps, but that’s just the Truphone (free) could offer a cheaper
start! Amazon Mobile UK (free) enables you alternative. It makes calls over the internet
to browse the giant store, check your wish rather than your mobile phone network.
list and place orders. You can also buy Calls to users of Truphone, Skype and
direct with apps from the likes of Next Google Talk are free, while a £8 monthly fee
(free), Game (free) and Debenhams (free). ● gives you unlimited international calls. ●
TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…
21 Seismometer 22 Arbitrator
with Seismometer with MotionX Dice
O I
f course, Seismometer (59p/99¢) f you need to make a decision but don’t
isn’t much use for seismologists: have a coin to flip, try iHandy Coin Flip
there’s no scale on the display, for a (59p/99¢). Alternatively, the physics of
start. But it’s nevertheless quite fun seeing MotionX Dice (free) will dazzle you as you
the accelerometer record jolts to the iPhone roll them to make decisions. (Apparently,
on the table; and features such as the some ancient civilisations used dice to elect
ability to export data might encourage kids their governments.) Of course, you can use
to explore geological science further. ● the dice for conventional purposes too. ●
23 Guitar amp
Then, using the AmpliTube app (the basic
version is free, but you can pay up to
£11.99/$19.99 to add more pedals), you
can listen to your guitar with a variety of
with AmpliTube different effects, such as Chorus, Delay and
Wah, or through different types of amp –
T
he AmpliTube iRig is a hardware and Lead, Bass and Crunch.
software combination that turns your It’s all great fun. The dials on each effect
iPhone into a fully featured guitar amp, pedal can be adjusted endlessly, and
complete with effects pedals. Just plug the combined to form many variations. The app
iRig device into your iPhone’s 3.5mm stereo itself looks great and is intuitive to use,
headphone minijack and the other end into although the buttons for switching pedals
your guitar, using a standard guitar cable. are a little small to hit accurately. The effects
There’s another 3.5mm port on the iRig for themselves sound fantastic, and produce rich
you to attach headphones. tones that sound just like the real thing. ●

24 Cardiograph
with ithlete
A
imed largely at serious runners and other
sportspeople, ithlete (£34.99/$59.99)
measures heart rate variability, a research-
proven way of getting all-important feedback
about your body’s reaction to daily training and
stress. It involves you spending one minute every
morning following simple on-screen instructions,
breathing in and out while a plug-in receiver
(which you can get for free from ithlete’s publisher)
picks up a signal from a chest-strap monitor (which
you need to buy yourself).
You can track daily changes in the health of
your nervous system, indicating stress levels from
training and daily life. As well as on-screen graphs,
ithlete gives you a daily indicator that indicates
whether you should train hard, train easy or rest up
completely. Some expensive heart-rate watches
perform a similar function, but we like ithlete’s
simplicity of use and value for money, making it
a great way to train effectively. ●
TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO…
25 The world’s best takeaway menu

with Domino’s, Ocado, Wagamama and Yell.com
Dial a Domino’s… Order Ocado… Want Wagamama? Or just Yell.com

Yes, Domino’s delivers. And it has Many supermarkets’ online You can order some light, tasty Of course, there’s always the Yellow
an ordering app (free) you can ordering should work on your Japanese-style food from the Pages. The Yell.com app (free) can
add to your iPhone. Deep-pan iPhone, but none offer optimised Wagamama app (free). Sadly, the determine your location so that
pepperoni pizza (other toppings websites. Happily, Waitrose, company doesn’t deliver; once when you look for local takeaways,
available!) is a few taps away. Just through its Ocado brand, has an you’ve made your selection, you’ll it tells you which are nearest. Tap
remember to wipe your hands app (free). Use it to order, so long need to leave the house to pick it an icon in the app to call it directly,
before you touch your iPhone. as you live in an eligible area. up at your preferred time. and save favourites to Contacts. ●

TUTORIALS
B
efore you can use an app, you have to get it onto your iPhone.
There are two ways to do this: by downloading the app direct
to your iPhone via its App Store tool, or by downloading the
app to your computer using iTunes, then transferring it to your
iPhone when you next synchronise your computer and iPhone. Here,
we walk you through both approaches, so you can choose the
technique that suits your way of life better.
Backing up your apps and their associated data is vital in case your
iPhone is damaged or stolen. We explain how it’s done.
26 Install apps with iTunes

30 Install apps with your iPhone
32 Back up your apps

TUTORIALS Master iTunes
DESKTOP INSTALLS
Install apps
with iTunes 1
Find out how to download and organise
iPhone apps using your computer 3
O
WHAT YOU’LL NEED ne of the main selling points of
● Any iPhone or iPod touch Apple’s touchscreen devices are
● iTunes forWindows or Mac the mobile applications, or apps,
OS X (free from www.apple. which can be downloaded and used on
com/itunes) the iPhone or iPod touch. An app can
be a game, a set of recipes, or the
services provided by a website such
as Google, repackaged in a standalone
program. Some
An app can be a game, a set are incredibly
useful, such
of recipes, or the services as RadioBOX,
which enables
provided by a website you to access
thousands of
internet radio stations, while others are
entertaining time-wasters, such as the
4
gloriously addictive Draw Race.
Apps vary in price, and while there’s
an extensive free catalogue, many cost
from 59p upwards, few go over £2.99,
Top Tip but some can be a fair bit more. You can
To re-arrange your apps use nearly all iPhone apps on an iPod
on an iPhone, press any touch, with the exception of a few that
icon until they all shake, require the iPhone’s network access.
then drag icons around.
Press the home button Some apps written for the iPad also
to revert to normal. work on an iPhone; look for a + sign
in the price label in the App Store. ●
HOW TO… Install your first app
1 Download iTunes
Before you can do anything with your iPhone or iPod touch, you first
need to download iTunes. This can be downloaded quickly and easily from
2 Visit the iTunes Store
You can download and install apps from iTunes and put them on to
your iPhone. All downloads are from the iTunes Store, so you need to click
www.apple.com/itunes, and needs to be installed on your computer. It then on the link in the left-hand pane of iTunes. Then you are transported into the
finds your music, and registers your iPhone so it can be used. magical world of downloadable content…

Master iTunes TUTORIALS
Jargon buster
From iTunes to iPhone ● Download
1 App Store You have to visit the iTunes Store to download
the apps. At the top of the home page is a link to the App
Store, where you can find all of the available app downloads,
Save a file from the
internet onto your
computer to use later.
free or otherwise.
● Home screen
2 Virtual screen This is a representation of how your iPod
touch or iPhone looks. You can drag the app icons around
so they’re best placed for your needs.
The screen that’s
displayed when you first
turn on your iPhone.
3 Device screen When your iPod touch or iPhone is

connected, it shows up here. Click this option to start
setting up your device, not only for apps, but for music, video,
● Sync
Short for synchronise –
photos, podcasts and much more. updating files on two
devices, such as an iPhone
4 App list All the apps you’ve bought or downloaded from

the store are displayed in this list, and you can choose
which are kept on your iPod touch or iPhone by simply ticking
and a computer, so the
same files are on each.
or unticking them. ● Touchscreen

5 5 Sync Once you’re happy with your settings, click the Sync
button to sync your iPod touch or iPhone with your iTunes
Technology that senses
the movement and
location of your fingers on
library. If you don’t want other media to be synchronised, you a screen, which is used to
can deselect them individually. control your iPhone.
3 App Store
The first screen that opens is the iTunes Store main page. Assuming
that you can keep your credit card holstered, you need to click on the App
4 Find free apps
There are loads of free apps available in the Apps store, but many
cost up to £3, and some cost even more. You can find popular free apps
Store link in the top bar, to be taken to a specialised store where a wealth of by clicking Free Apps in the right-hand Top Charts pane, or browse the
exciting apps is on offer to download. store for a selection of excellent paid-for ones.

TUTORIALS Master iTunes
5 Download an app
To download your app, click Get This. You are asked to confirm your
iTunes user name and password (click Create New Account if you don’t yet
6 Plug in your iPhone
If you haven’t already, you need to plug your iPhone into your
computer using the supplied cable. Your device is then recognised by iTunes
have a user name), then the app is downloaded to your iTunes library. See all (unless it’s the first time, in which case the device needs to be registered),
your available apps by clicking the Apps tab in the Library pane. and you are ready to copy the app to your iPhone.
7 Sync your iPhone

You need to make sure that your apps are synchronised with
your iPhone. Do this by selecting your device from the list, choosing the
8 Organise your apps
In the Applications menu on your device page in iTunes, you can
organise your apps, even if they’re already installed on your iPhone. You can
Applications tab, and then ticking Sync Applications. Once it’s ticked, click tick or untick any of the apps from the list: only ticked devices will appear on
Apply and your apps are copied across to your device. your iPhone. Use the Sort By and Find option above the list to pinpoint apps.
9 Arrange your apps

Next to the list is a mockup of your iPhone’s home screen. Here, you
can drag around app icons, positioning them so that the ones you use most
10 Play! Once you’ve synced your applications, disconnect your iPhone.
Congratulations: you can now use your apps wherever you are. Then you can
are on the home page, and apps you downloaded for fun are on the final have fun experimenting with applications, and see which ones make the
page. Click Apply to make the changes on your connected iPhone. biggest difference to your life. ●

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TUTORIALS Install apps
GET APPS ON THE GO
Install apps with your iPhone

Learn how to install third-party apps from the App Store with these tips
T
WHAT YOU’LL NEED hird-party apps are a good way of pay using the credit card details stored
● Any iPhone or iPod touch getting more out of your iPhone in your iTunes account, so there’s no
or iPod touch. Every iPhone fiddling about entering all your details:
comes with some great apps, such as just click and buy.
Maps, Weather and Safari, but with When you next sync your iPhone
third-party apps (those that aren’t with your computer, any downloaded
written by Apple itself) it can do so apps are backed up in your iTunes
much more. There are over 250,000 of library, and any you’ve downloaded on
them available on the App Store, and your computer are transferred to your
more are being added all the time. device. Of course, there could be
The applications do just about situations where you don’t want a
everything; there are games, books, particular app to be transferred to your
business, health and fitness, and music iPhone. You’ll find settings in iTunes for
apps, to name but a few of the different disabling certain apps from syncing.
types available. The games you can get Just go to the Applications tab when
are particularly good, and classics such you connect your iPhone, and you can
as Super Monkey Ball from Sega make choose not to sync particular apps.
full use of the iPhone’s accelerometer Apple has allowed third parties to
as a novel control mechanism, so you charge whatever they like for their
guide the action by tilting the screen. applications, so exercise caution and
Top Tip As we’ve just seen, you can easily don’t go on too much of a spending
download, organise and install apps on spree. There are many
Quite often there’ll be two
versions of an app on the your iPhone using your computer and great little programs
App Store – the full paid-
for app and a Lite version,
iTunes. But you can also search for and
download apps using the App Store
that are free, so if you’re
looking for something in
There are more than 250,000
which is usually free and
enables you to try the
app your iPhone. Any app you buy this particular, it makes sense apps on the App Store, and
way is ready to use as soon as it’s to check them out before
more are being added
program before you buy it.
downloaded. If the app isn’t free, you parting with your cash. ●
HOW TO… Download apps direct to your iPhone
1 Browse the App Store

On the iPhone, you can access the App Store
using its built-in app. In the Featured section
2 Get more information
To find out more about an app, just tap on
its name when you’re browsing. You’ll get a text
3 Purchase the app
To buy an app, just tap the price label of
the app (or Free if it’s free), then tap Buy Now. The
you’ll find New and What’s Hot selections. The description of the app, written by its author. Scroll app’s icon appears on your Home screen saying
Top 25 section is also a great place to browse down for a screenshot and customer reviews, ‘Loading…’ and a blue progress bar indicates the
for the most popular apps. which are great for feedback. download’s progress.

Install apps TUTORIALS
HOW TO… Update your apps from your iPhone
1 Check for updates

Updates for your installed apps improve
stability or speed, and occasionally add new
2 Install updates
To install any or all of the updates, tap the
App Store icon, followed by Updates at the
3 Update All
You can tap Update All at the top of the
Updates list to have all your apps updated in one
features. The App Store checks for updates every bottom of the screen. Your updates are listed go. It’ll be quicker to update them if you’re
week, but it also checks every time you launch here. Tap an app to find out more. Updates are connected over a Wi-Fi connection, but the
the Store. When an update is available, a number usually free: tap the Free button or the price label process will still work over the cellular network.
appears on the App Store icon. to install the update. Your mobile phone network may charge for this.
Top Tip
There are many great
applications that can
help you navigate the
underground transit
4 Remove apps
You can delete apps from your iPhone.
Normally you’ll restore them from your iTunes
5 Free restore
Make sure you’re signed in with the account
used for the original purchase and launch the
systems of the world’s
major cities, so you can
plan your journey
wherever you go. Have a
library when you sync with your Mac or PC, but App Store on your iPhone, or use the iTunes Store look in the Travel category
on the App Store for your
if you delete a paid-for app before backing it up, on your Mac or PC. Locate the app and click Buy options, then tap to buy.
then you can still retrieve it… App to download it for free.
Write an app review

You can write your own review of an app to tell
people what you think about the program, and
Apple will add it to the App Store for the world to
read, provided it’s of good enough quality. Everyone
appreciates constructive criticism rather than
thoughtless whinges, after all. App reviews can be
written either in iTunes on a Mac or PC, or direct
from an iPhone or iPod touch.
On your iPhone, load up the App Store and locate
the app you want to review. (It needs to be one
you’ve bought or downloaded for free.) From the
Info screen of the app, tap Reviews, followed by the
Compose icon (which looks like a pad and pen) in
the top-right corner. Tap Write a Review and fill out
the form using the on-screen keyboard. You can
enter a nickname, description and title for your
review. Run your finger across the star ratings to
award the app a mark out of five. Once you’re happy
with your review, tap the Send button.
You can also write reviews in iTunes when
browsing the App Store on your Mac or PC. Just click
on Write a Review and type away.

TUTORIALS Backup
SAFETY FIRST If you lose

your iPhone, fear not –
if you’ve got it safely
backed up at home
SAFEGUARD YOUR DATA
Back up your apps

Keep all your iPhone’s data safe on your computer – and recover from disaster!
N
WHAT YOU’LL NEED ot so long ago, it was a full- to your computer’s hard disk. It doesn’t Backing up isn’t just useful for lost
● Any iPhone or iPod touch blown calamity if you lost your copy media such as songs and videos in or damaged iPhones. If you upgrade,
● iTunes forWindows or Mac OS X mobile phone. All your carefully your iTunes library, since they’re already say, from an iPhone 3GS to an iPhone 4,
gathered phone numbers, all your text there, of course. then when you plug your new iPhone
messages from your partner, all those If you restore from a backup, first all into your computer, you’ll be given the
photos you took – gone! And even your data (applications, their settings, option of setting it up as a new device
when you’d been through the rigmarole SMSs, network settings and so on) is or restoring it from an existing backup,
of getting a replacement phone, you’d sent to your new iPhone, and then your making it child’s play to upgrade. It
have to enter all that information again. media will be synchronised. It does works with the iPod touch, too, so if you
But, as will come as no surprise by now, remember which data to sync, though. have an iPod touch and then decide to
it’s all much easier with the iPhone. This means that if you lose or damage buy an iPhone, you can simply copy
Every time you connect it to your your iPhone, once you’ve sorted out a over all the data via iTunes using
computer, replacement you can simply plug it into a streamlined procedure.
Every time you connect it to everything on
your iPhone
your computer and it’ll be exactly like it
was the last time you used it. For this
For more information on iPhone
backups – and what exactly is backed
your Mac or PC, everything is backed
up, safely
reason, if no other, it’s worth plugging
your iPhone into your computer as
up – see the Apple Support article on
the web at http://support.apple.com/
on your iPhone is backed up duplicated frequently as you can – daily, if possible. kb/HT1766. ●

Backup TUTORIALS
HOW TO… Back up, restore, wipe and migrate your iPhone data
1 Automatic backup
The good news is that every time you plug
your iPhone into your Mac or PC using the
2 Manual backup
If you’re feeling a bit paranoid – or, say, need
to force a backup since you know you’re about to
3 Manage your backups
You can have multiple iPhones and iPod
touch devices synced to a single iTunes library,
supplied USB cable – or even passed through via migrate your data to a new device – then right- and can check their backups from the Devices tab
a connection on another piece of hardware, such click on your connected iPhone in iTunes’ left- in iTunes’ preferences. Hover over an entry and
as a speaker dock – your iPhone is backed up hand Source pane, and choose Back Up from the check the phone number, serial number and
quickly and automatically. contextual menu that appears. hardware IMEI reference to identify it.
Top Tip
You’d do well to manage
your backups through
iTunes, but if you really
want to, there’s nothing
to stop you from poking
about in the backups
manually. On a Mac, they’re
stored in Library ➜
Application Support ➜
MobileSync ➜ Backup.
Windows XP puts them in
Documents and Settings
➜ [user name] ➜
Application Data ➜ Apple
Computer ➜ MobileSync
4 Delete backups 5 Wipe your iPhone

➜ Backup; and if you’re on
Windows Vista, look in
From this same preferences window you You’ll rarely want to wipe your iPhone – Users ➜ [user name] ➜
can also delete old iPhone backups. You might unless you’re selling it or giving it away – but it’s AppData ➜ Roaming\
only see your most recent backup if you have the easy to do. Select your iPhone under Devices in Apple Computer ➜
MobileSync ➜ Backup.
one device, but if you’re a bit of a power user then iTunes’ Source pane and click the Restore button
you might see backups for old devices too, taking in the Version section of the screen. You’ll be
up hard disk space. given the option to back up first.
6 Restore from a backup

If you connect a new, blank iPhone OS
device to your computer, iTunes will offer to
7 Pick a backup
You may have multiple iPhone OS devices
backed up to the same iTunes library, so after
8 Migrate to a new device
If you’ve bought a new iPhone or iPod
touch, it’s easy to migrate your apps, settings and
restore to it from an existing backup. (See step 8.) you’ve right-clicked on the device you want to more from your old one. Plug the old one in,
You can also force this restore manually, perhaps restore and picked Restore From Backup, iTunes perform a manual backup (see step 2) then
because you’ve added an app that’s causing will ask you which backup to use. Ensure your connect the new device. iTunes will ask if you
problems and you want to roll back. devices have unique names! want to restore from an existing backup.

CREATE
Y
our iPhone unlocks a whole new world of creativity, egging
you on to achieve things you might not have believed you
were capable of. Now you can’t just take photos with your
iPhone: you can edit them on the move, making them look better
or having some fun with special effects before instantly sharing the
results with your friends. You can also sketch, make movies or even
sculpt. And there’s a huge selection of musical apps, too, with
options for accomplished musicians who have an idea on the move
or complete beginners looking for imaginative ways to make sounds.
36 Edit photos on your iPhone

38 Photography apps
42 Art & Visual apps
48 Music & Sound apps

CREATE Enhance photos
BETTER IMAGES
Edit photos on
your iPhone
Bring iPhoto-like functionality to your handheld Apple device
A
WHAT YOU’LL NEED lthough the iPhone is primarily balance, levels and rotation. See
● An iPhone or iPod touch intended for consuming media, www.mobile-pond.com for more
● iPhone OS 2.2 or later (OS 3.0+ innovative developers and their on the app’s capabilities.
required for email and copying apps ensure that an iPhone, iPod Photogene’s intended as an
to the clipboard) touch or iPad can also be used for accessible editing environment for
● Photogene 2.5+ many creative tasks. Currently, one of iPhone photographers while they’re
the most exciting creative sections of on the move; you can take a photo
the App Store is the Photography from within the app or you can grab
area, where there are dozens of one you took earlier via your Camera
fantastic and affordable apps for Roll in your Camera app.
editing and modifying photos on the While you can also import images
fly – often in a fraction of the time it from albums in your Photos app
would take to do something similar (thereby ensuring iPod touch users,
using a desktop app. who may not have a built-in camera,
In this tutorial, we’re using aren’t excluded from using
Photogene, a user-friendly, low-cost Photogene), be mindful that iTunes
app, which costs £1.19 at the time of reduces the size of photos sent to
going to press. Photogene brings to your device, which means they’re
your iPhone the kind of editing perfectly adequate for sending in
features you’re more likely to expect emails and viewing on a small screen, THE FULL EDIT Photogene is a complete image-editing app you
on your Mac in iPhoto – cropping, but not so great for printing out and can carry in your pocket. Crop, rotate and straighten your photos,
straightening, sharpening, colour sticking up as a poster! ● then adjust the colours or apply special visual effects
HOW TO… Improve an image in Photogene
1 Get started
In Photogene, you start with a simple menu
of options. Tap Take photo to snap a picture to
2 Import a photo
Let’s work on a photo you’ve already taken.
Tap Edit new photo, navigate to your chosen
3 Straighten your image
Tap the toolbar’s Rotate icon. Use the
buttons in the horizontal row to rotate or flip your
work on, Continue last session to work on an image and select it. The photo will load into image. Alternatively, drag the Straighten slider
existing in-progress edit, or Edit new photo to Photogene. Here, we’ve selected a photo of a underneath to straighten your photo, assisted
use a photo from the Photos app. fetching red postbox, but it’s wonky and dull. by the grid that appears.

Enhance photos CREATE
4 Enhance levels
Tap the fourth icon down. Select Levels
from the bottom toolbar and tap the Auto
5 Boost and amend colours
Tap Colors in the bottom toolbar and use
the sliders that appear to amend saturation and
6 Crop your image
Tap the Scissors icon at the top of the main
toolbar to access crop tools. Drag the crop area’s
button. Photogene will automatically adjust the colour. Boosting the former and dropping the corners for a live update of its dimensions. Tap
levels, adding punch to colours. Drag the sliders latter produces a nice effect on most images. Crop to confirm, or crop to a specific ratio via
to fine-tune its settings to your preferences. Tap RGB for channel-specific controls. the depicted menu.
7 Undo and reset options

Changed your mind? To undo or redo
multiple actions, use the icons towards the
8 Save your image
Once you’re happy with your changes, tap
the Tick icon at the bottom of the main toolbar
9 Share your photo
Photogene enables you to share images
with your friends. Re-enter the Done screen. Tap
bottom of the main toolbar. Effects are non- to enter the Done screen. Tap Save to save the Copy to clipboard to place the photo on the
destructive and can be removed by tapping image to the Camera Roll. Tap Resolution if you clipboard; otherwise, tap Share to share
Reset. Crop and straighten are reset as one. wish to amend the output size. the image via Twitter, Facebook or email. ●

CREATE Photography
VIDEO FOR OLD iPHONES
Qik VideoCamera
£1.79 Get video recording on your pre-3GS iPhone!
W
ith Qik VideoCamera, anybody
can add video recording to the
3G iPhone. It shoots up to
15fps .mov videos and is packed with
features such as digital zoom, volume
and brightness boost and fun video
effects, which includes turning people’s
skin blue, so they look like Avatar’s
Na’vi. Video resolution is limited to
400x304 or 200x152 and it can be used
5
in portrait and landscape mode. Qik
contains its own gallery of clips, or you
can export them to your Camera Roll or
email them right from the app. Our
favourite feature though is the IP
address it generates, which you simply
type into your Mac’s browser to
download the videos wirelessly without
having to sync them to your iPhone.
Because of the inferior camera and
slower processor on older iPhones, the
FEELING BLUE Indulge your secret KEY INFO videos Qik produces will never compare Probably the best app for
Smurf fetish during a tea break UK price £1.79 Download size 3.9MB to the iPhone 3GS’s quality. In fact adding video recording to
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes they’re pretty poor, but it’s a lot better old iPhones – and good
Web qik.com Requires iOS 4.0 or later than having no video at all. ● value at £1.79!
STEADY CAMERA DELAY CAMERA
1Shoot QuadCamera
FREE May replace your built-in Camera app… £1.19 Embracing the iPhone’s snapper!
T L
he iPhone’s Camera app ong before the iPhone’s
is limited to firing the original camera was being
shutter when you press criticised, enthusiasts
a button on screen. 1Shoot, exploited the low-fi effects from
however, has three modes. In Holga and Lomo’s cameras. All
its most basic it lets you tap produced images with crazily
the whole screen to trigger the saturated colours and
shutter, and another mode lets prominent vignetting.
you set a five- or 10-second Now, that ability and more
timer. The most exciting feature, has come to the iPhone, and
uses the iPhone’s accelerometer it feels right at home. With
to gauge when you’re holding QuadCamera, you set a delay
the phone still enough to take between the shots, aim and
a good shot, then grabs it. press the trigger. The shots are
Pictures need to be reviewed taken and stitched together –
and added to the camera roll. you can choose between a 2x2,
It could use some in-app 4x1, 4x2 or 8x1 grid – then the
help, though, and you can’t use vignette is applied to each one.
the 3GS’s tap-to-focus feature You can use a range of other
to define a focus and exposure effects, and the sequential firing
priority point. ● adds an element of time. ●
HOLD STEADY KEY INFO KEY INFO TAKE YOUR
1Shoot UK price Free UK price £1.19 TIME
decides when QuadCamera
your hand is US price Free US price $1.99 creates a
steady Web 1shoot.wuonm.com Web artandmobile.com Lomography
enough to Download size 5.8MB Download size 1.0MB effect
take the shot iPod touch compatible Yes Useful features, but the interface The interface is a little odd, but the iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.1 or later is cryptic and you can’t tap to focus app exploits the camera well Requires iOS 4.0 or later

Photography CREATE
PHOTO STITCHER
AutoStitch
Panorama
£1.79 Create stunning high-resolution panoramas
Y
ou can measure how them together to create
disruptive the iPhone seamless panoramas costs less
and the App Store can than the price of a takeaway
be when an app that takes latte. To put it in perspective, a
individual shots and stitches Mac app such as Stitcher costs
4
more than a 32GB iPhone 3GS
on a cheap tariff!
And the results are good,
especially as it really is all
completely automatic. Sure,
the differently exposed shots
sometimes create a slightly
patchy appearance, but we’re
completely sold. The app keeps
the originals so you can always
MULTISTITCH The app can stitch in vertical, horizontal or mixed arrangements
edit them in another program
This is terrific fun and and restitch. It can take a while KEY INFO
a great way to combat (particularly since you can create UK price £1.79 Download size 9.1MB
the iPhone camera’s lack SEAMFREE You can create hi-res panoramic high-res panoramas) but it’s US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
of wide-angle shooting images of up to 20 mega pixels easy, fun and cheap. ● Web www.cloudburstresearch.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
PHOTO ENHANCER IMAGE EDITING
Photo fx Adobe Photoshop

£1.79 A capable image editor with great results
Express
P
hoto fx is no Photoshop-
wannabe – you’re limited FREE Quickly and easily edit your photos
to applying edits and
R
effects globally, and you can’t ather than being a full-blown
add more than one effect at a application in its own right,
time without saving the first Photoshop Express is a
round of changes to a new customised iPhone front-end for
image and then loading and Adobe’s online photo sharing and
manipulating the second editing website. The service offers
version – but it’s spectacular rudimentary photo fiddling (crop,
stuff nonetheless. straighten, rotate, flip), plus a
Effects are split into five beginner’s array of filters, effects,
sections, and you control how borders and colour balancing.
much each edit affects the The app takes the website data
image with an intuitive set of and filters it through an interface
sliders and presets. They look customised for Apple devices. It
good too, and while there’s not boasts more options than the Mill
much that can be done to fix Colour app – and more than makes
the disappointing results from up for the lack of photo-editing
the iPhone’s camera, we happily functionality from Apple. Share
recommend it. ● images at Photoshop.com. ●
EFFECTIVE KEY INFO KEY INFO EASY EDIT
Photo fx UK price £1.79 UK price Free Adjustments
offers an can be made
impressive US price $2.99 US price Free at the touch
choice of Web www.tiffen.com Web mobile.photoshop.com of a fingertip.
effects Download size 19.1MB Download size 6.6MB Obviously!
iPod touch compatible Yes Perfect for portraits, and some Image edits on the hoof; another iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 4.1 or later fun stuff too; useful and cheap boost to the iPhone’s abilities Requires iOS 3.0 or later

CREATE Photography
CONTEXTAWARE IMAGE SCALING 3D MODELLING
Liquid Scale 3DVIA Mobile

£1.19 Smart-resize your pictures £1.19 Combine photos with 3D models
T T
ake the hassle (and here’s more to 3DVIA
scissors) out of cutting Mobile than dropping
your ex from your old virtual sofas into a picture
photos with Liquid Scale. of your living room and
Normally, when you scale an uploading it to mydeco.com.
image, everything scales in the The 3DVIA website encourages
same proportions. Liquid Scale its community to create and
lets you define areas – faces, say upload their 3D models online.
– that should be protected, and At the time of writing, there are
some that are expendable. over 20,000 models in the
When you drag the handles 3DVIA database and over
of the image to resize it, the 200,000 registered users.
expendable areas are collapsed, Need a render of an aircraft
while retaining the subject. or a dog? You can then drop
Photoshop itself only got this the models into your photos
feature in version CS4, so it’s and share them. As an
impressive to find it in an app. extension of the 3DVIA website,
However, some details can go it’s a must-have for community
‘wonky’, and, short of reverting members. You don’t need to
to the original saved pic, there’s be an expert, though – for
no easy undo. ● everyone else, it’s a bit of fun. ●
EDIT THE EX KEY INFO KEY INFO 3D HELP New
Cut out UK price £1.19 UK price £1.19 to all this? Go
elements of online to
your pic and US price $1.99 US price $1.99 check out the
merge the Web www.savoysoftware.com Web www.3dvia.com tutorial…
remainder Download size 1.3MB Download size 1.5MB
without iPod touch compatible Yes Astonishing tech, decent results; Incredible detail, affordable price iPod touch compatible Yes
distortion Requires iOS 3.0 or later another reason to love the iPhone and strong community element Requires iOS 3.0 or later
NOVELTY EFFECTS CARTOON CAPTIONS
CameraMagic Comic Touch

Effects £1.79 Add comedy captions to photos
P
ub nights out will never
£0.59 Add visual effects to your photos be the same again…
Comic Touch lets you add
B
illed as delivering visual effects four different types of speech
for the iPhone, this lightweight, bubble (speech, thought,
novelty compositing tool whisper or exclaim) to photos
comes with 214 objects that you from your library or taken fresh
can insert into your photos. All with your iPhone.
compositing is done with copies You can add a caption,
of your pictures, so your original control the size of the text, add
photos remain untouched. as many bubbles as you want,
It serves no serious purpose other and save or email the resulting
than to fulfil the ‘fun for five minutes’ image from your phone.
cliché. Despite boasting no less than You can also apply effects such
33 different royalty-free UFOs, as bulges, dents, pinches and
miscellaneous cloud, smoke and fire light tunnel effects, and there’s
effects, various aircraft, the space now a smudging tool, too; drag
shuttle and several kinds of missile, your finger around the screen
even birds and animals… you’re to move the focus of the effect.
unlikely to sit back and think that it’s It’s easy to email the results to
the best 59p you’ve ever spent. ● any of your contacts, too. ●
ADDON KEY INFO TOONTASTIC KEY INFO
ANTICS UK price £0.59 Add a little UK price £1.79
Digital comedy to
stickers for US price $0.99 your shots… US price $2.99
your pics Web www.addfone.com Web plasq.com
Download size 65.8MB Download size 1.9MB
iPod touch compatible Yes It’s fun and inexpensive – but the iPod touch compatible Yes A great, fun app – tap witty
Requires iOS 3.0 or later fun can only last so long… Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later captions on your photos for hours

Photography CREATE
PHOTO WEIGHT GAIN FACE MANIPULATOR
FatBooth Face Melter

£0.59 A bit of fun or a dire geek warning? £1.19 Remember Power Goo?
R G
emember AgingBooth? o on! Take a picture of
The app that takes a shot someone’s face and shake
of family, friends and foes it about a bit. Mess it up
and makes them disturbingly and stretch it out of shape
wrinkly and old. using your finger to do the
Now comes FatBooth; it’s the distorting on the face of your
same basic idea, but this time it iPhone. It’s wicked and naughty
appears to add a few stone of but it’s just so much fun.
weight to people you shoot. It’s Make the boss look bug-
easy too: snap a portrait shot, eyed or give your loved-one
drag markers into place for bee-stung lips. Just do silly
eyes, mouth and chin, and things. When you’ve finished,
it does everything else save the result or undo your
automatically. The results are mischief with a quick shake of
genuinely rather good – and your iPhone. Your ‘adjusted’
the app copes well with glasses images can be animated to 25
and beards – though they’re frames per second, and the app
best when working on offers morphing movies, too! A
especially thin people. universally appealing app, just
Pictures can be shared by be wary about laughing too
email, Facebook or Twitter. . ● loud on the train home… ●
SUPERSIZE KEY INFO KEY INFO MELTDOWN
ME Thinking UK price £0.59 UK price £1.19 Improve an
of gaining a expression,
few extra US price $0.99 US price $1.99 or disfigure
pounds? Get Web www.piviandco.com Web www.facemelter.de a visage
FatBooth to Download size 6.6MB Download size 6.4MB
see how you’ll iPod touch compatible Yes Good results from the right photos. Buy it! You know you want to. Get iPod touch compatible Yes
look first Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later Guaranteed to get you to the gym some fun out of the iPhone camera Requires iOS 3.0 or later
ADDON YEARS RETRO LOOK
AgingBooth OldBooth Premium

£0.59 See what you’ll look like when you’re old £1.19 The best iPhone app ever. Maybe
T O
his app does one ldBooth’s concept is an
essentially frivolous thing, old one. It’s a 21st-century
but does it well. Its job is re-imagining of the
to age your photo so you can seaside cut-out that you stick
see how you’re going to look your head through to have your
after the ravages of time have photograph taken. The style
taken their toll. here though is more ‘vintage US
You either take a photo with yearbook’. Pick a gender and
the app (perfect for a night out choose a style for the photo.
with friends) or choose a You can then select a shot from
picture from your iPhone’s your library, or snap one with
photo gallery. Once the app has the iPhone’s camera.
detected the face in the photo From here you can pinch to
you manually adjust on-screen change the size of the shot, use
guides to fine-tune the position the rotate dial to get the angle
of the eyes and mouth, then let right, and adjust the brightness
AgingBooth do its work… The of both the shot and the
finished image is a terrifying template. Your efforts are saved
glimpse into the future. The to the camera roll, and can then
results are convincing but most be emailed or saved to your
faces get similar treatment. ● Mac or PC. ●
HELP THE KEY INFO KEY INFO BACK TO THE
AGED Snap UK price £0.59 UK price £1.19 FUTURE
a friend and Travel back
put 20 years US price $0.99 US price $1.99 in time and
on him! Web www.piviandco.com Web www.getapp.net see how you
Download size 8.7MB Download size 10.7MB might look in
iPod touch compatible Yes Good fun on a night out, but Superb! Make fun of your friends iPod touch compatible Yes another era
Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later you might not like the results! for endless entertainment Requires iOS 3.1 or later

CREATE Art & Visual
PAINTING TOOL
Layers
£2.99 Unleash your creativity
T
here are countless painting
apps on the Store, but this
one’s special. It’s not just
that its surprisingly decent
natural media brushes (you get
10 to choose from) produce
some genuinely good results,
aided by a slider to control
opacity and an eyedropper
to suck up colour. As the name
suggests, it’s the fact that you
4
can add up to five layers, and
even export your creations as
layered PSDs, which makes this DIFFERENT STROKES Choose from 10 different
brushes then start erasing and smudging…
app stand out. You can even
choose a photo as a layer; just The square canvas and fixed
use the eyedropper or eraser pixel dimensions can feel a bit
and you can cheat at creating restrictive, and the limitations
decent stabs at art. of the iPhone platform – a lack
Download the Layers Replay of pressure sensitivity, plus a
Viewer and you can sync your small screen that necessitates
FINE LINE It’s easy to adjust how fine you want the brush stroke to be
drawings with your Mac, then controls having to be called up
KEY INFO replay your work, export as JPG separately with a shake of the Limited by the
UK price £2.99 Download size 5.4MB and PSD, and create QuickTime iPhone – can be irksome, but it’s iPhone itself, but
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes movies for sharing online with still a good app to satisfy those accomplished and fun
Web www.gotow.net Requires iOS 3.0 or later your friends. creative urges. ● for artists and kids alike
PHOTOSHOP CONTROLLER PAINTING TOOL
PhotoKeys Sketchbook Mobile

£1.79 A tool panel companion for Photoshop £1.79 A mobile version of SketchBook Pro
T T
his is ideal if you like the his painting and drawing
look of the Art Lebedev application can prove
Maximus keyboard (www. highly effective in the
artlebedev.com) but don’t fancy right hands. For starters,
spending $1,700 (£1,183). It’s Sketchbook Mobile provides a
designed as a companion to full-screen workspace, a 1,024x
Photoshop and gives you 682 canvas and a 2,500% zoom
access to many of the tools and for fine-detail work. If you’re not
commands from the main impressed by its 25 brushes,
screen and the Edit screen, colour swatches and colour
which controls selections, wheel, the ability to work across
stroke and the like. up to six layers is bound to
It works well, although the make you look twice.
concept is a little flawed; you Touchscreen control will
have to look carefully before never be as fine as a graphics
you can stab at the correct tablet, but that hardly matters;
button, and you can’t edit the you can export your artwork
layouts. Professionals should as a PSD file and touch it up
stick to learning the keyboard later. Test-drive the app by
shortcuts, but it might help downloading the free version,
Photoshop newbies. ● Sketchbook Mobile Express. ●
SHOP KEY INFO KEY INFO PAINT POWER
SHORTS UK price £1.79 UK price £1.79 You get the
Keep same paint
Photoshop US price $2.99 US price $2.99 engine as
commands Web mobilemouse.com Web usa.autodesk.com you do in
at your Download size 0.6MB Download size 8.1MB Sketchbook
fingertips iPod touch compatible Yes A nice idea, but you’re better Very capable features; again only iPod touch compatible Yes Pro…
Requires iOS 2.1 or later off learning keyboard shortcuts limited by the iPhone itself Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later

Art & Visual CREATE
COLOUR COORDINATOR
Color Expert
£5.99 Find the perfect colour mix in seconds
D
esigners across the world, and invited to spin around one
rejoice! This app does two ‘anchor’ colour, while others
things. First, it’s a reference change in relation to that colour.
library of colour swatches. You You can pick the relationship –
can choose between HTML or monochromatic, analogous,
web-safe colours, or access complementary, split
coated and uncoated Pantone complementary or triadic – and
and Pantone Goe swatches. Like you can choose whether the
us, you’re probably suspicious of colour wheel use the artistic red/
anything claiming to offer yellow/blue or the scientific red/
colour-accurate Pantone green/blue system. The result:
5
swatches on a display that hasn’t four other colours that match
been calibrated, but be prepared and complement your anchor
to be impressed. Viewed even colour in different ways… You
under fluorescent lighting, the can then examine these colours
colours on-screen were very – optionally matching them to
close to the chips in the Pantone equivalents – name
reference swatches we placed them and save them. You can
next to them. Sure, you should also send a rich email through
check with a proper swatch the iPhone’s Mail apps.
book before pressing Print, but it You can punch in RGB,
BEAUTIFUL Complement your anchor colour then send the results via email
proved plenty accurate enough Pantone or hex anchor values, or
Feature-rich and polished on our test iPhone 3G. even use the iPhone camera to KEY INFO
colour-picking app; proved The meat of the app, however, pick a colour. This last isn’t a very UK price £5.99 Download size 3.8MB
remarkably accurate as a is the colour mixing stuff. You’re accurate capture method, but US price $9.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
Pantone library, too presented with a colour wheel it’s good to have the option. ● Web www.code-line.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
FONT IDENTIFIER PHOTO GRADING
WhatTheFont Mill Colour

FREE Find out if it’s Serif or Sans FREE Refine images with this photo-edit app
E L
ver looked at a page and ondon’s VFX outfit The Mill
wondered what font has has produced a photo-
been used? WhatTheFont editing app. Mill Colour is
turns your iPhone into a font part calling card, part image-
detective powered by MyFont’s grading mini-tool.
service of the same name. In the Mill’s own words, it
The theory is sound, but a “emulates primary grading
couple of things let it down. techniques used in a high-end
First, the back-end service isn’t digital suite”… What this means
infallible, and because it can’t in practice is that you can select
know all the fonts in the world, an image from your iPhone’s
you’ll sometimes slip one in photo library or take a new one,
that it can’t identify (it does then apply predefined styles to
offer close matches though). it – for example a warm golden
The main problem is the tone, or a washed-out 1970s
iPhone’s camera. It works fine palette look. If none of the
with the iPhone 3GS, but if you supplied filters suit your needs,
have the older 3G or 2G then you can always fiddle around
the lens can’t focus enough to with Lift, Gamma, Gain or
take usable images of anything Saturation to spit-and-polish
under 40pt. ● your favourite snaps. ●
FONT FAQ KEY INFO KEY INFO THROUGH
The mobile UK price Free UK price Free THE MILL
service Give your
connects US price Free US price Free photo a basic
directly to Web www.myfonts.com Web www.the-mill.com style, then
MyFonts’font Download size 0.2MB Download size 2.1MB fiddle further
identification iPod touch compatible Yes Good attempt and decent service, A very specific app but it does iPod touch compatible Yes with the
service Requires iOS 2.0 or later but the iPhone camera lets it down what it says on the tin very well! Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later colours

CREATE Art & Visual
ANIMATION TOOL ANIMATION TOOL
Kineo Animation Creator

£1.79 Flip your finger-drawn masterpiece £1.19 Create your own moving sketches
T A
here are dozens of nimation Creator offers
sketching apps on the you a suite of sketching
iPhone, but this one is tools that enable you
a bit different – it’s the digital to draw and generate a short
equivalent of a flipbook. Draw animated clip, frame by frame.
a picture using your finger, tap The software supports frame
the lifted flap (bottom right) to positioning and rotation,
turn to a new page then draw zooming and panning, plus the
the next picture, using the now useful ‘onion-skinning’ feature
greyed-out image from the (which gives you the ability to
previous page as a guide. You see the previous or next frame
can flip through all your pages as a ghost image). However,
using the slider along the there are no starting templates
bottom, and tap the play icon and it’s quite a fiddly operation
to animate the series. Drawing just to get to the tools menu.
fine detail with your podgy At a push, it’s an app that
finger is tricky, though the might prove useful for
shake-to-undo feature is quite prototyping or pre-viz
nice. While you can save experimentation. Although
animations, unfortunately the ability to add sound would
you can’t export them. ● be a welcome feature. ●
FLIP IT KEY INFO KEY INFO SIMPLE
Just slide UK price £1.79 UK price £1.19 SKETCH A
to animate… variety of
US price $1.99 US price $1.99 options but
Web www.kineoapp.com Web www.red-software.com some basic
Download size 1.4MB Download size 2.4MB elements
iPod touch compatible Yes A fun way to animate your doodles; A number of great features but iPod touch compatible Yes could be
Requires iOS 3.0 or later lack of export options though no templates to get you started Requires iOS 3.0 or later better
ANIMATION TOOL 3D CREATOR
FlipBook iTracer HD
£2.99 Make your doodles come to life £1.79 3D modelling and rendering application
F 3
lipbook sells itself D modelling and
primarily as a mobile rendering on an iPhone?
animation tool and the Yes. Download iTracer and
results (in the right hands) can you can build simple 3D models
be impressive. Head to flipbook. or scenes and render them
tv to find The Flea Cannon from any viewpoint. It lacks the
Catastrophe, a shining example extended feature set of a fatter
of just how professional the desktop package, but iTracer
app’s animated content can be. boasts a material editor, opacity
For computer animators, and refraction effects, while
Flipbook has some merit as a multiple light sources can be
pocket pre-viz tool; you can set up for complex shadowing.
sketch a sequence from scratch It’s astounding to have even
or import photos from your half of these features on a
iPhone’s photo library and trace mobile device. The addition of a
over them. The toolset also 2D curve editor and support for
includes an onion-skinning generic triangle meshes with
feature, which shows a ghost per-vertex normals makes the
image of the next or previous price point an absolute steal.
frame. There’s a free Lite version You can also save the images
to try out, too. ● as PNG or compressed JPG. ●
TOP LEVEL KEY INFO KEY INFO MODEL APP
DOODLE A UK price £2.99 UK price £1.79 Great
great mix of functionality
control and US price $4.99 US price $2.99 and suitable
creativity Web www.flipbook.tv Web fabio.policarpo.nom.br for a range
Download size 0.9MB Download size 3.3MB of abilities
iPod touch compatible Yes A great starter for animating; The options are impressive yet the iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later we look forward to upgrades… app is surprisingly simple to use Requires iOS 3.2 or later

Art & Visual CREATE
MOVIE EDITING
iMovie
£2.99 A demo of the power of the iPhone, but limited
Y
ou can now shoot HD the app, and then arrange them
video, edit the clips into on a timeline. Tap a clip to bring
a movie with titles, up trimming handles; double-
transitions and a soundtrack, tap to add a title and remove
and publish it to the internet… audio. Clips can be rearranged
on a phone. Amazing. on the timeline, and you can
It’s a shame then, that this add a soundtrack from your iPod
app, technically only available (copyright nightmare!). You can
for the iPhone 4 (though some apply one of the themes with
have hacked it to run on some cool transitions. Finished
previous models) is so basic. projects can be exported to your
3
It reminds us of iLife 08; the camera from where you can
revamped iMovie app was fast upload to YouTube, for example.
and easy to use, but it wasn’t Frustratingly, even though the
until the enriched iLife 09 videos are in 720p, they get
version appeared that it became downsampled to 568x320 pixels
sufficiently capable for all but when published.
the simplest movie projects. There’s no option to split a
And we suspect that this will clip – though you could import
be the case with this app; it’s it twice and trim – and while
a great basic movie-editing soundtrack audio ducks, there’s
MOBILE MOVIE MOGUL Incredible ability yet we’d still like to see more…
engine, but it will only become no control over levels, fading or
It’s good enough, and compelling with future updates. looping. Also, it has a baffling KEY INFO
cheap enough, that it’s You can import video clips interface; many reviews on the UK price £2.99 Download size 35.1MB
worth buying, but we and still photos from your App Store criticise it for lacking US price $4.99 iPod touch Yes
hope for better later… camera, or shoot directly into features that are present… ● Web www.apple.com Requires iOS 4.1 or later
3GS MOVIE MANIPULATOR SCENE SETTING

Storyboard Composer can
ReelDirector
help to flesh out your
initial movie concepts
£2.39 Real video editing for professionals KEY INFO

UK price £11.99
A
full-blown video-editing US price $19.99
app on a mobile device? Web www.cinemek.com
Yes – with one catch: it’s Download size 2.1MB
only available for the iPhone iPod touch compatible Yes
3GS and iPhone 4, not the 3G. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
It enables you to stitch together
video clips with an intuitive MOBILE STORYBOARD
Storyboard
drag-and-drop timeline. You
can add audio by importing
your own music files or by
Composer
recording a voiceover. You can
also add text overlays using a
variety of fonts and styles. One
satisfied customer comments:
“I’m a director of photography £11.99 Mobile storyboarding and pre-viz tool
and last week I took some
S
videos and stills on my 3GS toryboard Composer is one of the it as a PDF. It’s all very
whilst on a recce for a film priciest apps here. But this mobile impressive, but Cinemek has
location. In the half-hour Tube storyboarding and pre-viz tool is missed a trick by not letting
journey back to the office, I had aimed squarely at professionals. The users export the rough-cut. ●
a rough edit of the scene…” ● app enables you to build a storyboard
AND CUT! The KEY INFO sequence using photos, directions and
ReelDirector UK price £2.39 pre-defined graphics. If you’ve taken
interface is
very easy US price $3.99 location shots with your iPhone, you
to use Web www.nexvio.com can import these images into the app,
Download size 9.2MB then drag them into a rough running Quite simplistic considering its
iPod touch compatible Yes A little limited on features but order, then add traditional elements. core audience but very useful
Requires iOS 3.1 or later does enhance 3GS capability You can export the storyboard and save for the ideas stage of a movie

CREATE Art & Visual
ZEN CREATIVITY PHOTO EFFECTS
Artisan Fluid FX
£0.59 Doodling with realtime fractal webs £1.19 Warp photos at the tap of a screen
A A
rtisan’s imagery is based utodesk is the biggest
on interacting with name in 3D animation
fractal webs that dance software, making
and swirl according to touch complex (and expensive) tools
(similar to EoD’s particle-based for the movie industry. Powered
app, Spawn Illuminati). You can by some of the technology
control the number of ‘breeders’ seen in programs like Maya,
to make the image more or less Fluid FX is simpler and fluffier in
complex. However, if you slow intent, offering a light-hearted
the web movement down you way to play with photos. You
can generate curvaceous, solid- just load a photo, choose your
looking 3D images, which can effect and run your finger
then be saved to your iPhone’s across the image. One effects
gallery (as long as you’re quick; set warps the photo in various
the images are constantly amusing ways, and works great
evolving) or uploaded to on portraits. A second set adds
the dedicated Flickr group. assorted particle effects over
Admittedly, it’s more of a your image, and can enhance,
novelty than a tool, but it say, a landscape photo. You
proves an aesthetically pleasing can save a still at any point or
way to while away the time. ● record a video (iOS 4.1 only). ●
SWIRL OF KEY INFO KEY INFO PIC PLAY
ART A visusal UK price £0.59 UK price £1.19 There are
feast that can effects and
prove quite US price $0.99 US price $1.99 there’s Fluid
addictive Web www.eodsoft.com Web usa.autodesk.com FX…
Download size 1.6MB Download size 8MB
iPod touch compatible Yes An inexpensive stress buster/ Great fun, and capable of some iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 2.1 or later time waster; improved menu amazing effects Requires iOS 3.2 or later
PRETTY POETRY MAGICAL MATHEMATICS
For All Seasons iFractal

FREE Create interactive pieces of text art FREE Mandelbrot and Julia sets
T N
his exercise in offbeat, ow you can explore the
monochromatic classic Mandelbrot and
animation has been Julia sets on your iPhone,
produced to such a professional zooming in and in and in to the
standard that it’s well worth a engaging equations, admiring
look. Ported from the desktop the repeating fractal structures
version, For All Seasons applies and the extraordinary levels of
various seasonal effects to a visual detail and response.
single page of black and white Of course, this isn’t just about
text and enables you to pan, the mathematical artwork – nor
zoom or rotate the view. is it about the various features,
For example, the Spring which include over 100 colour
setting transforms the words palettes, an animated zoom,
on the page into blossoming screenshot capture (and
vector flowers. The letters that export), plus a 3D view. It’s also
form the words act as petals for an amazing technology demo
each electronic flower and can that shows just what Apple’s
be sent spinning into the air hardware is capable of. The
with a deft finger-flick. The app ability to share and explore the
shows off the power of the fractals created by the users of
iPhone – for free. ● the app is a boon. ●
TEXT TEST KEY INFO KEY INFO HIGH VIS
You either UK price Free UK price Free Check out the
‘get this’app demo videos
or you don’t! US price Free US price Free on the
Web www.nanikawa.com Web iphone.alpheccar.org Alpheccar
Download size 0.3MB Download size 2.8MB website
iPod touch compatible Yes Incredible effects but might only Another addictive app that puts iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 2.0 or later appeal if the poetry strikes a chord the power of the iPhone on display Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Art & Visual CREATE
MELODY MAKER
Bloom
£2.39 Part instrument, part composition, part artwork
“
B
loom is an endless music by a full-screen subtly-coloured
machine – a music box for backdrop. Pressing the screen
the 21st Century. You can triggers the playing of lightly
play it, and you can watch it ‘clangourous’ tones – the nearer
play itself” – according to it’s the bottom of the screen you
co-creator Brian Eno. This is press, the lower the pitch – and
a neat summary for what is an expanding circular ‘ripple’
essentially an interactive effect graphic.
generative music application The application is effectively
from Eno and Peter Chilvers. The on a short recordable loop that
musical landscape is represented allows you to add more notes to
4
the piece, while a continuous
drone plays in the background.
Pitches are restricted to notes
within a pre-defined scale, very
much in the style of Eno’s
ambient works as you would
expect. A little more mood
variety would be appreciated…
This app may not be very
useful in the studio, but it is a
MESMERISING MOOD See if you’re you in tune with your creative side…
beautiful piece of sound and art
A truly pleasant iPhone work nonetheless. However, it KEY INFO
experience… step into would only really be worth the UK price £2.39 Download size 12.2MB
your own world of visual/ NO ABILITY REQUIRED You don’t need to be money for fans of Eno and US price $3.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
audio harmony a musical genius to create digital melodies generative music. ● Web www.generativemusic.com Requires iOS 2.2 or later
INTERACTIVE SCREENSAVER INTERACTIVE VISUAL
Spawn Illuminati Pulsar: Interactive

£0.59 Create, control… kiss time goodbye! Particle System
T
he idea behind Spawn
Illuminati is that it £0.59 Generate vibrant graphics
displays particles on the
screen that move around and Described as a portable visual
make pretty patterns, but you synthesiser, Pulsar is a particle physics
also have some control over app that responds to the way you
their behaviour. By pinching touch, swirl or flick the screen. It’s
various parts of the screen you obviously pointless: an idle
can affect the particles’ size, experiment with light, movement
colour, speed and tail length, and colour that spits 57 varieties
and if you tap and hold, they of sprite (from symbols to stars to
swarm towards and around fighter jets) across your mobile
your fingertip. A double-tap display. In terms of interactivity,
causes each one to burst into you can adjust the on-screen effects
a head of new trails. The using a selection of sliders. Gravity,
iPhone’s accelerometer is used explosiveness, sprite size, particle
to determine which way is count and edge behaviour can all
‘down’ and so the particles are be modified. The website is very
affected by a kind of weak helpful for starting out and you can
gravity, consistently dropping save some of your creations, but this
towards the ground. ● app’s appeal quickly wanes. ●
QUEUE UP! KEY INFO KEY INFO SLIDE SHOW
You’ll be UK price £0.59 UK price £0.59 Use your
looking for fingertips
a queue to US price $0.99 US price $0.99 and the slider
stand around Web www.eodsoft.com Web www.RGB.nu/pulsar to play with
in just for an Download size 4.6MB Download size 1.1MB your particles
excuse to play! iPod touch compatible Yes Pretty pattern maker that’s Entertaining but not necessarily in iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later simple but effective the ‘can’t stop playing’ bracket… Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later

CREATE Music & Sound
PLAY ALONG Tap out TURNTABLE DRUM MACHINE

your own tune to the
Spoke
harmony provided
£1.19 Get with the beat
T
his cheap app from one of
our favourite developers
is so simple and effective
that we can’t believe no one
else has done it before. Spoke
uses a circular format with a
GENERATIVE MUSIC play head that rotates 360
Euphonics
degrees per bar. Each coloured
discs represents a different
drum sound. With no
quantisation or grid markers,
£0.59 Create your own layered tunes there are absolutely no
restrictions on the rhythms
T
he main screen is divided into KEY INFO you can create – so as you can
three sections: an arpeggiator, UK price £0.59 imagine, things can get pretty
a chord selector, and a keyboard. US price $0.99 rowdy! Tap tempo and four
These are used to control four musical Web www.frozenape.com loop-storage slots make Spoke
elements: a pad, a bass, an arpeggiated Download size 8.5MB a great performance tool. It’s
synth sound and a sampled piano. The iPod touch compatible Yes just a shame you can’t load
chord selector sets the tonality of the Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later custom samples. Maybe that’ll
pad and arpeggiator, and defines the appear in the next update… ●
bass note. The polyphonic piano- KEY INFO PATTER ON
playing keyboard only displays a single UK price £1.19 THE PLATTER
There’s no
octave, but the instrument has a three US price $1.99 restrictive
octave range. Euphonics is pretty Web thestrangeagency.com grid to adhere
simple and has a couple of interface Even those with limited talents Download size 1.1MB to, just free-
problems, but it’s a pleasing diversion can create music with this Easy to use, fun to play, addictive – iPod touch compatible Yes flowing beats
and cheap as chips – cheaper, in fact. ● affordable app in other words a good app! Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
MUSIC GENERATOR DOODLE DITTY

Gliss looks good
Trope
and sounds great!
£2.39 Infinite Eno in your pocket…
D
o you love Brian Eno’s
ambient music? And do
you wish you had access
to an infinite Eno soundtrack in
your pocket? Welcome to Trope.
As you tap on the screen or
drag whirls of colour around, SOUND & COMPOSITION
Gliss
you can create a soundcape
that builds, loops and repeats in
an Eno-esque way. And it’s not
surprising really, as this app was
developed in collaboration with
the man himself. It can take
£1.79 The Sims invade your iPhone
C
some getting used to and it ategorising Gliss is so difficult that KEY INFO
doesn’t help that the different we’re probably best off leaving it UK price £1.79
moods and drawing shapes are to developers TeaTracks, who US price $2.99
so fancifully named that you describe the app as “a hybrid of Web www.teatracks.com
struggle to work out how to sequencer, game, instrument and Download size 2.4MB
create specific sounds or even generative music system”. iPod touch compatible Yes
particular moods – but it’s a Five colours represent notes, Requires iOS 3.0 or later
pleasant way to zone out. ● sequences and sounds, each of which
MUSIC KEY INFO can be triggered and sequenced
MEDITATION UK price £2.39 by drawing lines on the screen (full
Eno describes
Trope as US price $3.99 instructions at the website). The tempo
“more Web www.generativemusic.com and direction of play is controlled by
introspective, Download size 25MB tilting your phone, which is excellent Freeform music creation. It’s
more iPod touch compatible Yes No way to record, but that fits in fun and surprisingly powerful for really easy to create some
atmospheric” Requires iOS 2.2 or later with Trope’s ephemeral charm creating interesting loops. ● excellent sounds with this app

Music & Sound CREATE
01 02
03
Sweep your finger across the

01 04
screen and see what happens
to the sound and Bebot’s expression
You get a number of loaded

02
presets to chose from
Move the Pitch slider up

03
or down to access higher
or lower notes
How can you not fall for

04
Bebot’s charms? This is
one supercute robot
KEY INFO
UK price £1.19
US price $1.99
Web www.normalware.com
Download size 4.5MB
iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later
POLYPHONIC SYNTHESIZER
Bebot
£1.19 Part robot, part polyphonic synthesizer
S
ometimes the simplest pitches to the nearest note and can instrument or simply an amusing audio
applications are the best, and restrict playback to a certain scale and toy – either way you’ll find it addictive.
4
Bebot is no exception. Opening multi-touch lets you build chords. The quality of animation, by graphic
this app, you are presented with a retro- Basic effects include a variable designer Lily McDonnell, is excellent
graphic robot in a tux. Touch the screen feedback delay and overdrive section (T-shirts are available), and certainly
and he emits a ‘talking robot’ tone, with and what’s more the synth is broadens the app’s appeal.
pitch changes as you move from left to polyphonic. The app is highly It’s unlikely, but just in case you are
right, and a variable formant filter as customisable; you can make struggling to get started with Bebot,
you move upwards. Tap the screen for adjustments to effects (echo, chorus, check out the user manual (www.
one short note or keep it down to make and a warm, buzzy overdrive) or the normalware.com/bebotmanual) –
the sound last longer. Double-clicking scale itself. The ability to customise although it does advise to put the
on the bottom right of the screen the scale makes it easier to use other manual aside and just play around!
accesses three other synth modes instruments, and you can save presets. Alternatively, Jordan Rudess,
(including Sawtooth, Pulse, Sine and Bebot really scores in its immediacy keyboardist for the progressive rock
PWM) each with a small set of editing and yet it’s sophisticated enough to band Dream Theater, has put together May seem like a gimmick
parameters. For more accurate pitching be used on commercial projects. a video, that may well provide the but this is music creation
Bebot can show a graphical note grid Working musicians rate the app highly. inspiration you need (check it out with plenty of possibility
(with zoom). Autotune mode snaps You may see it as an inventive musical at www.youtube.com). ● and personality!

WIND INSTRUMENT TAKE IT TO 11 You can pass

Thereminator through
Ocarina
your amp…
£0.59 Wind instrument for the iPhone
S
mule Ocarina’s magical
appeal comes from its
clever use of the iPhone’s
microphone as a breath sensor.
Blow into the mic to play the
app, just like you would if you
were blowing into a real ocarina POCKET THEREMIN
Thereminator
(in case you’re not familiar, an
ocarina is an ancient instrument
that’s a bit like a flute). Vibrato
can then be applied by tilting
the phone. The result is a simple
app with a physical appeal.
£1.79 Sci-fi sound generator
A
Once you’ve mastered your s Léon Theremin’s eponymous KEY INFO
ocarina technique, you can instrument approaches its 100th UK price £1.79
record your melodies and mail birthday, it seems fitting that it US price $2.99
them to your friends, play your should be brought into the 21st Web www.yonac.com
songs to other users on the century with an iPhone tribute. You can Download size 1.6MB
online community, or listen to drag your finger across the screen to iPod touch compatible Yes
the performance of others just play the instrument – horizontally to Requires iOS 3.0 or later
by hitting the globe icon. ● change the pitch, vertically to change
KEY INFO EVERY the volume – but the real fun comes
UK price £0.59 BREATH from switching on accelerometer
YOU TAKE
US price $0.99 Use your control; waving the iPhone around
Web ocarina.smule.com breath or to play a song seems to make perfect
Download size 5.1MB cover the sense. Built-in reverb and tremolo Select a wave and start playing
Simple yet effective – and with iPod touch compatible Yes holes to effects make Thereminator our pick – or select a wave and start
a real nod to social networking Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later make music of the virtual Theremins. ● waving the iPhone around!
MUSIC GAME ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT
Leaf Trombone Melodica

£1.79 Music just got challenging… £0.59 A Tenori-on with 99.92% off the price!
T Y
his app turns your iPhone ou may not have heard
into a trombone. Albeit, of of the electronic musical
the forest variety… You instrument called Tenori-
blow into the microphone at on, but you can get a not-quite-
the bottom of the phone to as-good software version for
produce a note, and move the your iPhone. (Which is just as
slider on the on-screen leaf (a well, as a real one costs around
bit like a party blower) to £750.) It presents you with a
change the pitch. grid of squares; tap them to
The community is working to light them up. It ‘plays’ in a loop,
create more music for your leaf from left to right, sounding a
trombone; it’s similar to Guitar note when the playhead hits
Hero in that little leaves stream one of the activated squares.
into view telling you where to It’s no good for serious
position the slider and when to composition, of course, and
blow. The result is dependent though you can save creations
on the skill of the player. The within Melodica, there’s no way
best bit is that you can perform to export them. But it’s almost
on a world stage where other impossible to create a tune that
users can log on, listen to you, doesn’t sound great in a quirky
and rate your performance. ● Japanese way. ●
TROMBONE KEY INFO KEY INFO LIGHTS,
CHALLENGE UK price £1.79 UK price £0.59 ACTION! Go
You may start random or
in a casual US price $2.99 US price $0.99 draw a shape
style, but Web www.smule.com Web www.candycaneapps.com then listen to
things will Download size 5.3MB Who cares if soaking your dock Download size 29.7MB the musical
soon turn iPod touch compatible Yes connector in spittle voids your Fun for kids of all ages; would be iPod touch compatible Yes interpretation
competitive Requires iOS 3.0 or later warranty? It’s fun! great to get tunes out of the app Requires iOS 2.2 or later

ELECTRONIC DRUMKIT ELECTRONIC DRUMKIT
iDrum InstantDrummer
From £0.59 A choice of styles for this drumkit £1.79 Six variations on a drumming theme
F M
rom 59p, iPhone users ore fun than playing
can get a mobile taste of along to a metronome
iZotope’s excellent iDrum, but not quite as flexible
a simple and customisable as a full drum machine,
drum-sequencing program for InstantDrummer allows songs
Mac and Windows. The app is to be pieced together from a
available in several versions to selection of patterns. Each
suit a variety of genres, from section can be adjusted using
club to 8-bit. There’s even a controls for ambience, variation,
beatbox edition! The editions intensity and gain. Like iDrum,
by big-name producers are this app is offered in a choice of
particularly worth checking editions. Heartbreaker includes
out; the Wu Tang Clan’s RZA drum patterns recorded by
contributes a New York hip hop Death Cab For Cutie’s Jason
version, while Major Lazer offer McGerr, while AirWrench and
up their blend of electro Combustion feature Nashville
reggae. The option to export session drummer Tony Morra.
drum patterns as ringtones is You could use InstantDrummer
also a cool touch, and you can for backing tracks, but we think
exchange projects with the it’s best for keeping you in time
desktop version of iDrum. ● during practice sessions. ●
CHOOSE YOUR KEY INFO KEY INFO VARIETY ACT
STYLE iDrum UK price From £0.59 UK price £1.79 each The six
editions editions on
include US price From $0.99 US price $2.99 each offer range
contributions Web www.izotope.com Web sonomawireworks.com from rock to
from some Download size Varies Download size Varies country
big-name iPod touch compatible Yes Great quality, especially if you’re Simpler than iDrum, but a nicer iPod touch compatible Yes
musicians Requires iOS 3.1 or later looking for dance and club beats variety of styles across editions Requires iOS 3.0 or later
A GRAND IN YOUR POCKET GUITAR SIMULATOR

Just slide your fingers to
iShred
roll along the keys
£2.99 Music notepad for guitarists
G
reat for those infuriating
moments when you have
a killer riff in your head
but no guitar to hand, iShred:
Guitar & Effects is an all-in-one
guitar simulator app that allows
KEYBOARD you to play an on-screen axe
Virtuoso Piano
through virtual stomp boxes
and an amp simulator.
A huge built-in library
of chords, scales and songs
£0.59 Tinkle your iPhone ivories provide the inspiration, while
effects including distortions,
W
ith seven octaves of sampled KEY INFO delay, dual chorus and a wah
grand piano ready and waiting UK price £0.59 are all on hand. Once you’ve
at your fingertips, Virtuoso US price $0.99 finished punishing the
Piano is one of the most authentic Web www.peterbmusic.com fretboard, hit Record, play your
piano apps on the market. A built-in Download size 32.8MB song and then share it online or
metronome, basic reverb and recorder iPod touch compatible Yes save and export as an audio file.
(with overdub capability) add some Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later Also offers support for left-hand
reasonable extra functions. There’s guitarists, too. ●
nothing particularly groundbreaking TO GREAT KEY INFO
about Virtuoso Piano, but it’s a solid EFFECT You UK price £2.99
won’t find
piano app at a great price. It’s also yourself short US price $4.99
worth checking out the Virtuoso Piano of effects Web frontierdesign.com
Celesta for iPhone, which offers similar A really good piano sound, with iShred Download size 20.4MB
features but with four octaves of celesta some useful features, and iPod touch compatible Yes A challenge to some more costly
samples instead of piano. ● a truly affordable price Requires iOS 3.0 or later desktop applications…

01 02
03
The piano might only be two

02 01
octave but it sounds great,
and the Multi-Touch display means
you can play complex chords
As well as the cheaters’Funky

02
Drummer module, there’s a
pretty complete drum kit as well
Use Band’s recording features

03
to layer up a rich recording, or
just bash down a few notes for
on-the-hoof inspiration
Band lets you create your

04
own tracks easily with the
instruments it puts on your iPhone’s
screen, including piano, bass guitar
and drum kit
KEY INFO
UK price £2.39
US price $3.99
Web moocowmusic.com
Download size 8.9MB
Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTION
Band
£2.39 Not the most useful app, but guaranteed to bring a smile to your face
A
nyone who watched the iPhone- in minutes. The multitrack recording comments found online, it’s a problem
centric keynote at WWDC means you can layer on more detail – experienced by other users. Professional
(Worldwide Developers the ‘audience’ instrument is perhaps our drummers and musicians, beware: this
4
Conference) back in 2008 – it’s at www. favourite here, overdubbing the sounds is not a tool that you can use to keep
apple.com/quicktime/qtv/wwdc08 if of cheering and applauding fans on your hand in when you’re on the road,
you’re interested – will know about this your mini-masterpiece – and keep but the ability to knock out and save
stunning little app. It’s not, we’ll grant re-recording until you get it right. The a tune is handy for when inspiration
you, the most useful of tools, but it’s instrument recording and management strikes. You might want to check out
huge amounts of fun and is a great system is a little clunky, and we’d like to MooCow’s other app options, such as
way to show off the iPhone’s tech. see a little more care taken over the Pianist or Guitarist, if you’re looking for
Essentially, it puts a bunch of polish of those screens that aren’t more accurate instruments.
different instruments on the screen instruments, but these are quibbles. It’s easy and fun, though, and while
that you can play, record, overdub and The one criticism that really matters it’s unlikely ever to be more than a
more. Some – the piano, bass guitar here is that it can be difficult to get your diverting novelty, we reckon it’s a
Do not buy this app to and drum kit – are facsimiles of real timings right. Work with the system for couple of quid well spent. If you’re not
make great music. Do buy instruments, but our favourite is the an hour or two, and you’ll anticipate the sure about splashing your cash though,
it to keep you and your 12-bar blues instrument with which you beat correctly, but we did get frustrated you can always check out the video at
friends entertained! can build your own 12-bar blues track when we first picked it up. Judging by moocowmusic.com. ●

ANALOG STYLE SYNTHESIZER
bleep!Synth
£2.99 Top technology that’s surprisingly ease to use
T
he interface offers navigation of
sound generation, motion control,
global parameters, live playback
and sequencer. Parameter editing is
cleverly arranged to make the most of
two-handed input; a virtual scroll wheel
fits under your thumb, while a trigger
pad can be used to play sound.
The three-voice synth is great; its
ability to work polyphonically suits
4
gated strings and evolving pads, and it
includes excellent routing possibilities.
Switch between editing the parameters
for the two oscillators, three two-stage
envelopes, single filter or modulation
options. Each set of parameters appear
as a list of sliders, and while they’re easy
to modify, the program doesn’t seem to
recognise more than two touches at a
time. The highlight of this app is the
user-defined matrix in Play mode. Notes
Offers the kind of features are triggered from a grid of buttons, KEY INFO SWING FOR IT The 16-step sequencer
you’d expect to see on and when combined with one of the 21 UK price £2.99 Download size 12.9MB includes trigger probability and
swing and we like the user-defined
expensive software different scales on offer, the output can US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes matrix of the Play mode
synthesizers sound unusual and fantastic. ● Web www.bleepsynthapp.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
MONOPHONIC SYNTHESIZER
Argon
£1.19 Create new sounds with fantastic editing control
A
rgon is a three-oscillator
subtractive monosynth.
Oscillator waveforms include
sawtooth, square wave, sine and white
noise, plus a formant oscillator for
vocal-style effects. Frequency
modulation, three LFOs and a resonant
multi-mode filter with low-pass slopes
allow thousands of timbres. There are
64 presets, with a further 512 user
5
preset slots available.
Argon’s step sequencer allows
complex patterns to be set up and
played like a customisable arpeggiator.
It’s a great way of creating riffs with
ease. The clipboard feature allows
Argon audio data to be copied and
pasted into compatible apps. The copy
and paste function is finally starting to
emerge as an inter-app standard,
allowing you to create loops and
With so many features to patterns and then send them to KEY INFO MODULATE TO ACCUMULATE
choose from, Argon is one Beatmaker for use in your sequences. UK price £1.19 Download size 0.9MB The range of sounds you can
create is staggering
of the best monophonic Once you start doing it, you won’t US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
synths for iPhone believe you ever managed without it. ● Web iphone.icegear.net/argon Requires iOS 3.0 or later

MODULAR SYNTHESIZER
Jasuto
£3.99 (Pro); £1.79 (Classic) Fully functioning modular synthesizer
I
f you’re looking for a synth app with
instant results, you’re going to be
disappointed. However, once you get
the hang of the basic structure, you’ll
find that Jasuto is capable of creating
incredible sounds. The mixture of
subtractive, additive and granular
synthesis plus sample playback, effects
and sequencing make Jasuto one of our
favourite iPhone apps.
4
Jasuto’s huge range of modules
(known as nodes) includes samplers,
oscillators, filters, envelope generators,
effects and sequencers, so you’ll need
to know the basics of synthesis to get
the best results. It’s easiest to start by
modifying some of the demo patches,
but you’ll soon figure out how to
construct from scratch, linking nodes
and moving them around. The range
of sounds is mind-blowing and the
PITCH PERFECT Put the time in to KEY INFO sequencer allows you to trigger Truly remarkable to find
learning what to do (download the UK price £3.99/£1.79 Download size 9.1/8.2MB patterns from within the app. We such high-end technology
PDF manual from the website) and
you will be rewarded for your efforts US price $6.99/$2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes strongly recommend the Pro version, working so well on the
Web www.jasuto.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later which pushes to the next level. ● humble mobile phone
INSTRUMENTAL Not just SESSION MANAGER

a piano face… The technoBox comes with a
Pianofly app offers a session manager which
huge bank of instruments allows you to load or save
work in realtime without
stopping the sequencer
SCROLLING KEYBOARD VIRTUAL STUDIO
Pianofly technoBox
£1.79 Part piano, part synthesizer £2.99 Authentic emulation in your pocket
P T
ianofly’s very simple interface KEY INFO echnoBox, a 303 and 808/909 KEY INFO
hides a surprisingly powerful UK price £1.79 sequencing app comes with top- UK price £2.99
FM synth with plenty of editing US price $2.99 notch credentials coming from US price $4.99
options. You can either pick a preset to Web minimusic.com AudioRealism, the makers of ABL2 and Web www.audiorealism.se
play with or create your own sounds Download size 0.5MB ADM, a 606,808 and 909 drum machine Download size 2.8MB
from scratch. One of the app’s cleverest iPod touch compatible Yes emulator. In terms of its ABL-derived iPod touch compatible Yes
features is the way that it overcomes Requires iOS 2.0 or later 303 programming, technoBox is a Requires iOS 3.0 or later
the limitations of the iPhone’s small winner, with much of the possible
screen. Dragging your finger along the squelch and depth that you require. The
screen slides the keyboard along, drum section is fine-sounding, with a
meaning that you can move up or choice of 808 or 909 soundsets, but
down the piano as you play rather than there is nothing in the way of sound
being limited to a single octave or We like the ability to play an parameter editing here. This application 303 bass, 808 smooth and 909
having to stab a tiny button. It’s a neat entire keyboard – although is simple, effective and looks great, but punchy – a great combo for
solution, if occasionally a little fiddly. ● it’s easy to slide accidentally it does lack some desirable features. ● easy to use sequencing

MUSIC PRODUCTION
Music Studio
£8.99 Complete music production sequencer
T
his is a fully fledged sequencer
with a slick interface. The
Keyboard page enables you to
play two instruments simultaneously
by splitting the screen; the iPhone
touchscreen excels here and you can
play some surprisingly complex parts.
Music Studio uses sampled instruments
rather than synthesized sounds, with a
selection of 21 presets to choose from
4
(including pianos, drum kits, organs,
brass, guitar, etc). The drum sounds are
good, although it’s a shame they use a
keyboard interface – pad-style input
would’ve been preferable. The Tracks
page offers mixing and editing of up
to 128 tracks, and Music Studio has
excellent sequencing capabilities with
great attention to detail.
Finally, the Effects page offers a basic
but useable reverb, tempo-synced
Search the internet and delay, three-band EQ and amp KEY INFO PLAY IT AGAIN When inspiration
you won’t find a bad user simulator with adjustable overdrive. UK price £8.99 Download size 228MB strikes capture the sounds on
Music Studio’s intuitive yet
review – for good reason, Each of the effects can be applied to US price $14.99 iPod touch compatible Yes comprehensive sequencer
there’s a lot to this app the master out or used for FX sends. ● Web www.xewton.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
TECHNO MICRO COMPOSER
ReBirth
£3.99 Relive the early days of computer music
T
here are two ways to view
Propellerhead’s port of the
seminal ReBirth. The first is as
a new music production benchmark
for the App Store. The second is as a
rather ill-fitting fingermare that users
will frequently find frustrating.
Both are right… The interface scales
smoothly but not ‘pleasantly’ – it’s
bitmapped rather than vector-based,
resulting in blurry text and fuzzy knobs
3
at high zoom. And no concessions have
been made in terms of making it ‘fit’ the
iPhone – it’s literally the Mac/PC version
shrunk down.
But ultimately, and considering the
price, none of that really spoils the
party. This is ReBirth – two 303s, an
808, a 909, the Pattern Controlled Filter,
the compressor, the delay, the step
sequencing, the song mode… There
are even five user mods included with KEY INFO DANCE TRANCE Step back into
Indulge yourself in Techno, the software (the mighty PBE among UK price £3.99 Download size 16.5MB 1997 with Propellerhead’s ReBirth
Electro, House, Hip Hop, them), while you also have the ability US price $6.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
Electronica… to share your projects online. ● Web www.propellerheads.se Requires iOS 3.1 or later

MOBILE DJ SOFTWARE SCRATCH THAT Stuck in

a queue? Why not perfect
Cue Play DJ
your turntable technique
while you wait…
£5.99 An industry standard DJ interface
D
utch trance legend Ferry
Corsten knows a thing or
two about DJing, so his
involvement with this DJ app
instantly grabbed our attention.
The result, Cue Play DJ, is a real
winner, with the use of Wi-Fi TURNTABLE
Flare Scratch
for track uploading and mix
streaming a particular highlight.
The app features virtual knobs
and sliders, crossfading,
simultaneous playback of two
tracks and auto BPM detection.
£2.99 DJ app with iPod library access
T
The latency issues that Wi-Fi he little brother to the iPad’s KEY INFO
connections suffer from means Baby Decks app, Flare Scratch is UK price £2.99
that regular headphone definitely worth considering in its US price $4.99
monitoring isn’t possible, but a own right. It’s aimed squarely at scratch Web www.async-games.com
number of different headphone DJs, with just one deck on screen. Load Download size 6.4MB
mix options make it easy to get files from your iTunes library (or upload iPod touch compatible Yes
the hang of this slightly your own MP3/AAC/WAV files via Wi-Fi) Requires iOS 3.0 or later
different approach. ● and cut, tear and transform to your
KEY INFO MIXING heart’s content. The responsive deck is
UK price £5.99 MADE excellent, but a slightly larger volume
EASY
US price $9.99 Cue tracks fader would be nice.
Web www.capsulatedsoftware.com on your Flare is a simple but highly effective
Download size 76.9MB iPhone turntable simulator that can be used to The iTunes access has really
Whether you DJ professionally or iPod touch compatible Yes add realistic scratch sounds to tracks. upped the ante on this fun app;
as a hobby, this is a good value app Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later Put the needle on the record… ● Facebook upload next please…
VISUAL MP3 MIXER AUDIO/MOTION MUSIC
Touch DJ 2 RjDj
£11.99 Multi-deck visual DJ tool FREE Reactive music at your fingertips
T T
ouch DJ solves the iPhone his is not your
cueing conundrum using conventional DJ app!
real-time waveforms on Reality Jockey’s game-
screen – ‘visual mixing’, if you changing RjDj is an augmented
like. We’re not convinced that reality music app unlike
mixing without listening anything else. Load a ‘scene’
is the right approach for and discover how the music
everyone, but it’s a novel way to reacts to inputs such as finger
do things. Auto BPM and beat gestures, phone movement and
detection make things a little ambient sounds. No musical
easier, while three-band EQ, low knowledge is required. Each
pass filters and a handful of scene has its own set of sounds,
very basic effects increase your allowing you to create your
sonic options. Unfortunately, own unique arrangements of
the slightly high price puts everything from hip hop to
Touch DJ 2 at a disadvantage dub. Downloadable packs allow
against its direct competition. you to add new scenes. You’ll
You’ll need the AudioSync find that music becomes
facility in place to (http:// software and software becomes
amidio.com/dj/) to upload music in an inspirational
your own tunes. ● multisensory experience. ●
KEY INFO SPACE KEY INFO SET THE
UK price £11.99 INVADERS UK price Free SCENE You
Or Touch DJ 2? can download
US price $19.99 The interface US price Free more free
Web amidio.com is futuristic Web www.rjdj.me and paid for
Download size 186MB and a little Download size 53.4MB scenes from
Suitable for amateurs and iPod touch compatible Yes ‘busy’ Easy, addictive, and extendable iPod touch compatible Yes the RjDj store
professionals, at quite a pro price Requires iOS 3.1 or later through new scenes: we like Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later

CHORD LIBRARY GUITAR TUNER
Chordmaster Guitar Toolkit

£1.19 Strike a chord… £5.99 An essential tool for any guitarist
I A
t’s time to say goodbye to nyone who owns both
your dog-eared chord book. a guitar and an iPhone
Select a Major, Minor, should buy this app. Its
Dominant or Diminished root main function is as a chromatic
note, dial in your chosen tuner but it also features a
intervals and Chordmaster metronome (with 13 sound
will display the fingering. effects and 12 time signatures),
Choose from left- and right- a list of scales for each note and
handed diagrams for over a chord look-up function – with
7,500 chords – quickly switch a library of over 500,000 chords!
between different positions on The tuning feature works well;
the neck and play the strings to by default, it does standard
hear how each chord sounds in EADGBE tuning, though there’s
digital audio. Chordmaster is a bewildering array of
an excellent tool. Sadly there alternative tuning modes to
are no augmented chords choose from if you’re feeling
included in the database, but experimental. Guitar Toolkit
otherwise this well priced app provides support for six- and
can’t be faulted. Great for 12-string guitar, four-, five- and
beginners but suitable for any six-string bass, banjo, ukulele
level of guitar enthusiast. ● and mandolin. ●
KEY INFO DON’T FRET KEY INFO THE RIGHT
UK price £1.19 Chordmaster UK price £5.99 NOTE The
will show you Guitar Toolkit
US price $1.99 the correct US price $9.99 interface
Web www.planetwaves.com finger Web agilepartners.com looks really
Download size 8.2MB position Download size 9.1MB professional
A genuinely useful learning iPod touch compatible Yes Encompasses all the elements iPod touch compatible Yes
tool for budding guitarists Requires iOS 3.1 or later any guitarist might need Requires iOS 3.0 or later
TAB READER
TabToolkit
£5.99 A vital tool for the aspiring guitarist
T
he internet is awash with free tab
files showing you how to play
your favourite songs on a guitar,
and TabToolkit does a good job of
bringing them to life on your iPhone.
You transfer tab files to your iPhone
via Wi-Fi. TabToolkit does a decent job
of displaying plain text tab files, but the
fun starts with the Guitar Pro and Power
Tab files, which it can play. They contain
5
both tab and standard musical
notations and a guitar fretboard or
keyboard shows you which frets to
finger as the song plays. At any
moment you can pause to move
forward and backward, should you
need extra help with the difficult bits,
or select a different instrument.
The concept works beautifully on
iPhone – just plonk yourself down on
the sofa with your guitar and prop the
If you’re a guitar player iPhone on a cushion. Being able to loop KEY INFO SWITCH IT With the Tab Toolkit, you
and iPhone owner then a section of tab would be a welcome UK price £5.99 Download size 9.8MB can switch between instruments –
you can also hear as many as 112
the TabToolkit app is a feature, but we’re impressed with US price $9.99 iPod touch compatible Yes instrument voices simultaneously!
vital purchase what’s offered here already. ● Web agilepartners.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

EXPLORE
W
hether it’s the daily commute or a trip around the world,
travelling has been changed profoundly by the iPhone. Now
you can check train times or plan your route through the
London Underground as you travel, not before you leave. You can
also get up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, plan a day out or carry
a phrasebook in your pocket. But the biggest impact the iPhone has
had on travel is its ability to use satellite-based navigation. Here, we
test several of the major sat-nav apps you can buy, as well as finding
out what they’re really like to use…
60 Sat-nav on the iPhone

64 Apps for out and about

EXPLORE Sat-nav challenge
Sat-nav on
the iPhone
There’s a healthy choice of apps that promise to turn your
iPhone into a sat-nav. We test five options to find out how
they, and the iPhone itself, perform while on the move
W
hen it was announced that the healthy choice of location-aware
iPhone 3G had a proper GPS navigation aides for iPhone, from
chip inside it (the original simple free tools like OffMaps to the
could only work out its location very full-blown counterparts to sat-nav
roughly by looking at which cell phone devices that we’re looking at here.
masts were nearby), we got very iPhone’s built-in Google-powered Maps
excited at the prospect of using the app shouldn’t be overlooked, either;
iPhone as a turn-by-turn satellite updated for iOS 4, it offers directions for
navigation system. The idea that you routes by car, by public transport or on
could jump in your car, slot the iPhone foot, with the GPS chip monitoring your
into a cradle and have it direct you to progress along the route.
your destination, guided by billions of All the same, most serious travellers –
dollars of satellite infrastructure, was and motorists in particular – will look
beguiling. Especially since even the to specialist apps that fulfil the
cheapest standalone sat-nav device role of a sat-nav device. The
costs more than £100… map graphics are designed
The dream took a little while to for clear legibility while
become reality, but there’s now a driving; there are

Sat-nav challenge EXPLORE

EXPLORE Sat-nav challenge
SUCK IT AND SEE The EasyPort

often services such as speed camera
window sucker, part of the TomTom databases and live traffic alerts; and SIGNAL STRENGTH Mounting the iPhone above the dash is best for reception
Car Kit for iPhone the maps are typically stored on your
iPhone, so you don’t need the constant leap. Although the iPhone’s screen Voice prompts could be the answer –
internet connection that Maps requires. seems a generous size when it’s in your but sadly, the built-in speaker on all
Many of this class of app are adapted hand, it can seem a little on the dinky iPhone models to date is too weedy to
from proprietary products where the side in the interior of a car, and we’d be be used. It’s fine for hands-free calling
software is built into the device you happier if the screen was just a little at your desk, but at the volumes
buy: TomTom is the best-known bit brighter… necessary for spoken instructions to be
example. That means the hardware is The biggest issue, however, is that heard above the noise of the engine
specifically geared towards sat-nav, you need to position your iPhone in and the tyres on the road, the audio
whereas the iPhone is designed to be your car in a safe position where you can get unpleasantly distorted.
a phone first and foremost. So if you’re can see it comfortably. The problem is Power is also an issue. Any iPhone
considering a navigation app, it’s worth that there are relatively few iPhone car fulfilling the role of a sat-nav needs a
being aware of how the iPhone mounts available, and some of those constant supply of power for all but
performs as a sat-nav device. that we’ve tried are ungainly and the shortest of journeys. The big, backlit
There are, you see, some significant inelegant for sat-nav. General-purpose screen itself is pretty power-hungry:
issues before you make the sat-nav in-car solutions such as the otherwise you don’t normally keep it on
excellent Belkin TuneBase FM with continuously, but you’ll notice
It’s worth being aware of how the Hands-Free are fine, but because the
cradles plug direct into the lighter
significant battery drain when it’s
displaying a map constantly. And,
iPhone performs as a sat-nav device. socket, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able
get the screen into a position that’s safe
of course, it takes a lot of power to drive
the GPS circuitry that’s keeping a lock
There are some significant issues to use when driving. on the satellites. Standalone sat-nav
HOW WE TESTED...
On the road, in the car
As well as testing the five apps here, we set
ourselves a challenge. We defined five different
waypoints around the city of Bath, beginning at
Royal High School. Then we asked the system to
find a local petrol station as a point of interest
(POI), which they all did. Next, we wanted to test
postcode look-up, so we entered the postcode of
Prior Park, a local landmark; here, some stumbled
through, not supporting full postcode look-up.
Then it was off to the train station: the TomTom
CoPilot Live Navigation for Western
and Mobile Maps apps tried to take us down a UK & Ireland Europe – iGO My Way 2009
road that was closed except for access. From the £19.99/$32.99 £39.99/$69.99
station, we tried an address in our contacts; some Frankly, we’re impressed. At half the price of This app was a real disappointment, even though
failed to parse it, and some tried to route us via bigger names, you’d be forgiven for thinking that its provision of maps Western Europe makes it
a road that’s always closed to traffic between it had fewer features. In fact, this was one of our seem like good value. It’s not just that the
10am and 6pm. favourites. The basic route-finding functionality interface is clumsy; it also fails in some pretty
Of course, it would be wrong to extrapolate worked great, though it did try to take us up a basic tasks. You can’t enter postcodes, for
performance for other locations based on this road that was closed to cars at the time. We liked example, making entering of destinations
sample, but it does indicate some of the problems how, at the end of a journey, it asked us if we unwieldy. Although it was tested in the same
you may encounter with some apps. wanted to add another destination, and that it circumstances as the others, it sometimes lost its
ducked background audio during spoken satellite lock. Instructions were often confusing,
instructions. The user interface is gaudy, but well and we had to take the iPhone out of our car kit
engineered to save on-screen clutter. to relaunch the app.

Sat-nav challenge EXPLORE
devices use a lot of power as well, of

course – but you don’t expect your sat-
nav to be ready to make calls and send
emails when you get to your destination.
Kitted up
Happily, these problems can be easily
solved, albeit at a price. The reception-
boosting TomTom Car Kit may cost an
eye-watering £99.95, but for our money
it’s an essential purchase. The locking
window-sucker, which is the same
EasyPort device used in the current
crop of TomTom sat-navs, is smart and
reliable, and enables you to place the
iPhone exactly where you want it. It lets
the whole thing pivot through 360
degrees, so you can flip your iPhone
easily into portrait or landscape
orientation. (This has the bonus of
allowing the power cable to trail the
correct way; usually, right-hand drive
cars have to double back the cable.)
The Car Kit also has a built-in
speaker: spoken sat-nav prompts
have plenty of volume, although music
sounds no more than workmanlike. You
can use it for hands-free calling too – it U-TURN No matter how efficient
includes a microphone, and does a your GPS system is, there’s bound
decent job. to be the occasional error
The only real drawback with the devices cluttering up our lives gets competition driving innovation, with
TomTom Car Kit is its price. Given that our vote. It’s great to arrive at your price comparisons for nearby petrol
you’re going to have to add a sat-nav destination with a fully charged battery, stations and even local advertising
app as well, it’s a costly proposition on and unexpected perks such as the promotions, giving you a discount for
top of the iPhone itself, given that you ability to navigate to contacts already a local restaurant, for example. iOS 4’s
can get an all-in TomTom device for synched to your device rather than in-app purchasing is already leading to
£120 or less. laboriously entering them by hand useful add-on services and features,
is most welcome. and the pace of iPhone development
Worth the effort What’s more, this is just the means we shouldn’t have to wait too
If all of this sounds overly negative, it’s beginning. Although some apps use long for much better sat-nav. ●
just because we want you to be aware the iPhone’s wireless 3G internet
of the drawbacks. The experience of
using your iPhone as a sat-nav is
connection to supply live traffic
updates (a service you normally have to
The experience of using your iPhone
generally excellent, especially if you pay extra for), none of them really take as a sat-nav is generally excellent,
invest in a proper car kit; and anything advantage of the facility as much as
that means we have fewer individual they could. We’re looking forward to especially, if you invest in a car kit
Navigon MobileNavigator Mobile Maps TomTom

British Isles UK & Ireland UK & Ireland
£34.99/$59.99 £29.99/$49.99 £42.99/$74.99
The first GPS app to launch remains one of the The strong, graphic interface of this app from By far the most polished of the apps here, but
best. The spoken and visual instructions are clear Sygic is more than just cosmetic: it’s easy to follow also the most expensive, TomTom’s system feels
and helpful, and it gently ducks background the clear on-screen map. It’s just a shame that the like the app Apple itself would make. Menus are
music so voice prompts are clearly heard. A text- text in the menu systems – and indeed even in clear and data is easy to enter with copy and
to-speech engine effectively reads out road the information bar at the bottom of the screen – paste, while the crisp, reserved on-screen graphics
names. Annoyingly, though, postcode search is is on the small side, making its legibility poor. are a joy. But although it’s capable of some
an extra £1.19 via in-app purchase, so you can’t Happily, it does full postcode searching and brilliant insights about which route to take –
rely on inputting postcodes to get you to your contacts look-up, though it can struggle to parse thanks to its IQ Routes technology, we assume,
destinations. Despite this, however, it made the non-standard addresses. It made one bad which knows at what time of the day certain
best decisions about how to route us through decision in our routing challenge, but it also roads are busy – it did make a couple of bad
Bath during our challenge. picked a good route that no other app found. mistakes in our route challenge.

EXPLORE Out & about
01 02 04
As well as this portrait view,

01
you can use TomTom in
landscape orientation
IQ Routes knows where

02
and when congestion hits
– and it routes accordingly
Although there’s no traffic

03
information, you can manually
03 avoid roadblocks
To stop the iPhone’s screen

04
dazzling you at night, the
screen’s brightness adjusts
SATELLITE NAVIGATION
TomTom Western Europe

£79.99 Quality GPS navigation on your iPhone
W
hile it took some time to businesses, and fuel efficient routes.
welcome turn-by-turn sat nav Sure, there are things we’d like to see
devices to the list of gadgets added – exploitation of the iPhone’s
4
the iPhone can transform into, thanks always-on data connection for fuel
to term changes to the iPhone SDK prices, for starters – but it’s the slickest,
there are now plenty of navigational most complete solution we’ve used.
apps to choose from… the TomTom It’s better than the cheaper Navigon
brand probably has the biggest cachet offering, which is hampered by not
right now though. enabling full postcode look-ups.
The app itself is superb. It’s polished, There’s no doubt that it’s expensive,
very easy to use and features TomTom’s though, especially compared to, say,
smart IQ Routes system, which changes CoPilot Live. The dedicated car kit costs KEY INFO
its route recommendation at different a further £99.95 and, while the handset UK price £79.99
times of the day, since it knows when itself is well made and offers a decent US price $74.99
Doubtless the slickest sat particular roads get busy. Other speaker, GPS chipset and hands-free Web www.tomtom.com
nav app for the iPhone, but facilities include being able to email facility, when you’re talking about £180, Download size 1.85GB
expensive; and the iPhone a route to a contact, an emergency you’re talking about a lot of money to iPod touch compatible Yes
car kit costs £99.99… menu, Google powered search for local spend on an app and an ‘accessory’. ● Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Out & about EXPLORE
Sygic Mobile Maps UK & Ireland

£29.99 It’s cheaper than TomTom’s, but is it good?
S
ygic’s Mobile Maps UK & Ireland
satellite navigation app for the
iPhone has a very distinctive look
– almost cartoon-like, almost like you’re
looking at someone’s mock-up of what
a sat nav system could look like. You
may or may not like the style of screen,
but it does mean that some of the
interface elements are rather small, and
they can be tricky to read when driving.
There are plenty of features – it can
4
do a full postcode search, and the view
zooms in and out as your speed
changes as you need to see less or
more detail. You can quickly search for
addresses for contacts in your iPhone,
get advice on which lane you should be
in, and you can even get updates on
how the weather might affect your
journey. The app doesn’t, however,
duck playing music to let spoken
instructions be clearly heard, so that’s KEY INFO CAR CARTOON The visuals are quite
Good, and good value, but down to manual control, and you’re UK price £29.99 Download size 297MB appealing but details are quite small
lacking polish; auto-volume dependent on finding a good, powered US price $49.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
control would be useful cradle for your car. ● Web www.sygic.co.uk Requires iOS 4.0 or later
Navigon Mobile
Navigator Europe
£69.99 Navigator with some nice features
N
avigon might not be as you’ll need a cradle like Griffin’s
recognisable a brand as WindowSeat, and the iPhone’s
Garmin or TomTom but it speaker is a little distortion-
has a good pedigree. It contains prone at sufficient volumes for
maps for the whole of Europe the spoken directions. GPS plus
– a UK-only version is available the always-on screen eats
3
for £53 – so is a hefty 1.83GB. battery life so you’ll need a
Before we pick away at the power adaptor. Then there are
edges, it’s worth saying now that the app niggles; you can start
it works. The overall feel is, while music playing before launching
there’s room for improvement, the app, but it won’t duck to let
Navigon has put a lot of effort the spoken instructions stand
into getting things right; the out, and street names aren’t
iPhone display toggles happily displayed in the 3D view.
from portrait to landscape, you More seriously, you can’t do
can easily find addresses for full UK postcode look-ups, and
BIRD’S EYE VIEW The default aerial ‘3D’view helps you to get your bearings
anyone on your contacts list, there’s no support for traffic
Some nice features, easy and there’s the handy Points updates, something that could KEY INFO
to follow maps and user- of Interest facility. easily be added (presumably UK price £69.99 Download size 1.83GB
friendly interface; again, So, the problems. Some are for a cost) through the iPhone’s US price $119.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
you’ll need a decent cradle not the fault of the app itself; data connection. ● Web www.navigon.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

EXPLORE Out & about
skobbler
UK/Ireland Lite
FREE Turn your iPhone into a sat nav – for free!
O
ne of the compelling downloads and caches maps as
reasons to choose a phone needed; great for low-capacity
running Google’s Android iPhones, but it does mean that
OS over an iPhone is that some you need a data connection to
recent models include free sat get going.
nav. There are many sat nav apps The app itself is good; it was
2
for the iPhone 3G or later but created by a splinter group of
they can be expensive. Now, we developers from Navigon, and it
have a free alternative. shows both in the styling and
The idea’s solid: the expensive feature-set. You get good voice
thing in sat navs is the map data, prompts (including text-to-
but skobbler uses data from speech renderings of road
OpenStreetMap, a community- names) and, as well as the
created map to which you are option of controlling iPod audio,
invited to contribute bug automatic ducking of the
reports. While this keeps costs background audio when voice
NICE STYLING This app was designed by a splinter group of Navigon developers
down, it does mean that map prompts are given. It’s not yet
KEY INFO data can be sketchy – or flat-out iOS 4-aware for background It’s free, so it might do if
UK price Free Download size 3.5MB wrong – especially in rural areas. navigation, however. Address you’re stuck, but we’d think
US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes The app itself isn’t a multi- look-up is poor too, and there twice about trusting it for
Web www.skobbler.co.uk Requires iOS 4.0 or later gigabyte download because it are no points of interest. ● crucial journeys
LOCATION SERVICES GPS TRACKER
Vicinity Trails
£1.79 You won’t get lost with this app! £2.39 A great geologging and geotagging tool
G T
ot yourself lost? Need to rails’ main feature is to
know where the nearest record your position as
cashpoint is? Want a quick you travel and plot it on
coffee? Just want to find out to a map so you can see where
more about where you are? you’ve been. It records speed
Vicinity is for you. Once it has a and distance covered, and can
lock on your current location it show the results itself or email
will provide you with a list of a standard GPX file that you can
nearby amenities – cafes, import into any app designed
pubs, restaurants, taxi firms, to work with these trails, such
takeaways, petrol stations, etc – as Google Earth. Unfortunately,
and optionally give you Maps- once you factor in the GPS, it’s
based directions to what you a real battery hog. Worse, it’s
need. It’s surprisingly detailed – unstable, but the developers
we’re used to these kinds of promise improvements.
apps being very US-centric You can also use it with
– though it isn’t infallible. Some another app on your Mac to
excellent extra features really geotag photos you took on a
add to its appeal, like viewing separate camera as you walked
geotagged pictures through your route; it just matches up
Flickr or Panoramio. ● the timestamps for you. ●
WHERE AM I? KEY INFO KEY INFO TRACKING
Somewhere UK price £1.79 UK price £2.39 DEVICE You
new and need can switch
a sandwich? US price $2.99 US price $3.99 between
Vicinity can Web www.activeguru.co.uk Web trails.lamouroux.de road or
help you… Download size 0.4MB Download size 3.4MB topographic
iPod touch compatible Yes Find your way around a new town Record maps while you’re out on a iPod touch compatible Yes views
Requires iOS 2.2 or later or get street directions instantly hike and share them with others Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Out & about EXPLORE
RAIL INFORMATION
UK Train Times
£4.99 Route planning and live departure boards
W
hen using Britain’s rail hotspots limits its usefulness.)
system, you need to be When you first launch it, the
able to plan journeys app will prompt you to set your
efficiently and anticipate delays ‘home’ station based on your
as far in advance as possible. current location. (You also have
Well, information from the the option to add other stations,
National Rail Enquiries website is as well as journeys.)
now available straight from the Planning a journey is simple
horse’s mouth with this, the and the live departures board is
official iPhone application. (It useful, showing a summary of
will work on an iPod touch, but the departing trains and any
4
its dependence on Wi-Fi delays, but also enabling you to
tap on any service and see its
progress. Frustratingly, there’s no
access to this information when
you plan a journey, or indeed
any way to access it when you’re
already on a train and want to
check progress or upcoming
stations, but the other features
are truly useful.
TIMETABLE Plan for a long trip or just check the time of the next train home
Our favourite feature is ‘Next
Fairly pricey, but if you train home’ that looks up your KEY INFO
commute by train or often nearest station and checks the UK price £4.99 Download size 2..8MB
go on long distance STATION MASTER Built-in Google Maps time of the next train you can US price $7.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
journeys, it’s very useful help you locate the stations you need catch to your home station. ● Web www.agant.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
CAR FINDER TUBE PLANNER
Sally Park London Tube

£0.59 Where did you park your car? £0.59 Visiting London? You’ll need a Tube map
T Y
his is a great idea: whip ou could, in theory,
out your iPhone when download the PDF of
you park in one of those the Tube map and save
vast shopping centre car parks, it to your iPhone using, say,
let Sally Park use your 3GS’s GPS ReaddleDocs. And then you
to pinpoint its location, and could bookmark mindtheapp.
then easily find your way back. com/tubes in Safari to get the
Despite a lush design and latest information about any
the addition of handy parking- current delays on the London
specific features – a note field Underground.
to record your zone, say, and But at this price, you’ve little
the ability to take a photo – to lose. London Tube gives you
Sally Park isn’t an especially a scrollable map, information
good tool. That arrow doesn’t about what lines run through
really seem point you in the each station, and details on
direction of your car; instead it your nearest station. It can also
merely points north. You tap an calculate optimum routes, but
icon to bring up a map showing it can’t take into account live
you and your car’s location, but status information. It’s worth it
it’s no different to dropping a for the scrollable map, but it
pin in Maps. ● could offer a little more. ●
PARK IT KEY INFO KEY INFO MIND THE
The app looks UK price £0.59 UK price £0.59 APP The
great but isn’t trip planner
really what US price $0.99 US price $0.99 helps you
you’d call a Web www.doseido.com Web www.presselite.com determine
pinpointer… Download size 1.7MB 59p isn’t much for a perfectly Download size 2.8MB your route
iPod touch compatible No A good idea, and lovely design, but decent Tube map, but the app iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.1 or later the built-in Maps app is as useful could be better Requires iOS 3.1 or later

EXPLORE Out & about
SURVIVAL MANUAL
SAS Survival Guide

£3.99 The legendary survival handbook comes to your iPhone
L
ofty Wiseman’s well The content is, of course,
respected guide to good and comprehensive,
surviving in difficult though the first aid section has
situations, covering topics such drawn some criticism for being
as making camp, navigating, and slightly out of date.
even trapping and preparing The app, though, could use a
food, has now arrived on the little more work. The icons look
iPhone. While a book is great but the information lacks
decidedly more reliable in a clear visual hierarchy, and it’s
emergency situations (it doesn’t sometimes presented in an
need to be charged, for a start) order that makes it difficult to
the idea of an app still appeals track down information you
3
(and is a lot lighter to carry need in a hurry.
round). Not only ought you to The command to alter text
be reading and familiarising size takes ages to kick in,
yourself with the techniques meaning you often tap multiple
described before you’re put in a times only to see the text
survival situation, it means you balloon in size.
also get video tutorials and a It is, however, a useful app.
couple of handy utilities. It would be folly to rely on
The sun compass is a good an electronic device in an
KEY TO SURVIVAL Take Lofty’s app on your next expedition and it could help out
use of the iPhone’s tech, and the emergency, but on the basis
KEY INFO wild food advice is handy for that you’re more likely to have
UK price £3.99 Download size 188MB foragers. Admittedly, the Morse your iPhone with you than a There’s lots of good info
US price $6.99 iPod touch compatible Yes code converter is probably more specifically packed book, we here; it’s just not presented
Web www.sassurvivalguide.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later cool to play with than it is useful. can see the appeal. ● especially well
STARBUCKS COMPANION ATTRACTION FINDER
MyStarbucks National Trust

FREE Fancy a coffee? FREE Looking for a day out with the family?
W W
e feel odd featuring an ith 200 houses and
app that pushes you almost 1,000 square
towards one company, miles of land, many
especially when that company people can find a National Trust
is, for some, controversial. But property nearby. This app
the Starbucks app is so good, enables you to browse a map –
we’re making an exception. that will show you properties
It lets you find nearby stores, on a Google map – or list
showing opening times and properties in order of proximity.
facilities. Best of all, though, It can ping you out to the Maps
it lets you explore the drinks app proper to get directions,
menu, customising to your and you can browse all
heart’s content, and, happily, properties as well.
then telling you what mocha- It’s handy and well put
venti-frappa-demi-cappu-tastic together, but there’s nothing
incantation you need. in the app for National Trust
Nutritional info is shown, members; we’d like to have
too, though not for highly been able to store our
customised ones. We’d like to membership details in the app
see prices and Starbucks Card so we didn’t have to remember
integration added. ● to take our cards. ●
COFFEE TO GO KEY INFO KEY INFO IN YOUR
Not sure what UK price Free UK price Free AREA The app
to ask for in will pinpoint
store? Create US price Free US price Free you, then
your ideal Web www.starbucks.co.uk Web www.nationaltrust.org.uk provide info
drink on your Download size 7.5MB Download size 6.2MB on what’s
iPhone first iPod touch compatible Yes A beautiful, well engineered free Doesn’t cover Scotland, and iPod touch compatible Yes around
Requires iOS 3.1 or later app – a gold standard for others nothing for members, but useful Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Out & about EXPLORE
WEATHER FORECASTER
Met Office Weather

FREE Official weather advice for the UK
T
he built-in Weather app is an app that’s really worth
on the iPhone is perfectly installing, and not just because
good enough for getting it’s free.
a quick overview of what the Because it’s the official app of
weather’s going to get up to the UK Meteorological Office,
over the next five days. But, the data’s as good as you’re
saying that, Met Office Weather going to get. (Yes, it’s often a
bit off; but, as you’ll know, the
British weather’s a particularly
tricky thing to predict.) You get
forecasts and animated satellite
maps of weather patterns.
3
However, the interface feels
ugly and distinctly un-iPhone-
like, and, while our experience
was fine, some have reported
instability. The app will offer to
set your location automatically,
but tends to dump you over in
London regardless. However, fret
not, as you can set your location
MET DATA The forecast may not be good but at least you can trust it!
manually. For a five-day forecast
in your area to decide on the KEY INFO
It’s not the most visually best day for a barbecue or if UK price Free Download size 2.7MB
appealing app but the POOR OUTLOOK The interface could be a little you’re planning a hike, this US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes
data’s good, and it is free better styled for iPhone use could be the app for you. ● Web www.metoffice.gov.uk Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
TRANSLATION TOOL INTERACTIVE GLOBE
Talking Google Earth

Phrasebook FREE The whole world in your hands
G
oogle Earth was an
FREE/£0.59 Simple phrases for your holidays application born for the
iPhone – and it’s free! It
A
vailable in many languages, presents you with a globe,
including French, German, letting you search for places,
Italian and Spanish, these businesses and more. All the
phrasebooks give you essential lingo images are satellite and aerial
to get by abroad. They’re not as shots, and you automatically
polished as some offerings – the get the most recent pictures.
Lonely Planet ones are considered You can spin the view
comprehensive – but they’re pretty around with two fingers and tilt
good. There are key areas, such as the phone to change the angle.
Travel, Food and Accommodation to Geotagged photo links are
Shopping, Beaches, even Romance, shown, along with links to
and you’re not just limited to trying to Wikipedia articles about what
read text and guess pronunciation; you’re looking at; it’s a great
each phrase has a native speaker so way to explore an unfamiliar
you can repeat the phrase or just hold city. You sometimes feel a bit
your phone up and have it speak for lost, and it’s a little sluggish
you. Many of the phrasebooks are and occasionally crashy, but
free via Lastminute.com. ● we love it nonetheless. ●
KEY INFO PARLEZ KEY INFO SMALL
UK price Free/£0.59 VOUS? These UK price Free WORLD
phrasebooks Travel the
US price Free/$0.99 are a must if US price Free globe,
Web www.coolgorilla.com you have an Web www.google.com wherever
Download size 9.1MB iPhone and Download size 13.4MB you are!
Ideal travel companions, and iPod touch compatible Yes you travel Fantastic technology, although iPod touch compatible Yes
the native voice is a great touch Requires iOS 3.0 or later it could use some optimisation Requires iOS 3.0 or later

ENJOY
M
obile phones have already transformed the way millions of us
live, thanks to innovations such text messaging and pocket-
sized cameras. Now the iPhone is changing our habits and
behaviour to an even greater extent, with an app for almost every
occasion you can think of. You can’t just send texts and emails: you
can tweet to Twitter and chat via Instant Messaging.
There’s also a wide selection of apps to enhance your lifestyle –
including, as you’ll discover over the page, apps that promise to
make you fitter…
72 Can an iPhone get you fit?

76 Lifestyle & Leisure apps
84 Social networking apps
88 Media & Entertainment apps
94 Research & Relaxation apps

ENJOY Fitness
Can an
iPhone get
you fit?
We challenge a slightly lardy iPhone user to get fit with the help
of apps on his device. The catch: he only has a tenner to spend
T
echnology’s great – but it’s part So I decided to do something about
of the reason waistlines are it – and to get technology to help
expanding. These days, many rather than cause. I’m going to find
people do little physical work, and rely out if the iPhone can help me get
on cars rather than their legs for getting fitter rather than fatter.
around. As a writer, I’m immersed in Instead of spending time playing
technology daily, but my morning iPhone games, I’ll spend a few weeks
commute only involves going upstairs trying out exercise apps. Since the
to my office. Unless I specifically make iPhone’s expensive, the decision was
an effort to exercise, pounds gradually made to restrict my app budget to a
creep on, even if I’m not shoving a crisp (well, digital) tenner on the App
chocolate bar in my face every night. Store – the sort of ‘impulse purchase’
Lately, exercise has taken a back seat, sum most people would be happy to
and I’ve noticed myself becoming unfit. spend to get in shape.
Getting started
Exercise has taken a back seat, and After researching options on the App
I’ve noticed myself becoming unfit… Store, I decide on five apps: four
exercise aids and one weight tracker.
iFIT The iPhone isn’t just about
I’m going to find out if the iPhone can The most expensive, at £5.99, is
RunKeeper Pro, a GPS tracker for
gaming and streaming video: it
can also help you plan your exercise
get me fitter rather than fatter walking, jogging and running. Using regime and gauge your fitness levels

ENJOY Fitness
the magic of technology, it logs where

you go and integrates readings and
Exercise and your iPhone progress with an online account.
At 59p each, GymFu apps CrunchFu,
PushupFu and SquatFu are designed to
1 Take your time train you over a couple of months to
Pace yourself and don’t rush complete a number of ‘reps’ – 200
exercises. If you’re using a crunches, 100 push-ups and 200 squats,
GymFu app and it tells you to respectively – in a single session. That
rest for a couple of minutes, do might sound easy to fitness gurus, but
so until you know you can skip my arms tried to make a break for it on
breaks without straining hearing the number ‘100’ followed by
yourself. Similarly, walk or the word ‘push-ups’. My chosen weight
slowly jog at first with tracker, Weightbot, is a £1.19 app with
RunKeeper: you can gradually a fun, noisy interface: even if pounds
improve your pace and aren’t shed, at least you’ll enjoy
lengthen your covered distance inputting your weight.
over the days to come. Although Weightbot initially proves
the most fun to tinker with, RunKeeper
2 Exercise properly and the GymFu apps are engaging
Before you start exercises, enough to get me excited about the
learn how best to perform STRETCH Warm up and down before and prospect of using them for serious
them. For crunches and squats, after exercise to reduce the risk of injury exercise. The GymFu apps in particular
TICK LIST The four GymFu apps track your exercise and
the correct posture is important seem designed for newbies, providing encourage your progress towards the ultimate target
for good results and to avoid hell per fortnight. If you need information about how to do good-
strain. Also, remember to warm encouragement to keep quality crunches, push-ups and squats.
up and down and stretch before yourself motivated, GymFu Along with mentioning warm-ups and to see my route within a Google Maps
and after runs and other apps send regular challenges, stretches, they note you should take box, how elevation affected my speed,
exercise. Don’t do stretches and RunKeeper has online 48-hour breaks between training and how many calories I’d used. I can
without warming up first: you integration that enables you sessions to give your body time to also add my wife – a long-time
can do your muscles more to create a ‘street team’, which recover. My plan therefore evolves RunKeeper user – to my ‘street team’.
harm than good. can include RunKeeper-using For the first time
in a year, things
friends worldwide.
My first attempt with RunKeeper are looking up
4 Learn app quirks
Figure out how each app best
involves several ‘wow’ moments. for my sagging
paunch.
works, and adapt your usage. The app gets a GPS fix in seconds, The following
RunKeeper is more accurate day with GymFu
when your iPhone has Wi-Fi and I scoot off to the local park isn’t so smooth,
disabled, so use General however. I’ve
section in the Settings app to to working with the GymFu apps and tested CrunchFu before, but not the
turn Wi-Fi off before you run. using RunKeeper on alternate days. other apps, and it takes a while before
As for the GymFu apps, you I figure out how to best hold the iPhone
may find they work better Exercise regime so the apps don’t keep barking “Half!”
when your device is held in a My first attempt with RunKeeper at me for incomplete reps. In the end,
certain way, so practise before involves several ‘wow’ moments. The having the iPhone in my pocket for
training properly. app gets a GPS fix in seconds, and I SquatFu works well, and holding my
scoot off towards the local park. Along iPhone at a slight angle on my thumbs
5 Don’t splash out… the way, the app periodically barks my during crunches works better than
DIY HOLDER Use elastic bands to fix the By all means buy a sports time and pace, and I can see how I’m having it at my chest.
iPhone to your arm during push-ups armband if you get heavily into doing at any point via the well- Over the following week, my routine
exercising with your iPhone. designed display. On returning home, continues – with the occasional slip. It’s
3 Get into a routine But to begin, hold your device the run is sent to the RunKeeper during this time that RunKeeper’s one
Doing a load of exercise one or put it in a pocket; or use website; on logging in, it’s possible failing becomes apparent; although it
day and then nothing for two elastic bands to strap the
weeks is a bad idea. 20 minutes device to your arm if you’re
per day beats three hours of using PushupFu.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANDY MCLAUGHLIN
TAKE TIME Don’t rush your reps: your form will suffer and the speed won’t make you any fitter
HARD GRAPH Weightbot enables you to view how your weight has fluctuated over the year, and whether you’re on target

Fitness ENJOY
Your £10 exercise kit

RunKeeper Pro
www.runkeeper.com
£5.99
An iPhone-only app due
to its use of GPS location
tracking, RunKeeper Pro
is a great buy. Its activity
tracking is excellent,
and the clean, simple
interface ensures strong
usability. Website
integration and activity
sharing enable you to
easily share progress
with friends. A free
ad-supported version
is also available.
CrunchFu,
PullupFu,
RUN CLUB RunKeeper’s online service keeps your info safe and makes it shareable with members of your group
PushupFu
and SquatFu
provides weekly and monthly totals exercising regularly for the first time www.gymfu.com
(activities, distance, time, calories), it’s in nearly a year – and that’s mostly £0.59 per app
not obvious how you’re progressing down to the iPhone apps. The GymFu range
if you stick to the same route and Admittedly, I’m a sucker for graphs comprises four apps: one
distance every day. and games, and seeing a downward each for crunches, push-
By comparison, after a few days trend in GymFu or an upward trend in ups, squats and pull-ups.
GymFu’s apps graph your reps from Weightbot gets me doubly motivated Each app provides tips
training and ‘battles’, which come via to reverse them. Surprisingly, GymFu’s on how to exercise,
Twitter from the GymFu ‘Fubot’ and, Twitter challenges also help, since my training routines, a graph
very sporadically, real humans across brain doesn’t seem to realise that showing progress and a
the globe. (You can challenge others they’re (mostly) automated. way to challenge people.
by score or max reps, but I find in I’ve noticed changes in my basic Voice packs are available
practice that few battle requests are fitness, too. GymFu’s founders reckon if you fancy switching
answered.) Having a graph detailing that 40 per cent of people double their Fubot for a grizzled
progress is really encouraging and reps after starting to use one of their ‘sarge’ or strict ‘missy’.
definitely spurs me on. apps, and I can already comfortably do
RunKeeper falls further by the twice as many push-ups and squats as
wayside as the weather dramatically when I first started. Granted, hitting
the final GymFu
targets is a long
GymFu’s founders reckon that way off, but now Weightbot
40 per cent of people double their I’m confident that
I’ll eventually get
www.tapbots.com
£1.19
reps, and I can already comfortably there. Although
RunKeeper isn’t in
There are various ways
to track your weight – a
do twice as many push-ups the mix as much as pad and Biro pen, Excel,
I’d like (due to my the Notes app – but only
deteriorates, but this simply ongoing ‘wuss out of running because Weightbot makes it fun.
demonstrates to me the importance of the rain’ syndrome), I now use it to The metallic interface is
of having a set of apps that enable track dog walks rather than just runs, engaging and emits cute
indoors and outdoors exercise. And and challenge myself to beat my noises. Rotate your
my effort in GymFu increases, even walking times – much to my dog’s device one way to view
if my overall exercise level drops. annoyance, it seems. your weight goal; rotate
So while I’m not going to be running it the other to see your
Work in progress the London Marathon any time soon or progress over time.
A few weeks have passed since I began joining an athletics team, I have got Imperial and metric
this experiment. Weightbot stubbornly started on the path to better fitness, options are available.
refuses to say I’m at my target weight; for the kind of money that’s less than
in fact, it doesn’t think I’ve lost more a week’s membership at my local gym.
than a rounding error. But before this And what’s more, I still have the
experiment is chalked up as a failure princely sum of £1.05 left over to
and I start eating too many Jaffa Cakes spend on a Mars bar. Er, protein bar.
again, it should be noted that I’m To spend on a protein bar… ●

ENJOY Lifestyle & Leisure
SHOPPING LIST PACKAGE TRACKER
Groceries Delivery
£1.19 Let your iPhone help with the shopping
Status touch
A
dd items to your
Groceries shopping list – £2.99 Track your parcels from your iPhone
jot things down as you
H
think about them throughout urrah for Delivery Status touch,
the week – and it automatically Mike Piontek’s iPhone version
sorts them into aisles for you. of the Dashboard widget that
As you walk round the store, we’ve been using for years. It plugs
tap items to mark them as ‘got’. into the delivery systems for Amazon,
The list of products isn’t Apple, FedEx, Parcelforce, Royal Mail,
especially UK-friendly, but you UPS, USPS and more, and consolidates
can easily add your own, and all your deliveries onto one screen.
we love that you can assign The level and precision of detail
quantities (number, weight and varies depending on the carrier, but
so on) and also add notes to you can simply tap the left-hand part
items. You can reorder the aisles of each line to flip up the page, Maps-
to match your favourite style, to reveal the full tracking site;
supermarket’s layout and create some even offer map tracking. It does
multiple lists. Shopping lists can sync with the Delivery Status Desktop
be emailed and items marked widget, but we’d like a Safari
as favourites. A calculator bookmarklet to make adding items
would be handy though… ● a whole lot easier. ●
RETAIL KEY INFO KEY INFO FINAL
THERAPY UK price £1.19 UK price £2.99 COUNTDOWN
Organise your The main
products into US price $1.99 US price $4.99 view counts
aisles and you Web www.sophiestication.com Web www.junecloud.com down until
can easily Download size 8.2MB Download size 1.9MB your
reorder them iPod touch compatible Yes Is it necessary? No. Does it make Attractive and functional, recent iPod touch compatible Yes estimated
Requires iOS 3.0 or later the weekly shop less stressful? Yes updates make this app even better Requires iOS 3.0 or later delivery date
DATA TRACKER AMAZON STOREFRONT
Limits Amazon Mobile UK

£1.19 Weight? Expenses? Track anything FREE Buy, buy, buy! Plus some freaky tech
L T
imits is essentially a his is really just a storefront
system that can track to Amazon, but the app
anything quantifiable. The has one more function
idea is simple: create a new than just to help you buy online:
tracking task, give it a limit – Amazon Remembers.
or target, depending on how It’s a genius service. Using
you’re thinking about the task – your iPhone’s camera, take a
then enter the units you’ll be photo of a product, which is
measuring in. then uploaded to Amazon
Now all you need to do servers. If it can identify it
is enter your values – hours automatically (it works best with
worked, weight gain (or loss; CDs, games and books) it pings
negative values are allowed), the result back instantly, ready
whatever. Limits shows a simple to be bought or added to a
bar to illustrate how close to wishlist. If not, it’s anonymously
your target you are. It’s a decent turned over to Mechanical Turk
system, though you’re forced to workers who try to identify and
think laterally about how to link it to a product on Amazon.
frame your limits, and you can’t Results can be freakily accurate,
edit or remove items from the but some are off, and there’s no
history or export the results. ● way of alerting Amazon. ●
NEAR THE KEY INFO KEY INFO NEVER
LIMIT Stay UK price £1.19 UK price Free FORGET
on track by Amazon
monitoring US price $1.99 US price Free Remembers
your targets Web www.juicycocktail.com Web www.amazon.co.uk identifies
Download size 0.1MB Download size 2.5MB products
iPod touch compatible Yes Flexible, but inelegant; even at An average shopping portal, but iPod touch compatible Yes when you’re
Requires iOS 3.0 or later this low price it’s a little expensive Amazon Remembers is astonishing Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later out and about

Lifestyle & Leisure ENJOY
BILL SPLITTER
Bistromath
£1.79 Don’t panic! This bill splitter is out of this world
T
he App Store is groaning genius is that you can define
under the weight of tip anything as being shared among
calculators, but they’re more than one person. A bowl
of limited usefulness. Even in of chips that three of you stole
beautifully finished apps such as from? The cost is split three ways
Tipulator you just enter the total and allocated to each person.
of a bill from a bar or restaurant, You can type people’s names
telling it how many people are in manually, or hook into your
in the group, then they add a tip Contacts app to pull them in,
and split it. But what if you had which also shows people’s
soup and your friend plumped photos if you’ve tied them into
4
for a steak? Or three of you had the address book database. Or
a soft drink each, but a couple you can add them in Bistromath.
shared a bottle of wine? And Once you’re done, and have
what if Sandra has the correct decided on a tip percentage,
money, but Peter only has a fifty Bistromath shows how much
pound note? And what’s the tip? each person owes. Better still,
Bistromath solves it all. you can tell it how much each
It only takes a few taps to person has put in the pot, and it
enter the cost of the meals will calculate how much change
everyone’s having – if you have they need. You can even email
WORK TOGETHER Over Bluetooth up to four people can collaborate on a bill
the time, you can tap to pick receipts to folks who were at
It goes beyond anally from a handful of configurable the meal. And as if that wasn’t KEY INFO
retentive, but does a tricky options to keep track of whether enough, up to four other people UK price £1.79 Download size 0.6MB
job with elegance. A little you’re entering a drink, a main, a can easily collaborate on a bill US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
US-centric, however side or whatever – and the real over Wi-Fi. ● Web www.blackpixel.com/bistromath Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later
TIP CALCULATOR CINEMA LISTINGS
Tipulator UK Cinema Times

£0.59 Make sure you always leave a tip £0.59 Comprehensive listings, just a tap away
W Y
e don’t obsess so ou could use a web app
much about tip to find out what’s on at
calculators in the UK the flicks, but this app has
as our American friends, but both flair and responsiveness.
this one is so pretty and well Pick a cinema from a list, or
designed that we’re happy to tap to display those close to
feature it. There are free ones you, and you’ll see the films and
that do the same thing, but their times. Tap through and
we love the attention that has you can see a short description,
been lavished here. a poster and even watch a
There are options for adding trailer in some cases.
percentage tips that are The data isn’t that detailed
rounded up, down or left exact, – you can’t see which
and you can split the bill performances are subtitled,
however you like. It picks for example. But you can tap
up your localised currency on the phone number of the
automatically, based on your cinema to call it. Also, you can’t
iPhone’s regional settings. tell the app what film you want
There’s also a checksum/ to see and have it suggest local
palindrome function, to help times. Updated graphics for the
you avoid fraudulent bills. ● iPhone 4 are due soon. ●
A QUICK TIP KEY INFO KEY INFO EN ROUTE
The app now UK price £0.59 UK price £0.59 Get your
supports local cinema
multitasking US price $0.99 US price $0.99 details and
on newer Web www.sophiestication.com Web www.raptorapps.com directions via
iPhone models Download size 1.2MB Download size 1.1MB Google Maps
iPod touch compatible Yes Good looking and functional; A fast app, but it should be able to iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later ensures the waiter stays friendly work from the film of your choice Requires iOS 3.0 or later

FILE SERVER
WeightBot
£1.19 Keep to your new year’s resolutions!
S
o, as 2010 draws to a close, way to categorise yourself as
will you keep your new either ‘ideal’, ‘overweight’,
year’s resolutions? Luckily, ‘underweight,’ or ‘obese’.
the iPhone is here to help. It forecasts too, based on how
This little app is designed to much weight you’re gaining or
do one very simple thing: track losing on average. So you’ll be
your weight. It’s not using your able to see when, if you keep
iPhone to weigh you – we going the way you are, you will
recommend you don’t stand achieve your target weight. It
on small pieces of expensive uses the calculated average, so
consumer electronics – so you’ll blips are ironed out. If you’re
5
still need a set of scales. trying to lose or gain weight by
You can put your weight in up a particular date then it’s ideal.
to once a day and then see your What really makes it stand out
stats plotted on a graph, so you for us is the polish. It’s a very
can gauge whether the general pretty application, and feels very
trend is up or down. You can get well thought-out. Entering a
year-long and day-long graphs new weight is as simple as
too, so you can see your scrolling left or right to pick
performance over particular the day (‘today’ is selected by
date ranges. You can set a target default) tapping the screen,
KEEPING TRACK You can enter your weight in either kilos or stones and pounds
weight too, so that you have dialling in your weight, then
KEY INFO something to aim for. tapping again to save. You can A beautiful, well rounded
UK price £1.19 Download size 5.4MB Once you input your height, edit weights or pick a day and and well featured app, with
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes the app will calculate your BMI – shake to remove it entirely if passcode lock and remote
Web www.tapbots.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later Body Mass Index. This is a handy you’re feeling too guilty. ● secure backup
UNIT CONVERTER UNIT CONVERTER
Units Convertbot
£0.59 5.4BTUs/minute = 0.127hp; of course! £1.19 The conversion app glowing with style
T W
his is a useful little unit hile we love Units (see
converter with support review on left), this
for area, currency, energy, fairly new tool is
temperature, time, length, nothing if not charming. The
weight, speed, volume and interface is stunning, although
more. You can store three of it’s not the most efficient way
your common calculations as of picking unit types and units
shortcuts on dedicated buttons themselves. Regardless, it’s
at the right, but there are pleasant to use; rotate the dial
buttons to help switch different to pick currency, weight, area or
units on the fly without having whatever, then tap to pick the
to flip the calculator round. from and to units; then enter
We can’t help but think the the value you want to convert.
very pretty calculator skin isn’t We found some more
the most efficient UI paradigm, unusual units aren’t supported
but it’s cheap. You can calculate – you can’t convert hectares, for
a wide range of useful sums, instance, and the currency list
such as the carbon dioxide is small. Still, these could be
emissions of your car. And added later, and in most
currencies are automatically circumstances you’ll be satisfied
downloaded every day. ● with the supported units. ●
GET JIGGY KEY INFO KEY INFO ON A ROLL
Simply shake UK price £0.59 UK price £1.19 The interface
to clear the is appealing –
screen and US price $0.99 US price $1.99 simply rotate
perform a Web crossroad-solutions.com Web www.tapbots.com the main dial
new sum Download size 3.3MB Download size 4.4MB
iPod touch compatible Yes Nicer than using Google’s calculator Handy, but check the supported iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later features, and this is cheap units if you need unusual ones Requires iOS 3.0 or later

01 03 04
View your monthly expense

01
mileage and see what’s left
in the tank
You can just as easily discover

02
what you’ve been spending
the most on
View a day-by-day
03
breakdown of your ongoing
02 financial outlay
You can add little reminder

04
notes to specific expense
entries on the fly
KEY INFO
UK price £1.79
US price $2.99
Web www.designbyaknife.com
Download size 0.7MB
PERSONAL FINANCE RECORDER
Pennies
£1.79 Keep track of what you’re spending… in style!
T
he App Store is stuffed full of expense category. You have the option a note attached in the expenses list
apps designed to help you track of General, Food, Amusement, Travel, are shown with a paperclip icon.
business expenses, but this one is Household, Auto, Hobby, Personal, There are only two minor criticisms;
4
a bit different. Pennies is designed to Electronics and Groceries, and while firstly, that you can’t backdate any
help you keep track of how much you may prefer the ability to define entries that you forget to enter on the
money you’ve spent from your personal custom categories, we’re happy that correct day. Frustratingly, you also can’t
bank accounts in a given month – the presets cover all the day-to-day edit any of your existing expenses if
particularly important in these outgoings you’ll need. you’ve made a mistake, so any incorrect
challenging financial times. How much money is left in your entries have to be completely deleted
You set yourself a budget – and this budget for that month is then shown and re-entered.
is one of our only gripes as it can be on a simply fuel gauge-style display. In It’s a really slick application, and
hard to set the amount using the slider addition, the home page display shows the ease with which you can enter
input method provided; we’d have you how much you’ve spent per day, transactions is commendable; handily,
rather seen a plain keypad. Then every and also identifies the top three things if you’re travelling it also supports £, $
time you spend any money, you simply you’ve spent your money on so far. Each and €. Most convenient for when you’re A great way to keep track of
fire up Pennies, tap once to add an individual expense can have a note out and about, Pennies is a cracking your spending, and analyse
expense, enter the amount with a linked to it if you need to add extra little app, and we have no hesitation your habits. The interface
keypad, and pick the appropriate details, and those expenses that have in recommending it. ● looks gorgeous, too

PERFORMANCE MONITOR
Awards
£1.19 Track performance and issue rewards
A
n app that’s handy for You can also create your own
using both at home and tasks and assign them a star
at work, using Awards value, then add them to that
you can track achievements for person’s history. Then you set
your children, workforce and appropriate rewards for the
more. With a range of tasks stars they earn – an hour of
people around you have to homework might be worth five
complete – from washing gold stars, for example – which
up and walking the dog, to you can issue to the recipient
completing a presentation and via email as a pretty graphical
training a new employee – you’ll Award certificates; they’re
find this invaluable for business redeemed in the same way.
4
and leisure. Configuration can be a little
You begin by adding people tedious, however, and we’d like
from your Contacts list, which is to see some tie-in with a web
handy since it means it’s easy to service so that the people you’re
issue any awards they’ve earnt monitoring can see what
to the email addresses saved on rewards they’re eligible for.
these entries. You then go on You can manage an unlimited
to award gold stars for any number of people, and check
achievements. You can either through their Award and Event
ON TRACK You can view Award details for each person in the system
add them manually or tap a task history to monitor their
KEY INFO from the built-in list of Events progress. There’s also a colour-
UK price £1.19 Download size 0.3MB and Awards – ‘tidied room’ or coded star count next to each A handy, pretty system, but
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes ‘handed work in ahead of person’s name so you can see there’s optimisation and
Web www.awardsapp.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later deadline’, for example. their status at a glance. ● enriching work to be done
AUCTION TRACKER QUICK ITEM SELLER
eBay Mobile eBay Selling

FREE Keep track of your buying and selling FREE Use your iPhone’s camera as a barcode
F T
irst, the bad news: you he joy of eBay is really
can’t use this app to create how fast and efficient it
listings – something we’d is at listing items for sale.
like to have seen given the This has just got even faster
iPhone’s built-in camera – but with eBay’s latest iPhone app
a recent update means you can which uses the in-built barcode
now use it to pay for won items. scanner to make listing an item
The listing limitation is still a one-click process. As you
irksome to say the least. might expect it doesn’t include
Otherwise, it’s a great way to the full selling options from the
browse and search eBay’s website, but you can use the
auctions. Results can be filtered iPhone camera to snap your
in the usual way, but mainly it’s product, then upload it straight
a way to keep track of auctions to the eBay website. Also, with
you’re involved in, either as a iOS 4.0 you can also use the
buyer or seller. The home barcode scanner to identify
screen summarises what you’re items while out and about to
watching, buying and selling – see if there’s any of those items
just tap a button for a more for sale on eBay. A worthy
detailed rundown of the addition for any keen iPhone-
auctions you’re involved in. ● owning eBayer. ●
KEEP BIDDING KEY INFO KEY INFO SCAN IT!
Monitor all UK price Free UK price Free Make use of
your watched your iPhone’s
items as the US price Free US price Free camera to sell
auctions near Web www.ebay.co.uk Web www.ebay.co.uk and look up
their end Download size 3.1MB Download size 4.3MB items on eBay
iPod touch compatible Yes A handy way to keep tabs on A real timesaver, but doesn’t iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.1 or later activity but you can’t list from here always recognise products Requires iOS 3.1 or later

IPHONE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKER
eScrap App
£1.19 Get your craft on with this digital scrapbooking app!
S
crapbooking hasn’t yet Layering up elements can
taken off in the UK like it be fiddly on the iPhone’s small
has in the US, but there’s screen; it’s often tricky to select
still a strong market for it. As the thing you’re aiming for as
with scrapbooking in the real there’s no zoom control. The
world, in this app you use a functions for scaling, rotating
range of preset shapes, letters and ordering page furniture can
and papers, to build up a page also be a bit hit and miss, and
of memories in the form of a you have to line elements up
digital scrapbook. by eye only.
eScrap App enables you to Still, the finished results can
work on scrapbooking projects be pretty, and you can share
3
on your iPhone, importing them with friends and family on
pictures from Photos. You can Twitter, Facebook, via email, or
either use the preset ‘Quick by saving to Photos. Sadly,
Pages’ or you choose from a there’s no way to save a design
theme, which includes paper in a way that retains its
and assets, to build your page ‘editability’, and the finished
up from scratch. pages are limited to 480x320
The assets, as befits the well- pixels; don’t envisage printing
respected brand behind the app, designs at high quality.
CREATE AND SHARE You can share your creations via Twitter or Facebook
are of a generally very high It’s a fun, sweet app that
quality, though the range is has bags of potential, but the KEY INFO
A fun interactive app, and currently a little small. There are iPhone’s small screen is a UK price £1.19 Download size 96.6MB
some of the issues can be 50 backgrounds, elements, a frustration. An updated iPad US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
addressed with updates text tool and photo filters. version is promised. ● Web www.300dpi.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
SIMPLE CALENDAR BIRTHDAY REMINDER
Years Occasions
£1.19 Miss your pocket diary’s year-to-view? £0.59 Never forget a birthday again… in theory
H Y
ere’s a sweet take on a ou may have trouble
calendar, with a ‘less is remembering the
more’ slant. You may be birthdays of family and
unlikely to abandon the built-in friends, and Occasions promises
Calendar with its reams of to help. It integrates with
scheduling and multi-calendar Contacts, and automatically
support, but yearn for the days pulls in dates from the
when you marked birthdays, birthdays field. Even better, you
work and holidays by breaking can sign into your Facebook
out your highlighters. Years is account and pull in the
one little app that will bring information from it too, as well
back those functions. as adding optional secular and
Flip back and forth to show religious dates. Best of all, if a
an entire year’s worth of dates birthday has the year of birth
on a mini calendar, then tap on associated with it, Occasions
a month to add highlights. You will tell you their age, too.
can choose from four different It does push notifications
highlights, and once you’ve too, though we’d like a better
picked one, just tap on dates to way of telling Occasions to give
mark them. That’s it! And at this us, say, a week’s warning so we
price, it can’t be knocked. ● had time to buy a present. ●
DAYS GONE BY KEY INFO KEY INFO PLAN AHEAD
Relive the UK price £1.19 UK price £0.59 Via your
days of Contact info,
attaching a US price $1.99 US price $0.99 Occasions can
year-to-view Web www.zicronsoftware.com Web www.occasionsapp.com remind you of
calendar in Download size 0.3MB Download size 4.7MB your mum’s
your little iPod touch compatible Yes No tie-in with Calendar and you It’s a bit complicated and needs iPod touch compatible Yes birthday
black book Requires iOS 30 or later can’t add notes, but it’s charming polish, but it’s good, and cheap Requires iOS 3.0 or later

BEDSIDE ALARM CLOCK
TimeTuner
£1.79 An elegant clock radio for your bedside
T
he idea of using your It’s also possible to listen to
iPhone or iPod touch as a the radio at any time, or to hook
clock radio isn’t particularly into your iPod’s playlists to play
original, but we like this little your music through the app. A
app because it manages to pack clever, unobtrusive slider at the
so much in but at the same time bottom of the app will set a
feels elegant and useful. sleep timer that counts down
Designed to sit vertically in a so you can fall asleep to music.
powered dock (such as a speaker Sadly, the only browsing option
system), it displays a clock that is by playlist, so it’s hard to listen
shows any alarms you have set to podcasts or audiobooks.
4
plus, optionally, the time in your Although BBC radio stations
home time zone; it’s a boon for are available through the service
travellers. Tap the screen once that provides the internet radio
and everything but the time for TimeTuner, they don’t
display slides away. actually show up in the app
You can set multiple alarms (with the exception of the World
and have them trigger on Service), presumably because
specific days. Opt for either an they use an incompatible codec.
alarm sound or for it to open an The app needs to be running
internet radio station. Usefully, for alarms to sound. However,
SWEET DREAMS Wake up and fall asleep to your favourite radio station
you can define a backup sound we’re paranoid, and always kept
KEY INFO in this latter case so that if it a backup alarm in Clock, Despite the BBC absence
UK price £1.79 Download size 9.8MB can’t pick up the station you although TimeTuner seemed and some other glitches,
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes defined, it still wakes you up stable, as well as clean and TimeTuner is a
Web www.dreamsurface.com Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later with the alternative alarm. attractively designed. ● recommended purchase
DESK CLOCK ALARM CLOCK
FlipTime iHome+Sleep
£0.59 Clack! Clack! Clack! It’s retro clock time! FREE Feature-packed alarm clock
T S
he App Store isn’t short earch for ‘alarm clock’ and
on clock apps, but with you’ll net almost 200
SpoonJuice’s Night Stand results in the App Store,
being downloaded more than but we’ve highlighted this one
three million times, there’s because it promises a rich,
clearly an appetite. This one rewarding experience. It uses
caught our eye, and though it’s ‘sleep cards’ that you configure
hardly the most feature-packed to a bewildering degree. Define
app ever developed, it’s cheap go-to-sleep music to drift off to,
and charming. rise-and-shiney music to wake
It’s essentially a software to, times, days, snooze periods,
version of an old flip clock. As wake-up mantras and more.
the seconds, minutes, hours In theory, it’s lovely. In
and days march past, the cards practice, though, music
flick down to update – and all sometimes doesn’t play, it’s a
with a satisfying (though pain for podcasts, the weather
optional) clack. widget is US-only, and,
It overrides your auto-lock depending on what speaker
settings too, so you can dock it system you use by your bed,
and use it as a sweet clock for you can be blasted awake by
your desk or bedside. ● the poor volume controls. ●
ON A ROLL KEY INFO KEY INFO MR SANDMAN
Watch time UK price £0.59 UK price Free Track your
tick by with sleeping
this retro US price $0.99 US price Free habits so you
clock and Web www.omletworks.com Web www.ihomeintl.com can see how
calendar Download size 1.5MB Download size 7.5MB much shut-
iPod touch compatible Yes If you’re a fan of analogue, retro Packed with features it promises iPod touch compatible Yes eye you’re
Requires iOS 2.2 or later styling, then this is a bargain a lot but fails to deliver Requires iOS 3.2 or later getting

ITUNES REMOTE SKY+ REMOTE SCHEDULER
Remote Sky+
FREE Take control of your iTunes and Apple TV FREE Record programs on Sky+ remotely
T Y
his is a remote control for ou’ve been able to
iTunes and Apple TV. So remote record on your
long as the iPhone’s Sky+ box via a text
connected to the same message or the web for a while
network, you can just click the now; this iPhone app enables
iPhone entry under Devices in you do the same from your
the iTunes sidebar. You have full iPhone. It’s quick and the
access to all the media on the searchable TV guide worked
connected Mac including all without a hitch. Once you’ve
playlists, and it even pulls the found a program to record, click
album art across to your iPhone on it, tap R and the instruction
screen as well. is sent to your Sky+ box via the
A bonus if you use Apple TV Remote Record setup.
is that you can use the iPhone’s The interface has been
keyboard to type onscreen, updated from the clunky
then tap to play, pause, rewind original; the TV guide graphics
and fast-forward. The updates are improved and you can
in version 2 include support for choose between landscape and
shared libraries in iTunes and portrait modes. It also includes
Apple TV, and compatibility an HD section, and you can
with the retina display. ● save your favourite channels. ●
TAKE CONTROL KEY INFO KEY INFO DOUBLE UP
You can create UK price Free UK price Free Make use of
and edit the the ‘Other
playlists, US price Free US price Free Airings’
including Web www.apple.com Web www.sky.com option to
your Genius Download size 14.8MB Download size 1.3MB avoid
playlists iPod touch compatible Yes With typical Apple panache, this Functional and easy to use, and the iPod touch compatible Yes recording
Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later remote control is a big hit at parties update has improved its appearance Requires iOS 3.0 or later clashes
WIRELESS AUDIO STREAMER BARCODE SCANNING
AirPhones RedLaser
£0.59 Turn iPhone into wireless headphones FREE Cashier number four please!
W S
ireless headphones canning barcodes may be
can be pricey, so we’re a geeky kind of fun, but it
glad to see this cheap also has the potential to
app that turns your iPhone or save you a packet.
iPod touch into a wireless audio RedLaser works by using
receiver. Just plug in some your iPhone’s camera to read a
headphones or dock it and your barcode and then asking the
iPhone becomes a speaker set. net for matching prices. But,
It needs a server app to run surprisingly, results are more
on an Intel Mac or, soon, a competent on the original
PowerPC Mac and PC, but once iPhone, over the 3GS.
that’s running they discover Results from Amazon are
each other instantly. It claims to prioritised, but it also uses
need a Core Duo, but we ran it Google Product Search to
on a 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo, match results from other
with only a little stuttering vendors. Its parsing of the
when changing volume. There barcode is flawless, though the
were occasional latency issues, back-end systems from Amazon
too, but this was only when and Google sometimes fail.
watching video. A free trial Overall, however, it can save a
version is also available. ● fair bit of cash. ●
CHECK KEY INFO KEY INFO QUICK SCAN
COMPATIBILITY UK price £1.79 UK price Free Now part
Try the free of Amazon,
Lite version of US price $2.99 US price Free this is an
the app to test Web www.airphonesapp.com Web www.redlaser.com incredibly
functionality Download size 0.2MB Download size 2.2MB useful free
before you buy iPod touch compatible Yes Harsh on the battery, but adds a Dependent on Amazon and iPod touch compatible Yes iPhone app
Requires iOS 3.0 or later handy string to your iPhone’s bow Google’s back-ends, but excellent Requires iOS 3.1 or later

ENJOY Social networking
MULTI-PROTOCOL IM
Meebo
FREE Chat to your friends on AIM, Yahoo, ICQ and more
W
ith everyone focused then push notifications out to
on Twitter, it’s easy to you via Apple.
forget that instant The practical upshot of this is
messaging is still around and that you don’t even have to have
still popular. However, IM on the the Meebo app open on your
iPhone has always seemed a bit iPhone in order to let people get
pointless to us. It’s not just that in touch over IM. So long as it’s
the flow of conversation can be correctly configured (just accept
interrupted by having to peck the defaults), notifications of
out a message on the iPhone’s new chats – or new replies to
on-screen keyboard, but, much existing conversations – pop up
4
more importantly, because older over whatever you’re doing on
iPhones’ inability to run apps in your iPhone just as it would with
the background had meant that a text message. Tap on the View
unless you kept your IM app option, and you’re taken right
open on the screen, you’d be into the conversation.
offline and unreachable. Meebo supports every
Meebo changes that, because IM protocol we’ve heard of,
it uses the push notifications including Facebook Chat, and
framework that Apple many we haven’t. Your buddy list
introduced in iPhone OS 3.0. can quickly get messy if you add
FREE CHAT Meebo stays connected so you can receive messages at any time
Rather than apps running in the more than one or two services,
KEY INFO background, Apple maintains a but the fact that it handles all Suddenly, IM on the iPhone
UK price Free Download size 5.7MB persistent connection with your our IM accounts, does push, and becomes useful. Can get a
US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes iPhone over Wi-Fi or the mobile is free, means that this app is bit messy with lots of
Web www.meebo.com Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later network, and developers can staying on our iPhones. ● accounts, though
INSTANT MESSENGER IM & SKYPE
AIM Fring
FREE Slick and easy-to-use messenger FREE Consolidate your IM and SIP accounts
A H
lthough this IM client ooray, it’s Skype on the
from AOL is limited – iPhone! Actually, it’s
you can only add one much more than that,
account and it is, of course, but that’s the big news. Fring
limited to AIM and .Mac/ is a multi-protocol IM client
MobileMe sign-ins – it is slick (supporting MSN Messenger,
and easy to use. Unfortunately Google Talk, ICQ, Twitter,
there’s no tie-in with your Yahoo! and AIM connections)
address book on the iPhone so that also enables you to chat
all your contacts are shown by either by text or voice over the
their screen names; you can, at Skype network.
least, add new buddies, and it It isn’t the most attractive
connects to your Facebook app, and the buddy list-cum-
friends too. address book is cumbersome.
It proved a little more crash- The free Skype-to-Skype call
prone that we’d have liked, but stuff does work, however, and
unchecking then resyncing SkypeOut worked too.
sorted it out. Updates have also Voice calls made are no
reduced this occurrence. A longer restricted to Wi-Fi
version without any adverts is connections either, as it’s now
available, for £1.79 ($2.99). ● compatible with 3G. ●
TEXT ALERT KEY INFO KEY INFO MULTIPLE
You can also UK price Free UK price Free CHOICE
send a If you use a
message to US price Free US price Free SIP service for
a contact Web www.aim.com Web www.fring.com VoIP as well,
via SMS Download size 5.7MB Download size 18.6MB it enables
iPod touch compatible Yes The multiple chats function A decent alternative solution to iPod touch compatible Yes you to hook
Requires iOS 3.0 or later is a great addition to this app using Skype, and less restrictive Requires iOS 3.0 or later into that

Social networking ENJOY
TWITTER CLIENT
Twitterrific
for Twitter
£2.99 Tweeting on the move just got a lot easier
W
e were thrilled when configured via the settings.
the cuddly folk at The The interface is lovely,
Iconfactory brought us though, and the Twitterrific
Twitterrific – the first proper model – your tweets, mentions
iPhone Twitter client. But, and messages colour-coded and
3
recently, its simplicity in the face all in the same view – feels
of burgeoning competition was completely natural. You can also
beginning to hurt it. However, filter the list (temporarily only) to
Twitterrific 3.0 has now arrived show favourites, mentions and
with a beefed-up features list, more. And there’s now finally
including the ability to control support for multiple accounts,
the font size. trends and searches.
At first glance, it looks less There’s little Twitterific can’t
rich and more complicated. We do, although reposting between
recommend watching the accounts can be a bit tricky. But
UNIFIED SCREEN The display shows replies, retweets, direct messages and more
‘tweetorials’ at twitterrific.com/ it has so many neat little touches
An app that repays the iphone/tweetorials. Even some that, taken together, make it KEY INFO
time you spend exploring of the really cool and basic stuff a real joy to use for avid UK price £2.99 Download size 6.6MB
it; a firm favourite for – conversation threading and tweeters. A free ad-supported US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
fans of tweeting profile lookups – need to be version is also available. ● Web www.twitterrific.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
TWITTER NOTEPAD FULLY FUNCTIONING This

official Twitter client is
Birdhouse
packed with features
£1.19 Got something to say… later?
A
t first glance, the
Birdhouse app might
seem pointless. If you
thought Twitter was vague,
indulgent and useless, look
away now; Birdhouse is a
notepad designed to enable TWITTER CLIENT
Twitter
you to draft multiple notes for
Twitter and publish them when
you choose. Frankly, we think
the idea has some merit; you
may not always want to publish
immediately – to check facts or
FREE Tweetie turns official
P
spellings, for example – or you reviously, Tweetie was our KEY INFO
might want to organise favourite Twitter client to use UK price Free
thoughts for multiple accounts. on the iPhone, but updates had US price Free
As it stands, this app slowed and it started to be left behind Web www.twitter.com
performs its stated function by other, more fully featured Twitter Download size 5.2MB
well. You can rate drafts and clients. Until, that is, Twitter themselves iPod touch compatible Yes
even unpublish notes that were decided to buy it, and turn it into the Requires iOS 3.1 or later
added from Birdhouse. ● iPhone’s official Twitter app.
PLAN AHEAD KEY INFO Twitter is packed with loads of new
Prepare your UK price £1.19 features such as Geotags, Suggested
tweets as
drafts and US price $1.99 Users, Lists and (finally) new-style
edit before Web www.birdhouseapp.com Retweets. You’ve probably stuck with
you publish Download size 0.7MB the first Twitter app you used, but you This lacks push notifications –
iPod touch compatible Yes A well executed app, but dedicated now need a good reason not to switch coming soon, we’re told –
Requires iOS 3.0 or later to a task few people will need to the official app. ● but it has all the basics

ENJOY Social networking
IPHONE JOURNAL
Momento
£1.79 A diary designed for the 21st century
T
he idea of keeping a without tapping back to the
proper diary has overview then back in again to
tremendous appeal; if you another day. You must use the
blog you’ll know the joy of calendar view, or drill down by
wandering through old posts, place, people or tags.
wallowing in the nostalgia of The brilliance, though, is
past highs and lows, and that it hooks into four social
learning from your mistakes. networks, automatically pulling
It all takes effort, though. in tweets, Facebook statuses,
Momento is a brilliant little pictures on Flickr and tracks
idea, allying the idea of a you’ve ‘loved’ on Last.fm. Even if
4
traditional journal with modern it’s not opened for days, it’ll look
notions of metadata and social back through activity on these
networks. It’s all wrapped up in a accounts and add any updates
smart interface for a device that made in the intervening period.
you carry with you everywhere. A system of icons and numbers
You can input diary entries beside each day’s entry shows
easily, even retrospectively, and you what sources are pulled in.
each entry can have a slew of Momento is making good
metadata associated with it, use of Flickr’s API to pull in the
such as a rating, people tagged picture itself. It’s not so smart as
RESOURCEFUL Each day shows which sources have been pulled in
from your contacts database, to parse in pictures posted on
KEY INFO places, pictures and more. You Twitter to popular services such A lovely mix of
UK price £1.79 Download size 2.7MB can browse your events in a list, as Twitpic in the body of tweets, traditional diary and
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes though frustratingly you can’t go and doesn’t make any links modern social network
Web www.momentoapp.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later directly from one day to the next tappable. Still, a terrific idea. ● and metadata integration
FACEBOOK CLIENT UPCOMING CLIENT
Facebook Happening
FREE Social networking hits the iPhone £1.19 Find out what’s happening around you
F T
acebook’s iPhone- he Upcoming service
optimised website is one gathers events such as
of the best around, so we concerts and conferences,
had high hopes for the native and enables you to indicate
application. It’s certainly faster those you’ll attend. The
than the web app, and it feels independent Happening app
slicker and more consistent hooks into this; you can then
with the iPhone’s user interface. search for events or use your
There’s a dedicated photo iPhone’s location-awareness to
capture button that can upload see events happening around
your photos directly to you. As such, it’s dependent on
Facebook. The push Upcoming’s listings; in our
notification server has now example town of Bath, there’s
been rolled out too, making apparently nothing happening.
it even better, and Facebook When we tested in London,
Chat enables you to message though, there were dozens of
anyone on your Friends list. geotagged events.
Places is currently only You can’t add events directly
available in the US, but should to the iPhone calendar, though
be compatible with UK you can subscribe to Upcoming’s
accounts in the next update. ● feed in a few different ways. ●
IN THE LOOP KEY INFO KEY INFO KEEPING BUSY
Status updates UK price Free UK price £1.19 Check full
can be details and a
refreshed by US price Free US price $1.99 list of who’ll
pulling down Web www.facebook.com Web www.happening-app.com be attending
at the top of Download size 3.5MB Download size 1.0MB for each event
the screen iPod touch compatible Yes This latest version adds even more Little to criticise about the app, but iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later functionality to a top iPhone app it relies on data that can be patchy Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Social networking ENJOY
POSTCARD MAKER
Postman
£1.79 Send an instant postcard from your iPhone
P
ostman makes little virtual
postcards on your iPhone, and
enables you to share them using
Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, email and
more. You can snap a shot with your
iPhone’s camera, load up a saved photo
– or choose from a small catalogue of
stock landmark shots – or even grab
your current location on a map in Map,
Satellite or Hybrid view, and then add
4
some text. Flip it over on to the back
and you can write in a message; you
can also disable the front or back.
The interface is lovely, and there’s a
range of themes you can add. Changing
the text size, style and colour is easy,
but at the moment you can’t resize
images – coming soon, though. You can
now tap and drag text to reposition it
anywhere on the card, and use a slider
for text resizing.
A nice idea, executed with It’s easy to share your cards too, but KEY INFO GET CREATIVE Design your postcard
charm and polish; you may there’s currently no way to send directly UK price £1.79 Download size 8.7MB using a range of styles – or take a
camera snapshot!
prefer the alternative via MMS; you have to save it as a photo, US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
Postage app, however then MMS that instead. ● Web www.freeverse.com/postman Requires iOS 3.0 or later
WIFI & 3G CALLS
Skype
FREE Make iPhone VoIP calls via a wireless network
O
n the Mac and PC, Skype running on the iPhone, or when
enables you to make free it’s turned off and locked.
voice and video calls to Another issue has been fixed
other Skype users, and to make too; previously unless you had
calls to regular landlines for stored all your contact numbers
mere pence – it’s great for in international format, Skype
international calls. wouldn’t recognise them as it
Despite the initial automatically starts each
incompatibilities, on the number with +44. 01225
iPhone version you can now 442244, for example, converts to
make calls over 3G, as well as +4401225 442244 and that zero
4
when you’re in range of a Wi-Fi would cause the call to fail. This
hotspot. You still can’t make has been resolved, and calls are
VoIP calls over the cellular made with no problems.
mobile network, however. While the long-promised
Skype also has an instant notification server is now out,
messaging service system, Skype still doesn’t use it yet. Any
which works well – you can missed calls or messages are
message individuals or more simply listed on a red New
than one person at once. Events badge on the tab for the
Older iPhones don’t allow particular missed event.
FREE CALLS Call other Skype users for free, or save money on landline calls
apps to run in the background. Despite this small niggle, it’s a
A great improvement on With the newer multitasking great app. Add a microphone to KEY INFO
the earlier versions of the models, however, you can still a second generation or above UK price Free Download size 7.4MB
app; it now works on 3G be contacted by your Skype iPod touch and it also enables US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes
and with multitasking callers while other tasks are you to make calls over Wi-Fi. ● Web www.skype.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

ENJOY Media & Entertainment
MOBILE TV
SlingPlayer Mobile
£17.99 Watch live TV on your iPhone over Wi-Fi
H
ook up a SlingBox Solo or Pro
to your home network and TV
equipment, and it takes your
television signal, encodes it, and
streams it over the internet. Then
install this app on your iPhone or
iPod touch to do the same.
SlingBoxes integrate with almost
any domestic television equipment –
Sky+, Apple TV, cable boxes – and can
4
control them remotely. But the set-up is
expensive: it’s £130 for a SlingBox Solo,
rising to £250 for the Pro-HD model,
plus the cost of this app and your
internet access. On an iPod touch you
can only receive broadcasts over Wi-Fi,
but on the iPhone 3G, 3GS or 4 you
can also now use 3G.
The quality is good and solid, but
the interface is sparse to the point of
confusing – you have to swipe across
FULLY FEATURED Receiving terrestrial KEY INFO to see more options – and channel- Live TV on your iPhone
television on your iPhone is UK price £17.99 Download size 9.8MB changing is sluggish. The fact that you
impressive in itself sounds great, but this
US price $29.99 iPod touch compatible Yes can stream over 3G on compatible is pricey – cheaper
Web www.slingmedia.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later iPhones, however, is a great addition. ● alternatives are available
EYETV CONTROLLER
EyeTV
£2.99 No SlingBox? Watch and schedule your EyeTV remotely
P
eople pay good money Quality over the web is
for a Slingbox, a piece of dependent on your broadband
dedicated hardware that upload speed, or whether you’re
sits at home so you can stream on 3G. Though if you own a
TV over the internet to a PC or Turbo.264 HD – Elgato’s video-
smartphone. Now you can use encoding dongle – it can switch
your Mac to do the same thing. bitrates on the fly to give the
Add any TV tuner to your Mac best quality as your bandwidth
that uses Elgato’s fantastic EyeTV changes. Live TV streaming
application, then add this app requires a Core 2 Duo, but we
on your iPhone or iPod touch. had some success with a 1.5GHz
4
You can watch live TV – with the Core Solo with a Turbo.264 HD.
app picking up the programme You can watch recordings
names from the EPG data in you’ve made through EyeTV on
EyeTV on your Mac – and play, the Mac, and view the schedules
pause and rewind it. You can do to mark future programmes for
it on the same local network or recording remotely. Sadly, there’s
even over the web. no way to search.
A Back-to-My-Mac-like service The app works well, though
enables you to easily find your your experience of watching live
home computer over the TV and recordings remotely
THE SMALLSCREEN Catch up on your favourite shows on your iPhone
internet, though only a few could be spoiled if your upload
KEY INFO routers fully make the speeds aren’t generous. It’s great There’s little wrong with
UK price £2.99 Download size 2.6MB connection automatically. All at scheduling and watching the app, though bandwidth
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes we needed, however, was a little recordings, but the TVCatchup can make the experience
Web www.elgato.com Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later port forwarding with our router. service is better for live TV. ● quite frustrating

Media & Entertainment ENJOY
TV STREAMING SERVICE
Sky Mobile Sports &

Football Score Centre
FREE (£6 subscription) Live Premiership football on your iPhone
S
ky Sports is pretty news and sport, and unless you
expensive – a subscription have an Apple Component AV
costs £20-£40. With Mobile cable, you’re limited to the small
TV Sport for iPhone, all of Sky’s screen. But you do get all the
Sports channels (Sky Sports 1, 2, live Premiership and Football
4
3, Xtra and News) plus ESPN, At League games from Sky and
the Races and Sky News, are ESPN, as well as cricket and
available to watch on Apple’s tennis. The other app, Sky Sports
device. And you don’t even have Live Football Score Centre is free
to have Sky Sports at home – and is the perfect companion for
all you pay is a £6 per month any footy fan on the move, with
subscription. Curently if you live scores and commentary,
already have Sky Sports 1&2 at The electronic programme
home then viewing is free with guide is well put together – you
this app and then just £5 per can see what’s on now and next,
SKY PLAYER Use your iPhone to watch a variety of events from Sky Sports
month from January 2011. and by hitting the arrow next to
If it worked on 3G it would Compared to regular Sky the listing, you can browse KEY INFO
be better of course, but Sports, the app is cheaper. what’s on in the next 12 hours. UK price Free (£6 subscription) Download size 1.3MB/1.7MB
even now it’s a brilliant Obviously you don’t have the When you’re watching, picture US price N/A iPod touch compatible Yes
iPhone app channel choice – this is just quality is incredible! ● Web mysky.sky.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
TV AND RADIO LISTINGS INSPIRATIONAL TALKS
RadioTimes TED
£2.99 What’s on telly? Pass the Radio Times… FREE Don’t fire up a game; expand your mind!
W T
hile the programme he annual TED conference
guide in the Sky+ app brings together smart
doubles as a listings people from all kinds of
guide, it’s not ideal if you only disciplines. This app lists all the
have terrestrial TV. It’s time to talks available for you to watch,
put the queen of listings in the wherever and whenever you
palm of your hand… want. The videos are streamed
You can tell it what channels to your iPhone, and will happily
you have and preset them, or play over the mobile network;
you can scroll through by you just might have to be a
channel or time, read a little patient as they buffer.
description with RT ratings, The app itself is fairly basic –
and search for the show on the running times aren’t listed
Wikipedia, YouTube and iPlayer. and there’s no way to mark your
You can even mark shows as already-listened-to talks as
favourites to create a schedule watched, although you can
for yourself. It’s a little sluggish, select ‘favourite’ episodes. We
and sometimes confusing, but really can’t complain though, as
it has a good help system, and both the app and the talks on
you can build customised offer here are free, and they’re
channel groups. ● simply brilliant. ●
A BRITISH KEY INFO MIND- KEY INFO
INSTITUTION UK price £2.99 EXPANDING UK price Free
Personalise Free videos
the listings to US price $4.99 are yours to US price Free
suit your Web radiotimes.click365.tv watch on a Web www.motherapp.com
available Download size 0.9MB huge range Download size 1.6MB
channels iPod touch compatible Yes Sometimes unwieldy and counter- of topics iPod touch compatible Yes Some of the most brilliant minds,
Requires iOS 2.0 or later intuitive, but thorough and handy Requires iOS 3.0 or later in the most inspiring talks, for free

INTERNET RADIO
TuneIn Radio
£1.19 Tune in and turn on to 30,000 different radio stations
W
hile there are plenty of drift off at night with the sleep
internet radio apps for timer, or you can get it to play in
the iPhone, you’d be the background while you use
hard pressed to find one as fully other apps.
featured as TuneIn Radio. Yet TuneIn Radio gets around
despite its bells and whistles, the Apple’s multitasking ban on
interface doesn’t feel cluttered – older iPhones and the iPod
in fact it’s very Apple-like, touch by opening the stream in
showing a logo for the station the Safari browser. This means
with a mirrored reflection which, you can’t use Safari to browse at
when tapped, reveals some the same time while doing this,
5
artwork for your currently but the app does contain its
playing artist. own basic web browser.
The interface also makes TuneIn Radio makes use of
it easy to browse stations the Radio Time directory, with
by genre, bookmark your over 30,000 stations. At the
favourites, and visit the artist same time it makes it easy to
station for the current artist on find the better stations. It also
Last.fm or buy their music on knows your location and can
iTunes. In addition, you can find local radio stations with
pause live streams for 30 ease. Playback on Wi-Fi, EDGE
SUITS YOU Pause and rewind live radio to listen at your convenience
minutes, rewind and fast and 3G was flawless. There are
KEY INFO forward, or record any station many other radio apps on the A wonderful
UK price £1.19 Download size 8.2MB you like to listen to it later. You App Store, but at this price implementation of internet
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes can set a station to wake you up TuneIn Radio offers great radio on the iPhone. Well
Web www.tunein-radio.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later in the morning and help you features in a slick interface. ● worth every penny
RADIO STREAMER MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tuner Internet Radio Attic

£2.99 Hear music from all over the world £0.59 Fall in love with forgotten albums again
O T
ffering radio for your his is a beautiful little app,
iPhone, this handy little and we wish we could use
app lists thousands of it to control all of our
radio stations that are music collection. Apple would
broadcasting on the web, be unlikely to approve an app
broken down by genres such that duplicates the functionality
as Classical, Dance/Electronic of the built-in iPod app,
and Golden Oldies. You can however, so we suspect this
bookmark your favourites, one’s gimmick – a way to play
search, browse the top 500 – albums you haven’t listened to
as decided by whom, it doesn’t for a long time – is just a way
say – or add your own streams. to get round this.
The interface is clean and The ‘unlistened-to albums’
simple, and because many of idea, however, is flawed, and
the streams will play even over not just because you could
EDGE, you’re never, in theory, almost do it with a Smart
short of something to listen to. Playlist. The problem is that you
It’s a great partner to Last.fm. may not have many full albums
It’s also now been updated you haven’t listened to on the
to work with multitasking on relatively small capacities of an
newer iPhones. ● iPhone or iPod touch. ●
ON THE MOVE KEY INFO KEY INFO LOOKING GOOD
Stream UK price £2.99 UK price £0.59 The attractive
high-quality interface
internet radio US price $4.99 US price $0.99 makes it an
from your Web www.nullriver.com Web atticapp.com alternative to
iPhone to your Download size 0.3MB Download size 3.8MB the iPhone’s
car stereo iPod touch compatible Yes Supports AAC+, MP3, PLS and M3U A beautiful interface but not, iPod touch compatible Yes built-in
Requires iOS 3.2 or later streams, but sadly no BBC content perhaps, the best basic concept Requires iOS 3.0 or later music player

MUSIC SERVICE
Spotify
FREE (requires subscription) All the music in the world is yours
G
one are the days when you (£119.88 a year); the 99p day
had to take your music passes don’t work here.
around with you on tape The good news is that not
or CD, as you can carry only can you stream music from
thousands of tracks on an iPod Spotify onto your iPhone, you
wherever you go. And what’s can also cache up to 3,333 tracks
next? Now you can take nearly locally. It’s a bit like downloading
all the music in the world with tracks – except you don’t get to
you to listen to. keep them – and it means you
Spotify is now on the iPhone can listen to the playlists you or
and it gives you access to a huge others have created even if you
3
library of music from the major don’t have a data connection.
labels, plus a bunch of indies. As The app itself is generally well
with the Spotify app for Mac and built, though there’s currently
Windows, the catalogue’s not no support to scrobble your
exhaustive, but it is immense. listening to Last.fm. Sadly, clicks
First, however, the bad news: on a connected headphone set
though the app for the iPhone is try to control the iPod, not the
free, you can’t simply use it to playback in Spotify. Neither will
stream music as you can on the the app play music in the
desktop apps – we wish they’d background.
ALWAYS READY In Offline mode you can listen even when there’s no connection
let us pay for the iPhone app if This is great if you’re happy
The app and service work it meant we could enjoy the to consume your music on KEY INFO
well, but you may balk at ad-supported streams – and subscription, without ever UK price Free (with subscription) Download size 4.4MB
a tenner a month with you’ll need to be a premium actually owning it; if not, then US price Not available iPod touch compatible Yes
nothing to keep member. It costs £9.99 a month Spotify’s not for you. ● Web www.spotify.com/uk Requires iOS 3.0 or later
FREE MUSIC MEDIA IDENTIFIER
Last.fm Shazam
FREE Tired of your own music collection? FREE A music mastermind at your fingertips
W W
ith over five million hat’s the name of that
tracks available to song you can hear?
listen to for free, Last. Now you need never
fm is a bit of a phenomenon. ask that question again. Fire up
Since those in the UK are Shazam, let it listen to the
denied the superb Pandora music for a few seconds and
app, Last.fm will have to do. It’s then it’ll tell you what’s playing.
not a great hardship, though, It might stumble with obscure
as Last.fm is fantastic. tracks or when used in noisy
Give it a tag or an artist name environments, but it’s generally
and it will stream their music pretty accurate.
and – and this is the clever bit – You’re also given a direct link
similar artists, creating your to buy the track from the iTunes
personal radio station. You can Store (if it’s stocked), see
then share these with your YouTube videos, and read
contacts. It remembers the biographies associated with the
tracks you like and it’s generally track, view discographies and
very good at finding similar album reviews. It needs a mic
artists; it offers lots of additional and an internet connection,
info too – such as tour dates however, so on an iPod touch
– and the ability to buy. ● you’ll probably be a bit stuck. ●
KEEPING BUSY KEY INFO NAME THAT KEY INFO
The app is now UK price Free TUNE After UK price Free
compatible identifying a
with iPhone US price Free track, Shazam US price Free
multitasking Web www.last.fm gives you Web www.shazam.com
so it can run Download size 2.2MB links to buy it Download size 3.8MB
while you work iPod touch compatible Yes The ideal way to find new music; iPod touch compatible With mic Augment your world of sound and
Requires iOS 3.0 or later complements the Genius feature Requires iOS 3.0 or later you’ll always know what’s playing

01 02 04
Darkslide is quick at
01
grabbing the thumbnails
of your Flickr photos
You can share a photo easily

02
via Twitter or email, or even
view its Flickr page
Darkslide fully supports

03
geotagging of photos, so
03 you can view location data
You can edit the full range of

04
tags and descriptions when
uploading a photo
KEY INFO
UK price £2.39
US price $3.99
Web connectedflow.com/darkslide
Download size 1.5MB
FLICKR PORTAL
Darkslide Premium
£2.39 Is that three billion images in your pocket…?
F
ormerly called Exposure, and now Twitter feed (Twitterrific, Tweetie, photos, explore places, groups, sets,
available as both a paid-for and TwitterFon and Safari are all supported), tags and favourites. You can comment
free ad-supported version, email a link to the photo, or open the on pictures and add them to your
5
Darkslide is the daddy of the iPhone relevant Flickr page. favourites. You can also upload photos
Flickr apps. At its most basic, it’s a portal It’s much more than that, though; it from your iPhone, complete with
to access your own Flickr pictures; it’s gives you access to all Flickr’s features permissions, tags, descriptions and
not as convenient as the iPhone’s built- in a way that’s been optimised for the embedded location information.
in Photos app, simply because it has iPhone. It can use the iPhone’s location There’s also the Explore section,
to pull the images down from Flickr’s services, for example, to show you where 500 images are featured every
servers. It does a superb job of caching those images on Flickr that are day. You can view them on your iPhone,
thumbnails, however, so even if you’re geotagged as nearby – marked as or mark them as favourite or share
only using an EDGE signal it doesn’t ‘Near Me’. You can also search the them with just one tap.
feel agonisingly slow. entire universe of Flickr photos. We’d recommend using the free
Tap an image once to load it full-size, When you’re uploading your shots version if you’re a light user and
How to make an iPhone or double-tap to bring up the Info you can access all the details within happy to view the inline adverts
app a front-end to a web screen where you can add your Description, Tags and Location. alongside your photos, but it’s worth
service; essential purchase comments. From either screen, you can Similarly, tap the More icon to browse paying for Darkslide Premium if you’re
for any Flickr user also tap an icon to post a link to your your contacts’ photos, look at featured a regular Flickr user. ●

EBOOK READER FLICKR VIEWER
eReader Flickr
FREE Read books on the go with this app FREE Search the entire Flickr photo library
T T
he iPhone isn’t great as an here’s a huge choice of
eBook reader: the screen Flickr apps, but this is the
is a bit small, and keeping only official one. Flickr
it on to read will draw a lot of keeps things simple and is easy
battery power. But if you’re still to use: you can search for
not put off, eReader is great. photos from Flickr’s online
It’s the same system that you collection, or choose from a
might have used on a Palm, but slideshow of recommended
with an added benefit. If you’ve photos. Tap a photo from your
already bought books from search results to see its details
eReader, you can access your and visitor comments; from
digital library from within the here, you can see the photo at
eReader app on your iPhone. full-screen size, save it to your
Downloading books just takes iPhone or email it to a friend.
a few taps, and there are over There’s also a facility to upload
100,000 to choose from, with photos direct from your iPhone.
more added each month. The Some other features have
colour, size and background of to open in Safari rather than
the display can be customised the app, but otherwise it’s a
to suit your preferences, and it pleasure to use: attractive and
has an attractive page-turn. ● quick to download images. ●
READ AND KEY INFO KEY INFO SNAP SHOTS
LISTEN UK price Free UK price Free Flickr’s app
You can read enables you
while also US price Free US price Free to browse
listening to Web www.ereader.com Web www.flickr.com photos full
your iPhone’s Download size 5.3MB Download size 4.9MB screen
music library iPod touch compatible Yes A great way to read eBooks, though The simplicity of this Flickr app iPhone compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later the iPhone screen could be bigger trumps others with more features iPod touch compatible iOS 3.0
EBOOK READER IMAGE GALLERY
Classics LuxGallery
£1.79 You always promised you’d read them… FREE A gallery of inspiring 3D work
A F
s mentioned above, rom the makers of the
screen size and battery modo modelling and
life mean that the rendering software
iPhone isn’t an ideal eBook comes this beautiful app; it
reader. However, it seems daft showcases images created
to have a compact, media- with it. So if you’re a modo
friendly device in your pocket user, the constantly updated
that you don’t use to read Luxology Image Gallery might
books. And Classics is the most be a convenient way for you to
polished app for the job. explore what other modo
It comes with a library of designers and artists have
classic novels – Treasure Island, been producing.
Pride & Prejudice, 20,000 Leagues You can search through
Under The Sea and more, each thousands of images; when
with a lovingly crafted cover. you find one you like, you can
You can flip the pages with a add it to your favourites. You
sweep of your finger. The list of can view in landscape mode,
books is limited to those the and browse and bookmark
developer provides, but they’re exceptionally nice images, but
committed to adding more there’s nothing more to this
with free updates. ● particular app than that. ●
SMOOTH KEY INFO BE INSPIRED KEY INFO
ACTION UK price £1.79 Choose to scroll UK price Free
Realistic 3D through the
page turns US price $2.99 images or also US price Free
will track to Web www.classicsapp.com view their Web www.luxology.com
your finger Download size 45.8MB descriptions Download size 21.2MB
iPod touch compatible Yes A limited range of books on offer, iPod touch compatible Yes A convenient source of inspiration
Requires iOS 2.0 or later but presented with flair and style Requires iOS 3.2 or later from worldwide modo users

ENJOY Reseach & Relaxation
WIKIPEDIA CLIENT
Articles
£1.79 Make Wikipedia pretty and more useful on your iPhone
M
ost of the negative long articles is a clever solution,
reviews on the App Store but we’d like to see section
make the point that you headers pop up so it’s easier
‘can do the same thing for free’ to see where you are.
with Safari. But even though you It’s not just aesthetics that are
can indeed browse Wikipedia on improved; Articles also makes it
your iPhone – even to the extent easier to interact with content.
of using the built-in feature of We like the way that the ‘vital
adding a specific site shortcut statistics’ summary box’s many
to your Home screen – that’s pages are hidden behind a main
missing the point. image, with an ‘i’ under a page
4
Articles takes everything curl prompting you to tap.
that’s great about Safari as a way Specific pages can be
to access Wikipedia on the go bookmarked in folders that you
and improves on them all. For create, and recently viewed
starters, everything is prettier. pages are cached so you can
The developer has done a view them offline. And even
cracking job on the stylesheet finding articles is easier than
for text and tables; everything with the web view, thanks to
looks great on the iPhone’s small a Title/Content button and
screen. However, it’s still a sub- autocomplete. Plus it can
LOOKING GOOD The information looks great on the iPhone screen
optimal way to view some geolocate you to suggest
KEY INFO complex documents, but it’s articles for things around you, A jewel of an app,
UK price £1.79 Download size 2.0MB cleaner and more attractive than which is great for travelling. beautifully designed and
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Safari. The double-tap-and-scroll There’s an iPad version easy to use; we can’t wait
Web www.sophiestication.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later trick to skip between sections in coming out, too… ● to try the iPad version
OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY HISTORIC REFERENCE
Concise OED On this day…

£11.99 Over 240,000 words and phrases FREE What happened on this day in history?
T F
here are other dictionaries rom the maker of the
available for the iPhone Articles app, this is another
– English Dictionary & Wikipedia-based app,
Thesaurus by Ultralingua is one focusing on squeezing every
of the best, as it includes last drop of juice from
synonyms – but there’s a sense Wikipedia about what
of security from having the happened on this day in
259MB OED at your fingertips. history. The interface enables
It’s pricey for an iPhone app you to click through from each
but less than the RRP of the event, birth or death to the
print edition, and is more related article on the
flexible. Entries are hyperlinked Wikipedia website.
to definitions, and many have It’s actually a fun way to learn
an audio recording of the more about the world, since
pronunciation. The technical rather a lot has happened in
quality of these audio clips is the course of recorded history –
a bit rough, but it’s useful. much of it you’ll never have
We’d have liked to have a heard of before. But bear
thesaurus as well, however, and in mind that the source is
sensitivity to poor spelling Wikipedia, so cross-check all
when looking up words. ● those facts before quoting! ●
SOUNDS KEY INFO KEY INFO STYLISH
RIGHT UK price £11.99 UK price Free FACTS Sophia
You can listen Teutschler
to an audio US price $19.99 US price Free makes
recording of Web www.wordwebsoftware.com Web www.sophiestication.com beautiful-
the correct Download size 259MB Download size 5.7MB looking
pronunciation iPod touch compatible Yes There are cheaper dictionaries, but A beautifully executed and iPod touch compatible Yes iPhone apps
Requires iOS 3.0 or later it’s worth it for the authority informative iPhone app Requires iOS 4.0 or later

Reseach & Relaxation ENJOY
SIMPLE PLEASURES It’s a LEARN AND PLAY Build

basic idea, but kids love it your children’s shape-
matching skills with these
fun puzzle games
INFLATABLE FUN PICTURE PUZZLE
Balloonimals Tozzle
£1.19 Good old-fashioned party fun £1.19 Toddler’s favourite puzzle
B T
low into your iPhone’s KEY INFO he idea of Tozzle is to drag and KEY INFO
microphone to inflate an UK price £1.19 drop shapes to their correct UK price £1.19
onscreen balloon. Once it’s fully US price $1.99 location in a given scene. Keep US price $1.99
inflated, give it a shake to transform it Web www.ideotoylab.com getting it wrong and a little arrow will Web www.nodeflexion.com
into a balloon animal. Each shake adds Download size 17.2MB guide you. Most scenes have interactive Download size 70.7MB
another twist to until your creature’s iPod touch compatible Yes elements and some involve letters and iPod touch compatible Yes
fully formed. Then you can play with it – Requires iOS 3.0 or later numbers, so kids will learn as they play. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later
each animal knows a few amusing Tozzle is essentially the same shape-
tricks – and once you’re bored, pump matching idea over and over again, but
it up until it pops and start again with as any parent familiar with the phrase
a different colour. “Again!” knows, kids love doing the
The drawback is that young same sort of thing repeatedly, and
ones find it tricky to blow into the Great fun for toddlers but with over 30 different scenes there’s The perfect way to keep little
microphone accurately, leaving the appeal is rather short enough variety here to keep them ones amused in the car –
you with a soggy iPhone. ● lived for older kids happy for ages. ● they’ll learn as they play
TALKBACK CHARACTER BE WARNED This is the

perfect excuse for your
Talking Carl
kids to get their hands
on your iPhone!
£0.59 Carl just hasn’t learned to shut up
S
ome kids’ iPhone apps
provide real educational
benefit and make you feel
good as a parent, proud that
your Apple device has put your
child ahead of the game. Then
there are apps like Talking Carl. CHILDREN’S BOOK
The Cat in the Hat

It’s not a bad app, it’s just
puerile – but in the best sense.
Carl is a little red… thing.
You can tickle him to make him
laugh or poke him in the eye to
make him scream, but the real
£2.39 Meet Thing 1 and Thing 2!
T
fun is that whatever you say to he Cat in the Hat has taken its KEY INFO
him he repeats back to you in a rightful place amongst the UK price £2.39
silly voice. Your kids will love it classics of children’s literature for US price $3.99
and get progressively louder as very good reason. It combines beautiful Web www.oceanhousemedia.com
they start to shout, then scream illustration with a story full of fun and Download size 13.7MB
things at Carl. And you, dear mischief. This app is an absolute steal at iPod touch compatible Yes
parent, will grow to hate it £2.39, because it brings the story to life Requires iOS 3.0 or later
in equal measure. ● by reading it out loud and letting your
MONSTROUS KEY INFO children interact with the pages.
FUN Tickle, UK price £0.59 Any objects you touch on the
pinch and
poke Carl US price $0.99 pages are named, while swipes
and watch Web www.skype.com progress the storyline. There’s no proper
his reactions Download size 7.4MB animation, but frequent use of a Ken
iPod touch compatible Yes Complete nonsense, but kids Burns zoom effect creates the Nicely done, and potentially
Requires iOS 3.0 or later will undoubtedly love it impression of movement. ● saves you a job at bedtime!

WORK
M
obile devices like the iPhone are great for casual tasks – but
you need a laptop or desktop computer when you really
need to get things done, right? Not any more: the iPhone
helps you be productive whenever it suits you, not when you happen
to be at your desk. Here, you’ll discover apps that turn your iPhone
into a mobile office, as well as tools to help you maintain your entire
computer ecosystem and alternatives to the iPhone’s built-in internet
tools. First, though, let’s find out how you can use the internet to
store and read documents using Apple’s MobileMe service…
98 Access your iDisk on your iPhone

100 Office tools
106 Utility tools
112 Apps for internet assistance

WORK Filesharing
SHARE FILES ONLINE
Access your iDisk

on your iPhone
Retrieve your online documents while you’re on the move
P
WHAT YOU’LL NEED art of the MobileMe suite of stored online, MobileMe iDisk enables
● Apple’s MobileMe iDisk app, online services, iDisk is Apple’s you to share these files with other users
free from the App Store online storage solution. Available and even add a password, right on the
● A MobileMe account (£59 to everybody who has a MobileMe iPhone. To share a file you simply select
per year from www.apple. account, iDisk provides you with an it from your iDisk and enter the email
com/uk/pricing) easy way to store and share your files address of the person you want to
online, and integration with Mac OS X share it with, and they’ll be able to
means that copying files to
your iDisk is as easy as copying
files to another folder on your
MobileMe iDisk enables you
Mac. You can also access it
through a web browser, while
to access your iDisk from an
the MobileMe Control Panel iPhone or iPod touch
enables you to access iDisk
direct from Windows. download the file from a link that’s
Now, to make things even simpler, provided in the email.
you no longer have to be tied to a Mac The MobileMe iDisk app is a useful
or PC to get to these files. Apple’s free addition to your app library; you can
MobileMe iDisk app enables you to download it for free from the App Store
access your iDisk from an iPhone or in iTunes or your iPhone’s App Store ACCESS ANYWHERE With the ability to download files
iPod touch. As well as using the app to app. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how and share documents, the MobileMe iDisk app is your
view the documents and media you’ve to use it to its full potential. ● passport to efficient mobile working
HOW TO… Back up, restore, wipe and migrate your iPhone data
1 Download and log in

Download and install the MobileMe iDisk
application from the App Store. Launch the app,
2 Open your documents
You can view many files stored on your
iDisk, including movies, music, photos, PDFs and
3 Get the best view
View your file in portrait or landscape
orientation by rotating your iPhone. The
enter your MobileMe member name and documents from the likes of iWork and Office. document will rotate automatically. Swipe
password, then tap Go. You now have access To access a document, tap on it; the file will be to view multiple pages and use the pinch
to all the files and folders on your iDisk. downloaded directly from iDisk to your iPhone. movement to zoom in and out.

Filesharing WORK
4 Tap to share
Tapping a document once brings up the
controls that enable you to return to the iDisk
5 Enter an email address
Next, enter the email address of the person
you want to share it with. Do this manually or use
6 Limit the share time
If you’d rather not share a file permanently,
you can add a time limit so that the download
folder list. Other options here enable you to share a name from your contacts. You can also include a link for the file expires after a certain period of
a file with someone else. Tap the Share button personal message. To keep the document private, time. You can easily share the same file again in
to the right of a file. simply enter a password. the future, of course.
7 Download a shared file

Your email will be sent to the other user
and will include a link to a location where they
8 Control your file shares
Tap Shared Files to view a list of all the
files that are being shared. Tap the Share icon
9 Shared file data
Tap the i button when viewing shared files
to see the full details of the date and time a file
can download the file. This is ideal when you want alongside a file and you can choose to stop has been shared. Along with the date and time
to share larger files that are too bulky for email sharing that file or send the link again so that shared, you’ll also be able to see the URL where
attachments, for example. someone else can view it. that particular file is stored.

WORK Office tools
01 02 04
Can it be true? The Holy Grail

01
of Office documents – cut,
copy and paste…
Accessing files over Wi-Fi or

02
your iDisk account is easy
Transferring files in Quickoffice

03
can utilise an authentication
procedure for privacy
03
Quickoffice enables you to
04
view and edit any Excel or
Word document
KEY INFO
UK price £2.99 (introductory price)
US price $4.99 (introductory price)
Developer www.quickoffice.com
Download size 13.7MB
OFFICE SUITE
Quickoffice
£2.99 Create and edit Word and Excel documents on the road
T
here’s no shortage of applications areas to work from – Quickword, an update that allows you to create
for the iPhone that can view Quicksheet and Quickoffice Files. You and edit PowerPoint files.
documents and spreadsheets, can create and edit Word and Excel You can grab files from (and save to)
4
but what’s missing is a way to create documents (DOC, DOCX, XLS and your iDisk, or mount your iPhone over a
or edit them. On top of that, with XLSX). In the document editor, you can Wi-Fi network for direct copying from a
developments from the big name in change fonts, style and size, create Mac or PC, and it’s easy to email files
PDA-style editing, Documents To Go, bulleted lists and, by Jobs, can it be direct from the iPhone. If you purchase
not necessarily offering all the editing true… cut, copy and paste? The Quickoffice Connect (£5.99), the app
features that we might hope for, behaviour is a little fiddly, but it’s bliss also supports various cloud storage
Quickoffice is a worthy inclusion in this nevertheless. However, one problem services such as Box.net, MobileMe,
category. The app is available for just is the keyboard’s intelligence – auto- Dropbox, and Google Docs.
£2.99 as we go to press but you’ll need correction and the like – is missing, The autosave facility kicks in every
to act fast if this is the app for you, as making typing laborious. few minutes, which is great as it’s
this is an introductory price… The spreadsheet lets you enter and sometimes easy to forget to save
It has some limitations but The interface is good, if a little edit formulas, change cell formats and, changes while on the move.
actually offers pretty much clunky, and possibly lacks the flair of of course, cut, copy and paste, and the At this price, we’d recommend
the full gamut of tools the best applications from the likes of latest version now supports more Quickoffice, but it’ll be interesting to
required for business docs Tapbots. But there are three clear advanced Excel features. There’s also see what price it is after this offer. ●

Office tools WORK
NOTETAKING APP
Evernote
FREE Some clever technology behind the scenes
W
hen this app first came photo notes, and when they’re
out, it wasn’t quite uploaded, any text is
ready for prime time – automatically recognised with
there were a few glitches and OCR so you can search for stuff
usability tweaks that needed to you’ve snapped later. Of course,
be ironed out. But the designers while Evernote will work just fine
have worked hard and with an iPod touch, its lack of
frequently updated the app with built-in camera means you can’t
new features, and you now have snap and upload pics in this way.
a great free app with some very You can also record audio
clever tech behind it. notes, though again you’ll need
4
At its heart, it’s just an online an iPhone mic to allow you to
notes service. Clients already use this facility.
exist for the Mac and PC and It’s the integration of all the
now the iPhone. Nothing’s different platforms that really
stored locally; it is instead impresses; if you can get yourself
uploaded to Evernote’s servers. trained to dump everything into
The advantage is that every note Evernote, it’s accessible from
you add is accessible from any pretty much anywhere you are.
internet-connected computer You can mark notes as favourites
in the world, including your for quick access and there’s a
TAKE NOTE Write, shoot or record your reminder – Evernote will take it down
iPhone. You can set up multiple handy web-clipping URL that
Some rough edges, but a notebooks, share them, and tag lets you bookmark web pages, KEY INFO
powerful and free service notes. Best of all, though, is that too. The current version allows UK price Free Download size 8.3MB
that takes advantage of all you can use your iPhone’s for a lot more multitasking, US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes
the iPhone has to offer camera to grab (geotagged) making it really user-friendly. ● Web www.evernote.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
MOBILE WORD PROCESSOR
Documents To Go
£5.99 Take your Word documents wherever you go
U
ntil Microsoft builds Word now edit documents directly in
for the iPhone – not that ‘DocsToGo’ from any third-party
we expect that any time app that supports the ‘Open
soon – this is the best option for in…’ file sharing feature (eg
creating and editing word Google Docs, Dropbox, iDisk
processing documents on the and more).
go. In fact, there’s not a lot that The iPhone’s auto-correct
this app can’t do! keyboard intelligence is intact,
You add documents to your and you can even use the
iPhone using a companion app keyboard in landscape mode
on your Mac (or PC) and then if you want more finger space –
4
synchronise them across using and a tiny, single-line letterbox
Wi-Fi. Annoyingly, while it view of your document.
supports DOC, DOCX and TXT Though you can’t change the
files, plus PowerPoint, PDF and size of text, you can manage
iWork, there’s no support for RTF. lists, colours and more. You can
The real power of the system, jump to the beginning, middle
though, is document editing. or end of the document, do find/
Even before iPhone OS 3.0 was replace and word, character and
released, DataViz, the company paragraph counts. iPhone 4
behind this app, had developed users can even grab attachments
WORD UP If you need Office docs on your iPhone, this app can help you out
a copy/paste engine that feels from Exchange servers. DataViz
Consider Quickoffice for its very natural, though it meant has ironed out a lot of the bugs KEY INFO
Excel editing, but this is a you could only do the editing associated with the app when it UK price £5.99 Download size 9.3MB
great word processor for within the app. With 4th first appeared and it's now a US price $9.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
the iPhone generation iPhones, you can formidable business aid. ● Web www.dataviz.com Requires iOS 3.2 or later

WORK Office tools
ORGANISER
OmniFocus
£11.99 No more excuses for forgetting things
B
efore we go on, we’ll locations and OmniFocus will
mention that this app won keep your tasks up to date with
Apple’s Design Award for their status. Do a job then tick
Best iPhone Productivity back in it off. You can even add any
2008, so it already comes with attachments that might come
some kudos. in useful to your notes
Forgetting to pick up the dry OmniFocus is even clever
cleaning or to buy a loaf of enough to use GPS (if you have
bread during your lunch break is the iPhone 3G) or your location-
now a thing of the past, thanks aware status to tell you what
to this iPhone version of the you can achieve given your
popular OmniFocus. geographic location. Do you
4
This handy helper app was need to buy a roll of toilet paper,
released to complement the or a bottle of wine? No problem,
desktop version for Macs. The OmniFocus will tell you if there’s
real bonus with the iPhone a convenience store round the
version is that it’s totally corner. Very clever.
portable. You can consult, tick The app works with MobileMe
off and generally manage your or your own WebDAV server.
to-do lists. Because that is There is one caveat with this
essentially what OmniFocus is. piece of software, though, you
POCKET PA Keep on top of your tasks with the omnipresent OmniFocus
It’s a to-do list on steroids. do have to be the tidy-minded
KEY INFO It’s a very simple program to box-ticking type to make it really
UK price £11.99 Download size 3.2MB use; type in your chores and tag work for you. It’s fair to say, It’s expensive but if you’re a
US price $19.99 iPod touch compatible Yes them with contexts (say, phone slovenly, forgetful and plain lazy list-maker then this has to
Web www.omnigroup.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later tasks, for example), and even types need not apply… ● be on your iPhone…
PERSONAL DATABASE
Bento
£2.99 Create databases and sync them with your Mac
T
his app does the sortable in the list view, and
impossible: it makes adding records is a cinch.
databases cool. Not an Creating databases from
easy task… When the Mac scratch on the iPhone can be
version of FileMaker’s personal fiddly, and it did crash on us a
database launched in 2008, it few times. But here’s the magic:
felt like the missing module to it syncs beautifully over Wi-Fi
Apple’s iWork suite. Slick, pretty with the £30 Mac version, so you
and easy to use, it came pre- can set up full, rich databases on
populated with a bunch of the Mac and then simply sync
useful templates. them to your iPhone or iPod
The iPhone version is just touch for access on the move.
4
as lovely. It too has ready-built This is a great little database
templates – a recipe book, event with room to grow. There’s no
planning, expenses and more – interaction with iCal yet, though
though you can build your own. it reads your address book live
There’s support for lots of field – and the single-user Bento
types – multiple choice, ratings, model means even small
dates, times, durations and workgroups need to look to the
more, though some advanced full, scary FileMaker range. But
data types, most notably its ease of use and ability to sync
DATA AID Editing databases is easy thanks to the clearly presented display
calculations, require Bento for wirelessly with Bento for Mac –
KEY INFO Mac as well (see http://tinyurl. the latest version can sync
UK price £2.99 Download size 5.1MB com/pl3vpb). It all feels very libraries contained in folders A superb app; latest
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes iPhone-like. You can choose and maintain the order – mark improvements make
Web www.filemaker.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later which fields are visible and it out as a near triumph. ● it a steal at just £2.99

Office tools WORK
01 03
The presentation running

02 01
on your Mac shows the
elements you’re highlighting on
your iPhone’s display…
… and all you have to do is to

02
point to the part on the slide
that you want to draw your
audience’s attention to
Any notes that you’ve added

03
to your Keynote presentations
appear on your iPhone’s screen
KEY INFO
UK price £4.99
US price $7.99
Web www.wooji-juice.com
Download size 0.3MB
PRESENTATION TOOL
Wooji Presentation Remote

£4.99 Offers much more than simply the ability to advance presentations’ slides
W
ooji Presentation Remote turns need to read the instructions to figure thrown from a projector hooked up
your iPhone into a remote out exactly how to link the two and to your Mac. Though it was initially not
4
control for presentations on enable one of the app’s show-stopping possible, you can now advance slides in
your computer. Unfortunately, although features, an on-screen highlighter. this sideways-on view mode as well as
it’s a cracking application, you might be The app running on your iPhone in the portrait, presenter notes mode.
disappointed to learn that it only works pulls down slides’ titles and presenter It can be a little sluggish moving
with a Mac, since it only ties into notes (swipe up and down) from your between slides, but unless you’re trying
Keynote, Apple’s Mac-only presentation open Keynote presentations, lets you to flick through dozens of slides in a few
package; there’s no support for PCs or advance and rewind slides (swipe side minutes, you shouldn’t really notice the
PowerPoint here. to side), and features a timer. occasional delay. And there are nice
That said, it’s a very well put together Best of all, though, is that you can additional touches, such as light-on-
offering, that’s easy to use. Initial set-up rotate your iPhone, see the slide, and dark mode to reduce glare when you’re
can be a little bit of a pain; you launch tap to have details highlighted on the presenting in a darkened room, and the
the free Presentation Manager helper presentation display. It’s handled preview thumbnail of the next slide. We’d rather see more than
app on your Mac then pair it with your beautifully, too, with a subtle spotlight It’s a shame it doesn’t support just Keynote on the Mac
iPhone or iPod via Wi-Fi, enable the effect directing your audience’s PowerPoint but this is one of the most supported, but this is a
highlighter, then pick which attention to the points on the Mac’s technically impressive and creatively proficient and well
presentation to start on-screen. You do screen, or, of course, on an image satisfying apps for the iPhone. ● executed application

WORK Office tools
BILLING TOOL
Billings Touch
FREE Track your time and expenses
T
ime may be money, but from the app and sync with the
keeping track of how long Mac version. If you sync with
you’ve spent on a client – Billings on the Mac, you’ll have
or the expenses you’ve racked access to over 30 professionally
up on the job – can be tricky; designed invoice templates, and
Billings Touch helps. You create be able to analyse your data
clients – optionally sucking in using the built-in business
details from a contact in your reports. You do have access to
address book – projects and invoice templates from the free
jobs, and then simply start app, it’s just that there aren’t as
adding expenses. It supports many to choose from.
5
travel expenses, other fixed If you also invest in Credit
expenses and, crucially, timed Card Terminal (just 59p from
slips, where you set an hourly innerfence) you can accept
fee and start and stop the clock payments for your invoices right
as you work on projects. (And on your iPhone or iPod touch.
yes, it keeps tracking when the The app also supports
app is closed.) multiple currencies for billing
Clever and useful touches clients in different countries,
abound, despite the surprising so you can define default
complexity of billing. The home currencies on a per-client basis.
CASH & CARRY The expenses app that’s thought of everything
screen that tracks hours and At its simplest level, being
KEY INFO money is particularly welcome. able to input your expenses Even without syncing, this
UK price Free Download size 5.3MB While the app itself is free, it while on the move will make a is terrific – and if £9 is too
US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes does cost £8.99 to unlock the difference to all those who suffer much of an outlay, your
Web www.marketcircle.com Require iOS 3.1.3 or later ability to send invoices directly from lost receipts. ● business is in trouble…
VOICE RECORDING CONTACT INFORMATION
iTalk Recorder Business

FREE Time to get rid of that old dictaphone Card Reader
W
e like this audio notes
recorder from top- £2.39 From paper to digital in one easy step
class accessory maker
T
Griffin, not just because it’s he basic idea here is that you
reasonably polished and offers snap a picture of someone’s
handy features such as the business card (you need an
ability to name, delete and pick iPhone 3GS for this, though if you add
a quality level for recordings, something such as a Griffin Clarifi
but also because it makes it case to an earlier model you can get
easy to get the recordings off the focus sufficiently close) and the
the iPhone and on to your Mac app converts the picture to text and
or PC. A helper app (iTalk Sync) detects what part of the image is the
on your computer finds your name, which part the phone number
iPhone automatically over the and so on. (It keeps the photos of the
Wi-Fi network, and you can card too as a nice visual reference.)
simply drag the AIFF recordings The ability to merge with existing
to your computer. contacts, or look up on LinkedIn, is
The UI looks good and the good. The app stands out from its
quality from the mic is pretty competitors thanks to its initial
good. You can also append text aesthetic, smart graphics, and
notes to recordings. ● impressive reading accuracy. ●
TALK TALK KEY INFO KEY INFO CALLING
Surprisingly UK price Free UK price £2.39 CARD Forget
good level of that clunky
audio, even in US price Free US price $3.99 card holder,
fairly noisy Web www.griffintechnology.com Developer www.shapeservices.com scan contact
situations Download size 1.1MB Download size 18.4MB info instead
iPhone compatible Yes Solid voice-recording app, and it’s A great idea that works well. iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later easy to get recordings off, too Slightly high price but truly useful Requires iOS 3.1 or later

Office tools WORK
CLIPBOARD MANAGER
Pastebot
£2.39 Copy & paste addicts can now rest easy…
A
t its most prosaic, download that for free from
Pastebot is a clipboard http://tapbots.com/software/
manager for your iPhone pastebot/#sync).
or iPod touch. But rather than Filters can be applied to to
just being able to copy and then images (convert a colour image
paste a single snippet of text or to black and white, for example);
a picture, Pastebot lets you save meanwhile, text can undergo
an unlimited number of these useful transformations such as
snippets, and gives you the ‘convert to upper case’ or ‘wrap
option to organise them into in HTML tags’ applied.
relevant folders. Tap any clipping The search capabilities are
5
and it automatically loads it into good, as is the metadata (such
the iPhone’s clipboard and as image size, character/word
presents you with a menu, count and creation date). You
which contains Action and can create new text clippings
Filters menus as well as a small from within the app, and send
information window. those clippings as emails or save
The impressive thing, though, images back to your photo
is that it can sync with your Mac; library. The Actions menu is file
copy a snippet of text on your specific so it’s all very intuitive.
Mac and it’s pushed to Pastebot, The only drawback to
COPY & PASTE Store information easily – and organise and sync and edit!
and vice versa. You can copy Pastebot’s use is down to the
As a stand-alone app, images straight from Finder. iPhone’s limitations… you do KEY INFO
it’s good. Add in the (You do need the companion have to go in and out of apps UK price £2.39 Download size 6.1MB
Mac syncing, and it Mac app, Pastebot Sync, for when sourcing and saving the US price $3.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
becomes great these features but you can information you need. ● Web tapbots.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
EXTERNAL NUMBER PAD CALCULATOR
NumberKey Calcbot
£1.19 Add a number pad to your MacBook £1.19 Upgrade your built-in calculator app
O S
ne thing Apple laptops – ure, the built-in Calculator
and even some app is fine for some basic
keyboards – lack is a 2+2 maths (and did you
keypad, but now you can know that you can rotate your
simply use your iPhone by iPhone to landscape to get a
installing this handy app. scientific calculator?) but we
It comes with skins for the rather like this app from the
MacBook, MacBook Pro and brilliant developers at Tapbots.
PowerBook (plus a vintage Mac It’s not just that it looks great;
keyboard) and connects via a it’s universal – ready for the iPad
little helper app running on as well as iPhone – and has a
your Mac over Wi-Fi. useful history feature. It’s a bit
And that’s it; it just works. It’s like the roll of paper on a
a genuine help if you have to mechanical calculator, showing
punch in a bunch of figures for you past calculations, but you
a spreadsheet, or are doing a can also tap on previous
few calculations in Calculator, calculations to pull them into
and while you don’t get proper new ones. Swipe, and a
tactile feedback – and so have scientific calculator appears.
to look at the iPhone as you tap Our only criticism is that it lacks
– it’s still eminently usable. ● parentheses. ●
THE MAGIC KEY INFO IT ALL ADDS KEY INFO
NUMBER If UK price £1.19 UP… to a UK price £1.19
your keypad is good looking
numerically US price $1.99 adding US price $1.99
challenged, Developer www.balmuda.com machine Developer tapbots.com
invest in Download size 3.4MB Download size 9.9MB
NumberKey iPod touch compatible Yes A useful application; you’ll be iPod touch compatible Yes Features like history and currency
Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later surprised how often you use it Requires iOS 3.1 or later rounding make this a winner

WORK Utility tools
VOICE CONTROL
Vocalia
£2.39 Like the iPhone 3GS Voice Control? Have it! (Sort of…)
T
here’s not that much the better matches, though there’s
iPhone 3GS has that no true phoneme editing.)
owners of earlier models So the tech works reasonably
don’t get with a firmware well, but there are problems. The
upgrade. One thing that is Bookmarks mode requires you –
3GS-only is Voice Control. With thanks to limitations of the SDK
Vocalia, however, you can add – to manually export then
this to any iPhone or, so long as upload your web bookmarks;
you add an external mic, the there’s no tie-in with Safari.
second-generation iPod touch. Worse, part of what makes
It has three modes, Contacts, Voice Control useful is that it’s
3
iPod and Bookmarks, along with launched with a hardware
a big HAL-like eye that blinks as button, making it safe to use for,
you speak into the mic. Now, say, voice dialling while driving.
speech recognition is difficult, You need to look at the screen
but Vocalia makes a sterling to use Vocalia, and thanks to
effort at getting it right. Speak another Apple limitation, even
clearly with the iPhone a couple when you’ve found the number
of inches from your mouth, and to dial, you have to manually tap
the first result will often be a button on screen.
correct, even if some of the We’re impressed with the
VOICE CONTROL Fairly accurate but you have to interact with the screen
other matches seem weirdly technology here, but it’s hard to
KEY INFO unrelated. (With contacts, you recommend it when the benefits A beautiful app with some
UK price £2.39 Download size 5.4MB can type your own memorable of Voice Control are, for most, impressive technology, but
US price $3.99 iPod touch compatible Yes references – ‘the big bad boss’, negated by having to interact it’s hamstrung on the
Web www.creaceed.com Requires iOS 3.1 or later say – which usually result in with the screen. ● iPhone platform
REMOTE CONTROL
TouchPad
£2.99 Control your Mac remotely and stylishly
F
or a long time this domain In addition, TouchPad is a
has been ruled by Air cleaner system; it doesn’t require
Mouse Pro (see opposite)– a server daemon, instead it just
a little app that can turn your uses the Mac’s built-in VNC client
iPhone or iPod touch into a to do the remote mousing and
remote keyboard and mouse for typing. Interestingly, you can
your Mac – especially useful if also use the app if you run a PC
you use one as a media centre, on the Linux platform or even
for instance – but now Edovia’s with a Windows computer
TouchPad app is giving it a run (although you’ll need the free
for its money… VNC server software for this).
4
It’s a little more expensive, Configure your computer and
and doesn’t offer the optional TouchPad (it really is a doddle
motion-based control of Air to set up) and you’ll find that
Mouse Pro, but it has more than commands are immediate,
enough to recommend it. It’s there’s no delay at all, and, as
more polished, for one thing, mentioned, the gestures are
with beautiful UI design and instinctive – and one, two, three
support for, say the escape key and four finger gestures are
that the Air Mouse Pro lacks. It supported. The latest version
also has a view that replicates has also incorporated inertial
HAND CONTROL A remote control app that’s designed like a… remote control!
the physical Apple remote – nice scrolling. If you’re already well
KEY INFO touch – which makes it really versed in using the trackpad It’s elegant and polished –
UK price £2.99 Download size 9.2MB intuitive to use and particularly on a MacBook, you’ll feel very with support for multi-
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes suitable for Front Row or Plex comfortable using the TouchPad touch gestures. Plus, it’s
Web www.edovia.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later media applications. app on your iPhone. ● affordable: a winner!

Utility tools WORK
REMOTE ACCESS
LogMeIn Ignition
£17.99 Control your Macs (and PCs) over the internet, from your iPhone
T
he idea here is that you can log in
and control your Mac or PC over
the internet by logging in from
your iPhone. You’re presented with a
screen showing what’s being displayed
on your Mac or PC, and can control the
keyboard and mouse as if you were in
front of the computer. The cursor is
fixed in the centre while you move the
screen around it, which takes a little
4
getting used to. A tap on the screen is
a click, two finger taps are a right-click,
and you can zoom out with a pinch.
You can limit the colour palette or have
it optimise automatically. It uses the
iPhone’s virtual keyboard too, and while
the lack of some standard Mac keys
is annoying, you can at least issue
commands with modifiers. We’d rather
LogMeIn was more sympathetic to Mac
users and in our testing there were still
Ignition is a brilliant idea some glitches to be worked out. The KEY INFO COMMAND FROM AFAR
that works well; could be iPhone’s limited memory caused some UK price £17.99 Download size 4.2MB Access your Mac or PC remotely
a bit more Mac friendly problems as well, with frequent low US price $29.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
(and/or cheaper!) memory warnings. ● Web secure.logmein.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
REMOTE PERIPHERALS VISUAL DIALLER
Air Mouse Pro Camera Dialer

£1.19 Like having a mini keyboard and mouse! £0.59 Who you gonna call? Not this app…
A T
ir Mouse comes in two he premise is simple:
parts: an iPhone app and point your iPhone’s
a server app that runs on camera at a phone
your Mac or PC. They discover number and, hold it steady
each other over the wonders enough inside a green box,
of the Bonjour service. and your iPhone will call that
Once paired over Wi-Fi, your number. The makers say it
iPhone can act as a mouse and works best with black text on
keyboard for your Mac. You can a white background, but it’s
choose to flick between an supposed to work with other
on-screen trackpad that you contrasts, too. The problem is,
use as you’d expect, or a mode it doesn’t. In a brightly lit room
that uses your iPhone’s motion we couldn’t get it to work. It
sensor to control the cursor. would incorrectly identify a
The on-screen keyboard with number, then initiate the call
modifier keys is useful too, before you could stop it. We
though the limitation of the did get a correct reading of a
iPhone’s on-screen keyboard business card outdoors, but it
means that you can’t perform was a struggle. The option to
tasks that involve particular confirm or save the number,
key combinations. ● would be good… ●
REMOTE KEY INFO KEY INFO WRONG
ACCESS UK price £1.19 UK price £0.59 NUMBER?
Control a Mac If it works it’s
or PC from US price $1.99 US price $0.99 useful, but it
your iPhone Web www.mobilemouse.com Web gp-imports.com doesn’t
Download size 4.0MB Download size 3.5MB always
iPod touch compatible Yes An invaluable remote mouse and A good idea, but it needs to work iPod touch compatible Yes work…
Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later keyboard that actually works better than it does at the moment Requires iOS 3.1 or later

WORK Utility tools
FILE STORAGE
DataCase
£3.99 Turn your iPhone into a wireless drive
S
toring data on a USB provides you with an HTTP and
memory stick is one FTP address for your iPhone so
solution to keeping your you can access your files from
files with you, but what if you any web browser. It’s really that
want to read your documents simple. While FileMagnet
or browse your photos when (below) is superb, and certainly
you’re on the move? more polished than DataCase, it
DataCase from Veiosoft requires a partner app on the
provides the perfect solution. It Mac to transfer stuff; you could
turns your iPhone into a wireless use DataCase to copy stuff to a
storage device where you can colleague’s computer without
4
upload documents, photos, installing anything first.
sound files and PDFs. So, not As well as a folder for shared
only is it an easy way to replace files, there’s a drop folder where
a USB stick, it means you can others can deposit files for you.
actually look at your files and You can keep tabs on your data
read them, too. usage thanks to a large ring icon
Using DataCase is simple. Fire that displays the different types
it up and it appears on your of file on your iPhone
Mac’s Finder as a Shared Drive. graphically. You can easily filter
It’s Bonjour-savvy so it just the files stored on your iPhone
DRIVE ON Turn your iPhone into a USB stick, and work on the documents too
works. You just drag and drop by type, too. It’s a genuinely
KEY INFO files like you would with any useful app, and boasts extras A memory stick might be
UK price £3.99 Download size 0.6MB form of drive. DataCase works such as remembering where you cheaper and leave room on
US price $6.99 iPod touch compatible Yes with any computer with wireless left off in a document so you your iPhone, but you can
Web veiosoft.com Requires iOS 2.0 or later capabilities; even better, the app don’t have to scroll through. ● view files with DataCase
FILE STORAGE FILE SERVER
FileMagnet Air Sharing

£2.99 Store stuff on your iPhone in style! £1.79 Store and view files on your iPhone
F T
ileMagnet can turn your here are now a number
iPhone into a storage of apps that let you store
device. What’s more, it’s files on your iPhone, but
not just a way to copy files to Air Sharing is an inexpensive
your Mac, but to view them, and simple option – you can
too. Only the most common file use it to connect to a computer
types can be viewed – JPEG, running Mac OS, Windows,
GIF, TIF, PNG, HTML, RTF, DOC, Linux or even just a browser,
TXT, PDF, iWork, some movies without having to install a little
and audio files, Word, Excel, helper app first.
PowerPoint – but anything can Connection instructions are
be copied across – including embedded in the app, and it
whole folders – and that should mounts the iPhone like a server
suffice for most folk. on your desktop. Only Air
We like the fact that you Sharing docs are shown, but
can tilt to scroll – just tip the you can edit files live from your
iPhone back to move down Mac or PC. You can view many
a document. We don’t like file types, too, though you can’t
the fact you need to run the edit on the iPhone. Some solid
FileMagnet Uploader app configuration options, and
on your Mac to copy stuff. ● generally it’s fast and robust. ●
POCKET PC KEY INFO KEY INFO MAKE THE
Keep your UK price £2.99 UK price £1.79 CONNECTION
files to hand Air Sharing
on your US price $4.99 US price $2.99 really works
iPhone Web magnetismstudios.com Web avatron.com and is very
Download size 0.9MB Download size 11.9MB useful when
iPod touch compatible Yes We’d rather lose the dependence Could be prettier and easier to use, iPod touch compatible Yes you’re out of
Requires iOS 3.0 or later on a Mac app, but still useful but it’s a powerful, flexible option Requires iOS 3.0 or later the office

Utility tools WORK
IDISK ACCESS
MobileMe iDisk
FREE Access your iDisk’s files on the go!
B
efore we go any further, operating system really, rather
this app is free… but only than this application itself – or
to MobileMe subscribers. even move files into folders.
Many apps have added the You can view your files in
ability to connect to your iDisk – portrait or landscape, and open
if you’re a MobileMe subscriber iDisk documents in compatible
– and the public folders of other apps -- like iBooks for PDFs.
MobileMe members, but this is You can now stream .MP3
Apple’s own, so is it any good? and .AAC music files on your
The bottom line is, if you just MobileMe account directly to
want an app to browse your files your iPhone – and it streams the
3
– and preview many file types, content at a good speed – but
including Word and Excel you can only stream one file
documents, iWork (Pages, at a time, so don’t expect the
Numbers), PDF, Images, Music, luxuries of playlists or album art,
Movies and more – then this app although you can get on with
is great. It’s slick, simple to use, other things while the music
and lets you share these files plays. The addition of this
with others by sending out an feature has sparked a lot of
email with a link that can be discussion about the possibility
password protected. of a cloud-based iTunes…
IN THE CLOUDS Access your MobileMe iDisk content from your iPhone
Still, you can’t filter the list, The app also supports local
Solid, if basic; we’d like to edit the files, attach them to an storage of up to 500MB for KEY INFO
see a suite of MobileMe email (rather than just sending offline viewing, although audio UK price Free (MobileMe members) Download size 3.4MB
apps, allowing, say, Back a link) or use it to upload files – and video files are streamed and US price Free (MobileMe members) iPod touch compatible Yes
to My Mac a limitation of the whole not stored locally. ● Web www.apple.com Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later
POPULARITY TRACKER DOCUMENT MANAGER
Ego ReaddleDocs
£1.19 Are you obsessive about web stats? £2.99 Anything it won’t do? Ah, editing…
A R
ll businesses know that eaddleDocs turns your
it’s vital to monitor how iPhone into a WebDAV
many people have server, so you can mount
visited their site; and for the rest it on a Mac or PC over a Wi-Fi
of us, this info just strokes – or network, and copy files to and
destroys – our ego. Either way, from it. Once on your iPhone,
Ego aims to show these figures you can view them and email
on a single, login-free screen. them as attachments. You can
It supports Google Analytics also save attachments by
and Mint, and can report RSS forwarding them to Readdle’s
subscriber numbers fed iDisk-like space.
through a FeedBurner engine. You can’t edit documents
The data’s not that granular and while we welcome the
(tap the module to cycle ability to copy files from your
between visits today, this week, iDisk and others’ Public folders,
this month and this year) and it there’s no provision to upload
would have been good to tap a documents to them, and if
button to launch us into the you wish to email or view
tracking site. But it’s still a a document, it has to be
handy app that enjoys downloaded to your iPhone
developer support. ● first, which is inconvenient. ●
STAT SLATE KEY INFO KEY INFO ACCESS ALL
All your UK price £1.19 UK price £2.99 AREAS Just
important don’t expect
web data US price $1.99 US price $4.99 to be able to
harnessed Web ego-app.com Web readdle.com edit them…
in one app Download size 1.7MB Download size 9.7MB
iPod touch compatible Yes Be it for your ego or your business, Good stab at an all-in-one solution, iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.0 or later stat tracking has never been easier but you can’t edit or annotate Requires iOS 3.0 or later

WORK Utility tools
SECURE STORAGE
1Password
£5.99 A very polished application that keeps data safe
O
ne of the big problems loads in the app’s embedded
with Safari on the iPhone browser and fill your details in
is that it doesn’t have for you ready to log in. We can’t
an equivalent of the Mac’s decide if not using the
Keychain, so you have to standalone Safari browser is
remember and enter passwords good or bad; there’s a security
manually each time you want to argument either way, and in any
log into a secure site. The task is case 1Password’s own browser
made no simpler by the iPhone’s will be built on the same
keyboard, especially if you’re framework as Safari.
following good practice and Usefully, you’re not limited to
4
mixing lower case, upper case these site login details, either;
and symbols in passwords. you can write notes to yourself
1Password solves that that are secured – great for
problem by providing you with keeping details that you need
a secured app in which you can to present in a confidential
store login details and notes. meeting or just for keeping
Two levels of security are present ideas safe!
offered: a four-digit PIN The app can sync with the
(potentially in addition to the desktop version on your Mac
system-level four-digit PIN you (available separately through
SAFE AND SECURE Keep passwords to hand – and enter them automatically
can lock your entire iPhone the website for around £27)
KEY INFO with) and an optional master to save tedious re-keying.
UK price £5.99 Download size 5.9MB password of your choice. There is also a universal app We’re not saying it’s hacker-
US price $9.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Enter details correctly, and available for iPhone, iPod touch proof, but it’s undeniably
Web agile.ws Requires iOS 3.1 or later when you can tap on a site, it and iPad, for £8.99. ● handy; quite pricey though
SECURE DATABASE
Wallet
£2.99 Keep your personal data safe and in sync
A
t its most basic, Wallet forget to close it down, too.
is just a database for Best of all though is that
information – such as it syncs with the $20 Wallet for
credit card numbers, passwords, Mac OS X application, too (check
software serial numbers, etc – out the website to purchase) –
so why not just use Bento by either seamlessly over the air
FileMaker (available for the same via MobileMe or WebDAV, or
price), say, and create your own? you can sync any time you’re
Well, you could, but we like connected to 3G, EDGE, or Wi-Fi
Acrylic Software’s Wallet for – so you can keep your main
several reasons. It’s stable and database of information in your
well designed, and while it’s set pocket wherever you go – safely
4
up especially for keeping track and securely.
of web logins (though it can’t Set-up is simple and
enter them for you on mobile straightforward – there’s a step-
Safari, in the style of 1Password) by-step wizard to guide you, and
and serial numbers, you can also storing information is just a case
make things more personal and of filling in fields (you’re not
create your own database types. locked to predefined fields, it’s
The whole thing is locked also easy to add custom fields)
down with 256-bit AES ‘military or syncing data.
SECURITY Keep important numbers and passwords under lock and key
grade’ encryption, so it should The app is very thorough for
KEY INFO be secure. And, if you switch on £2.99, and includes the same
UK price £2.99 Download size 2.9MB the Lock When Inactive option features as the Mac version, yet Wallet has made itself
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes in the Wallet Settings, it the UI is very straightforward invaluable over the years;
Web www.acrylicapps.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later automatically locks itself if you and easy to use. ● the app is a great add-on

Utility tools WORK
01 03 04
Determine the path taken by

01
packets across an IP network
via Traceroute
02
iStat utilises the Bonjour
network to communicate
with Macs on a local network
The app can even give you

03
a thorough statistical
02 analysis of your iPhone
The sheer number of statistics

04
concisely yet clearly displayed
is impressive
KEY INFO
UK price £0.59
US price $0.99
Web bjango.com
Download size 0.7MB
STATISTICAL MAC ANALYSER
iStat
£0.59 Keep tabs on your Mac’s resources… over the web
T
his app’s job is to give you concise information. Processor load and how hard the CPU has been
information on how the resources and upload/download stats all show working but, unfortunately, there’s no
4
on your Macs are being used. (A as easy-to-read graphs, and memory reporting of what processes are using
Linux and Solaris version of iStat Server allocation is shown as a pie chart. You the most CPU cycles. We’d like to see
is also available but some features, such can see how much space is available more help with port forwarding, too,
as temperatures, are not yet supported.) on mounted volumes, and the or a different way to connect to Macs
It works by running a daemon on the temperature and fan sensors on your over the web.
Macs you want to monitor, and then Mac are monitored and their values iStat also offers you stats for your
communicates the usage information communicated too. iPhone, including detailed battery stats
over the network to your iPhone. While Macs on your local network are and disk space, and showing Wi-Fi and
the daemon runs transparently, the automatically discovered with Bonjour, IP addresses, MAC addresses and your
server app can be used to generate but if you want to access Macs over the iPhone’s Unique Identifier. And you can
passcodes to show connected clients internet you’ll have to set up port- clear your iPhone’s memory with the
and keep a log. The iStat Server requires forwarding on your router. It’s touch of a button, which is great if it’s
Mac OS X 10.4 or later and is available reasonably easy, but because it’s starting to operate at a crawl. A fantastic presentation of
as a free download from bjango. different for each router model, you’re (Note: 59p is the current sale price as vital Mac statistics, though
The presentation is beautiful, with left on your own here. You can check we go to press, the app may be around it doesn’t tell you which
elegant colour schemes and clear, how long it’s been since the last restart £1.19 by the time you read this.) ● apps are hogging the CPU

WORK Internet assistance
WEB BROWSER
Opera Mini
FREE Can Opera top Safari as the iPhone’s best web browser?
W
e joined the rest of the Opera Mini achieves its speed
world in slack-jawed by routing all its web traffic
amazement when through its servers in Norway,
Opera Mini first popped up on where images are heavily
the App Store. Compared to compressed (by up to 90 per
Safari, it’s like your iPhone has cent), which also means it costs
had a processor upgrade, you less if you’re on a pay-as-
especially over 3G, EDGE or you-go scheme since less data
GPRS. Pages load so quickly you is being downloaded.
will be amazed; the makers Unfortunately, it also means that
boast of up to six times faster sites detect your login as coming
3
browsing, but there have been from somewhere that’s not your
some sacrifices made here… usual location (unless you
First of all, there’s only one actually live in Norway). So
level of zoom, so the web page Facebook, for example, freezes
either fills the screen or you a UK account if you log in
zoom in to a fixed reading level. through Opera Mini.
All text is rendered in the same Despite the flaws, there are a
font, making pages look a bit few nice features here beyond
ugly. Scrolling up and down is raw speed – the start page with
also an issue. Safari forces your its quick links, and a passable
SHRINK TO FIT Opera Mini compresses pages to offer high speeds and low costs
scrolling to be either vertical or attempt at tabbed browsing –
KEY INFO horizontal; in Opera Mini it’s but we soon found ourselves Great for most web
UK price Free Download size 1.0MB more like ice skating for the first returning to Safari when on browsing, but not as
US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes time – you never quite know Wi-Fi, just to make pages more elegant or consistent
Web www.opera.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later where you’re going to end up. readable again. ● as Apple’s Safari
RSS READER EMAIL COMPOSER
Reeder Email ’n Walk

£1.79 Get RSS feeds on your phone £0.59 Avoid putting your foot in it, as it were
S W
ince NetNewsWire on the hen Pocket Lint did an
Mac moved from its parent April Fool’s joke that
company NewsGator’s proposed using a
syncing service to Google smartphone’s built-in camera to
Reader, there are plenty of Mac show the view ahead while you
users who now have a choice were composing an email to
about which RSS reader to use stop you bumping into things,
on their iPhone. If NetNewsWire we thought we were alone in
leaves you cold, consider thinking that it was actually a
Reeder. It syncs with Google genius idea. We were wrong.
Reader with support for tags, Fire up this app and you’re
starred items and notes, and presented with a live video feed
lets you read your feeds either from the camera, with white
split by source or in text displayed over it – you can
chronological order. enter a subject line and the
It integrates Instapaper, body; when you hit Send, it
Delicious and Read It Later, and passes your text to the Mail app
has a built-in browser so you for addressing. Unfortunately,
don’t have to bounce out to the angle you hold the phone
Safari to see the original source. means that you miss horizon-
It’s satisfyingly fast, too. ● level obstacles. ●
FEED ME KEY INFO KEY INFO WATCH YOUR
NOW A very UK price £1.79 UK price £0.59 STEP More
cool looking useful than
reader for US price $2.99 US price $0.99 you might
your iPhone – Web reederapp.com Web www.phase2games.com think if you
and it works Download size 2.2MB Download size 0.0MB have to send
well, too iPod touch compatible Yes This app is clean and simple yet Surprisingly useful, but you have to iPod touch compatible No an urgent
Requires iOS 3.0 or later it boasts plenty of good features hold your iPhone at an odd angle Requires iOS2.0 or later mail…

Internet assistance WORK
01 03 04
Tap on one site or on a group

01
of sites to load up all the
headlines; you’ll find that already-
read stories are greyed out
When you read an individual

02
story you can tap on links or
open the whole thing in Safari
NetNewsWire has its own

03
02 built-in browser, and you can
email links to stories or add them to
your clippings
The overview of all your feeds

04
lets you see at a glance which
sites have new stories, grouped as
on the desktop
KEY INFO
UK price Free
US price Free
Web www.newsgator.com
Download size 0.9MB
NEWSREADER
NetNewsWire
FREE Get up-to-date newsfeeds direct to your iPhone with this RSS reader
T
here’s no dispute that too, so that you never have to read the version of NetNewsWire, and you can
NetNewsWire is the best overall same story more than once (read stories consume your news by individual site
RSS reader for the Mac and, as it’s are greyed out). Alternatively, you can or by group.
5
free, there’s no reason not to use it to save articles for later in Instapaper or NetNewsWire for the iPhone has its
keep yourself up to date with news by starring them. own version of the Safari web browser
and blogs. The same company is also The initial release of the iPhone- built in, so you don’t have to constantly
responsible for the free Windows RSS native version was a good basic app, bounce back and forward between it
readers FeedDemon and NewsGator but there have been many and the main Safari to read full posts.
Inbox for Outlook, and it has now improvements since. There’s no way to And you can email items or add them
developed this version for the iPhone. add new RSS feeds; instead the list of to a clippings file simply by tapping an
The great thing about all these feeds you’re subscribed to is pulled icon at the bottom of the screen. You
apps is that they synchronise with the down from the Newsgator servers. can even share by posting links to
company’s servers, so that regardless of Frankly we’re not that bothered about Twitter or by sending email — without
whether you’re reading your news on that for the moment, as it works so well leaving the app.
a Mac, PC or iPhone, you get the same otherwise, though an update that The display isn’t customisable, as you Arguably the best RSS
feeds that you’ve subscribed to. Not just brings that will be welcome for many. might be used to on the desktop, but reader on the desktop is
that, but individual items that you’ve Groups that you’ve set up on your it’s clear, although the grey text/white now arguably the best RSS
read are synced with Google Reader Mac or PC are preserved in the iPhone background may be tricky for some. ● reader for the iPhone

PLAY
Y
ou’ve used your iPhone to create, explore, enjoy and work: now
it’s time to kick back and have some fun! With its speedy
processor, brilliant display and touch-sensitivity, the iPhone
makes a fantastic vehicle for games on the move. There are
thousands of games available for the iPhone: so many that there’s
bound to be something to match your gaming tastes, whether you’re
a hardcore gamer who likes to play anywhere and anytime, or a
casual gamer who just likes a quick distraction from time to time.
But first, we meet some of the names behind the games…
116 Meet the game developers

120 Skill & Ability games
126 Logic & Dexterity games
134 Mystery & Adventure games
142 Simulation games
146 Racing & Action games
154 Sport games
156 Ten apps we wish existed…

PLAY Game development
Take three… Meet three of the faces behind some of the App Store’s most popular games
A
lthough you can use your iPhone sophistication that isn’t too far off their management sims, there’s an iPhone
for work, creativity or education, equivalents on desktop computers, game for every taste. And with an
the biggest single use is simply while the multitouch screen has iPhone in your pocket, you can pick up
having fun. Of the 250,000 options to encouraged a wealth of new ways of and play whenever you feel the urge.
buy or get for free through the App controlling games – and even brand- Behind every great new game is a
Store, over 65,000 are gaming or new types of game. The iPhone’s single person or team who’s created
entertainment titles, according to cellular and Wi-Fi networking also that title: the developer. Here, we meet
Apple, and games regularly feature encourages multiplayer games, and three of the faces behind some of the
in the App Store charts. game communities where you can most popular games in the App Store:
With the technical ability of the check your high scores against we’ll find out what attracted them to
iPhone, of course, the popularity of everyone else worldwide. the iPhone, what makes the iPhone
gaming shouldn’t come as a surprise. With everything from recreated such a compelling device for them, and
The processor’s power means you can board and card games to sports titles, get a hint of where iPhone gaming
find games with a graphical and from high-octane racing to deep could be headed in the future. ●

Game development PLAY
GOING LARGE Gordon Wood of Other Ocean Interactive notes, “Our artists were happy to have so much texture space
to play with and a phenomenal screen to show everything off!”
NEW APPROACH Ocean worked on Super Monkey Ball for iPhone

like a console game, rather than a traditional mobile phone title
Behind the scenes of...

Super Monkey Ball
Gordon Wood, from Other Ocean Interactive, reveals his love of the iPhone
Q What do you use Macs for Q How did you convert Super Monkey Q How does working on iPhone differ
at your company? Ball to iPhone? from other mobile platforms?
A All the programming on our A We were surprised at how powerful the A The iPhone uses OpenGL ES for its
iPhone titles. Our programmers iPhone was. It was clear we had to treat graphics, which means developers can
come mainly from the console world Super Monkey Ball like a fully featured get up and running quickly since most
where PCs running Windows are console game, to take advantage of this. We games programmers are familiar with
commonplace, so they had to adjust got the core game up and running quickly, OpenGL. The iPhone SDK and its
to using a Mac and Xcode. The due in large part to the flexibility of the libraries are feature-rich and easy to
transition was very smooth, and we iPhone SDK. From day one, our focus was use. In many ways, it’s like having a
now have some people who want to on pushing the hardware as hard as handheld Mac.
PROFILE use Macs for all their work, not just possible, to make the game really come
Name Gordon Wood for iPhone! to life on the iPhone. Q Are you pleased with the response
Location Charlottetown, the game got?
Canada Q How did you come to work on Q What software and hardware did you A The response has been great, but
Occupation Senior programmer Super Monkey Ball for iPhone? use to work on the game? when you’re developing a game you
Company Other Ocean Interactive A We’d done work for Sega A We used a combination of MacBook Pros, generally know the type of response
System MacBook Pro previously that they were quite iMacs and PCs to create the game. The code you’re going to get from internal
Web www.otherocean.com pleased with, so when the was written on a Mac running Xcode and feedback – our studio is full of gamers
opportunity came about to develop the iPhone SDK, while our art team mostly and we have internal testers. We were
the Super Monkey Ball demo for the used PCs since we had to hit the ground excited – we knew we had a good
Apple SDK announcement they running with this project and they were game on a good platform. Some people
believed we were the right choice. already set up. They then switched to Maya have found it quite challenging at first,
The demo went well and we entered for the 3D modelling and Photoshop for but it’s Super Monkey Ball – it’s
into a contract for the game. everything else. supposed to be challenging! ●

PLAY Game development
PAYING HOMAGE Vector Tanks is Peter’s tribute to classic tank-based arcade games
PROUD ROOTS Adventure: Revisited is a reenactment of Atari Adventure, the first action-adventure game!

Vector Tanks
Peter Hirschberg explains the inspiration behind his retro game
Q How are Macs instrumental in quantity – you’re not developing for imagined as a child is how I connect the
your work? hardware variations and can develop for past with the present.
A The iPhone SDK only works with the touchscreen, accelerometer and
Macs, so I use my Mac for iPhone internet, because you know every device Q How did your game Vector Tanks
development, but beyond that I use has those same things. I sometimes wish come to be?
my MacBook for everything. For there were some hardware buttons for use A I started out wanting to create a
developing games, I work with in games, but I can also argue that iPhone’s game that utilised the control
Xcode, Photoshop and Illustrator. limitations spark developers to become mechanism of one thumb on either
more creative. side of the screen, as sliders. Tank-type
Q Why did you decide to develop I’ve long said that platform limitations games immediately came to mind as
PROFILE iPhone games? result in better games than limitless they’re best suited for that set-up.
Name Peter Hirschberg A I’ve always loved developing for hardware, since they force experimentation
Location Linden, VA (USA) mobile platforms, and the iPhone and originality. Q What are your future plans?
Occupation iPhone software is the nicest one. I like Apple’s A At the moment, I plan to work on
developer ‘ecosystem’ – it brings back the Q What particularly appeals to you about Vector Tanks updates – there are a lot
System MacBook excitement I had when I first got into retro games? of features I want to add. Beyond that,
Web www.vectortanks.com computers, back in the days of Atari A I grew up with them, and they were so I definitely want to work on some
www.peterhirschberg.com and Commodore. incredibly cool to me as a child. I guess I more retro apps – I can’t help myself!
never outgrew that sense of wonder! I Hopefully, the future will enable me
Q What do you think of iPhone as still consider old arcade machines to be to continue developing my work to
a gaming platform? amazing devices. Seeing those retro games preserve our gaming past, in ways that
A It’s near perfect, and also a known running on hardware that I couldn’t have make people happy. ●

Game development PLAY
LEGENDARY GAME Mark’s Dark Castle is one of the few original Mac games afforded ‘classic’status
VIDEOGAME REMIX Return to Dark Castle brings the original game to modern Macs
NEW FORMAT Star*Burst is ideal for iPhone and you can even send cards to Facebook

Star*Burst
Gaming legend Mark Stephen Pierce thinks the iPhone is a game-changer
Q What’s your Mac history? After then, I’d mail the programmer mock- brought me back to Apple. All our
A I co-founded MacroMind, where I ups in MacPaint and animations in games are designed on Macs.
co-designed VideoWorks, which VideoWorks, and we did the game in six
became Director. I remember my months. The programmer was Jonathan Q What games are you working on?
partners there waiting in line at an Gay, who invented Flash! A We recently released maze puzzle
Apple store for the 128k Mac to game Ace Yeti Trapper. There’s also
come out! I held onto my Macs way Q How does today’s creative Star*Burst, an evolution of my Atari
into the 1990s, by which time I was environment compare to then? game Klax. Gems march towards you
at Atari so I had to abandon them. A The energy around the Mac back then – and must be flipped upwards and
which showed everyone a different way of matched. When updating the game,
PROFILE Q Before then, you created the working – is similar to what I’m seeing we inverted the playfield so it works
Name Mark Stephen Pierce classic Mac game Dark Castle – today with the iPhone and iPad. Likewise, I on the iPhone, and encourages people
Location Austin, Texas how did that come about? worked in a wonderful environment at Atari to make patterns in the gem pit by
Occupation CEO of Super A I was asked to create a game by for 15 years, with small teams creating awarding collectable cards that can
Happy Fun Fun Silicon Beach, and I suggested a innovative games, and that’s now back in be posted to Facebook.
Systems An iPhone and lots medieval theme because I knew it’d the form of the App Store. The iPhone’s I’m also hoping to get Dark Castle
of Macs sell well. Our meeting was one of the been a godsend for me – you don’t have a into production for iPhone; I like its
Web superhappyfunfun.com most inspired days I’ve ever had – publisher telling you what you can do, and side-on view and puzzles. But it was a
they had this flip chart and I literally the people buying games are the only filter. brutal game, so it’ll be a redesign that
drew out the entire game on the fly. The iPhone’s a game-changer, and it won’t be so tough! ●

PLAY Skill & Ability
01 02 04
The large cards are easy to

01
read, and the suits are clearly
differentiated
If you don’t know how to

02
play any of the games
included on the app, you’ll find
comprehensive help is provided
If you want more game types

03
03 you can buy Solebon Solitaire,
but the five offered here should keep
you amused for some time
Sol Free keeps track of how

04
many games you’ve played,
how many you’ve won and more
KEY INFO
UK price Free
US price Free
Web www.smallware.com
Download size 1.2MB
Requirements iOS 3.0 or later
CARD GAME
Sol Free Solitaire

FREE Keep track of what you’re spending... in style!
F
ew of us can resist a bargain, and yourself with the way the game is The program keeps track of your
5
what’s better than free? Though played. Perplexed? Click on the rules stats, telling you how long it took you
we admire the sheer and all is explained really clearly. to solve the game and in how many
comprehensiveness of Mondo Solitaire, For those of us who ever whiled moves. You can switch games any time
Sol Free is an incredibly slick away half a lifetime on a Windows PC, you like and your present game will be
implementation of Solitaire on the the Klondike Deal 1 will be fairly frozen. Want to move from Klondike to
iPhone and it’s just been updated to familiar. It’s the classic Solitaire game Spiderette and keep your game intact?
include five games. You can, if you’re a where you build up stacks of alternate No problem.
real Solitaire nut, buy the paid-for coloured suits and then transfer them There’s no better way to waste time
version with its endless variations of to foundations starting with an Ace and than to idle a few hours playing cards
Solitaire games, but you don’t have to. building all the way up to the Kings in with your iPhone, and since Sol Free is,
So let’s see what the deal is here. separate suits. Got that? if you’ll excuse the repetition, free,
Firstly there’s the choice between The cards are displayed in an easy-to- there’s no reason not to install it on
Baker’s Game, Demon, Klondike Deal 1, see format and you can transfer cards your iPhone or iPod touch to entertain
Great fun and it’s free. Can Klondike Deal 3 and Spiderette. to their foundations with a simple you in a doctors’ surgery. That it’s
you ask for any more? The Confused by those? Don’t be! There are double tap of your finger. Too lazy to do beautifully-implemented and comes
most fun you can easy rules built into each type of that? Press the Auto button and have with rich, easy-to-read graphics is
have with an iPhone! Solitaire so you can quickly acquaint Sol Free do it for you. simply the icing on the cake. ●

Skill & Ability PLAY
TABLETOP CLASSIC
Battleship
£0.59 iPhone gamers get that sinking feeling
U
nless you’ve played the how the classic game could have
game with pen and been any better implemented
paper, you won’t fully on an iPhone. As well as the
appreciate this iPhone version. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth multiplayer
In the old days, two players options there’s also the ability to
would draw various battleships use one iPhone and pass it from
on graph paper then call out one to another for their turn. ●
grid references to see if their
missiles had scored a hit or not.
Later, Milton Bradley made a
fun but cumbersome electronic
version of it. Now the game has
found its perfect home, thanks
5
to Hasbro and EA. As well as the
basic gameplay, this version also
boasts salvo and superweapon
modes, featuring multiple
attacks, airstrikes, mines and the
like. Graphically, the game is
spiced up with smart cut-scenes
depicting weapons being fired
WAR GAMES Pick your targets and hope you strike it lucky with a direct hit
and ships sinking, and there’s
multiplayer fun to be had across KEY INFO
local networks. Battleship isn’t UK price £0.59 Download size 10MB
A perfect version of the everyone’s ration of rum, but US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
classic pen and paper game love it or loathe it, it’s hard to see Web www.eamobile.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
CARD GAME
Mondo Solitaire
£2.99 More than 100 variants of the classic tabletop card game
T
here were, a week after launch,
more than a dozen Solitaire
games already available on the
App Store, but this is our favourite,
though, despite having a soft spot for
the ultra-clear and free Sol Free Solitaire
it’s very polished, has some great
personalisation options, and a couple of
very clever usability tweaks that make
gameplay very simple.
5
Top of our list is the magnifying glass
that lets you see what’s in each pile in
more detail, but we’re also big fans of
the ability to slot a virtual paperclip
around a selection of cards to move
them all at once.
The customisation options –
including pure eyecandy stuff such
as changing the colour of the table
and card backs, plus more useful
gameplay settings, such as the ability
If you’re feeling the pinch, to automatically flip cards – makes the KEY INFO STACK ’EM The classic Klondike
Sol Free will do the job, game feel very well put-together. It UK price £2.99 Download size 7.6MB solitaire is supported but there’s a
cheaper version called Mondo Top 5
but Mondo Solitaire is also features a huge library of US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Solitaire that has this, too
much richer customisable game types. ● Web www.ambrosiasw.com Requires iOS 3.1 or later

01 02
Play against up to nine real

03 01
players and see each player’s
facial expressions in portrait mode
If you rotate your phone into

02
landscape view, you get an
overhead view of the poker table
You can choose which location

03
to play your game: Las Vegas,
Paris, Dubai or, erm, your garage
Keep your cards close to your

04
chest by viewing your hand at
04
any time in the bottom- right-hand
corner of the iPhone’s screen
KEY INFO
UK price £2.99
US price $4.99
Web www.apple.com
Download size 129MB
POKER AND MORE
Texas Hold’Em
£2.99 Bluff your way to poker success with this gambling game from Apple
O
nly Apple could have taken the The graphics are simply awesome You can also play against up to
iPhone platform and produced and are every bit as good as the big nine real players if you want but this
5
a version of poker that is simply online poker websites. In portrait mode multiplayer function is only possible
stupendous. Choose where you want to you get to see your opponent’s face if all players are on the same Wi-Fi
play your poker and then place your and their expressions. Turn the iPhone network – long-distance poker is out
bets. You can choose between your into landscape and the screen becomes of the question.
garage, Paris, Dubai, Istanbul and Las an overhead plan of the Poker table. Texas Hold’Em is the perfect way to
Vegas. Most of these exotic locations When you’re holding the phone practice and hone your poker skills
require you to have won a certain level upright, the dealer throws out the cards without losing real money. It’s a bit
before you buy in – $100,000 in the to you and there they sit in the bottom- battery-hungry on a account of the
case of Dubai. Choose garage and right corner of the screen. If you’re new amazing graphics but don’t let that put
you’re in for free with the possibility to poker and unsure of the hand you’ve you off. Whether you’re a seasoned,
of winning a maximum of $1,250. The been dealt, the program helps. Simply whiskey-sodden pro or a newbie to
A great way to hone your graphics of the garage are awesome tap on your cards and a rating meter the table, give it a try. In the recently
poker skills. Superb with old Apple posters on the wall and appears to show you just how good updated version there’s even animated
graphics and an intuitive long-defunct Apple kit stacked on the your hand is. It’s this friendly approach gestures as you play as well as more
interface makes this a shelves, a very amusing homage to the that really helps to ease you into the statistics tracking and unlimited buy-ins
hugely enjoyable game computing giant. poker world. for longer play time. ●

TOUCH QUIZ MACHINE
QuizQuizQuiz
£1.19 Put your brain through its paces with this quiz app
T
his app is essentially a quiz
machine, with several play modes
for solo players and groups. There
are also more than 5,000 questions per
language (so if you fancy trying UK,
Aussie or even Indian-themed
questions, your options are huge). The
questions are surprisingly varied too,
categories including movies, TV shows,
sports, cheeses(!), animals and math
puzzles, to name just a few.
4
It’s a shame there are no picture or
video challenges, but at just over £1
this is superb value and surprisingly
well put-together. Just think how much
how much you would save buying this
app over having to those expensive
quiz machine you find in bars and pubs!
The latest version has almost 1,000
new questions so it’s really worth a
purchase as these are included in the
original price. There’s also improved KEY INFO Q&A Fancy a quick-fire quiz round?
A great take on a classic categories, several new awards to try UK price £1.19 Download size 6MB Then QuizQuizQuiz is the question
and answer app for you
game. If only we could play for and question time has been US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
against real people increased to 15 seconds. ● Web www.quizquizquiz.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
CLASSIC PUZZLER WORDPLAY
Black and White Wurdle

FREE Great new look for a vintage game £1.19 Hours of vocabulary-busting fun!
T T
he classic game of his is the iPhone’s take on
swapping game pieces the classic Boggle game.
from white to black to It’ll be familiar to anyone
capture you opponent’s pieces who’s played PathWords on
gets an iPhone makeover here. social networking site
It’s not the only Othello/Reversi- Facebook. You’re given a grid of
style game on the store but it letters – 5x5 by default, but 4, 6,
gets our vote because it feels 7 and 8-sized grids are possible
well put-together and it has – and have to find as many
some pretty good AI playing words as you can, the longer
against you. We’d like to see a the better, by linking together
two-player mode – even if it’s letters that are horizontally,
not over the Wi-Fi or internet; vertically or diagonally
just some way to allow two adjacent. The implementation is
players to compete – but it’s a very good, and there are plenty
good start, especially as it’s free. of options (including a ‘pass
The game will last you a while and play’ two-player mode) to
though as there's four levels of keep you amused. It’s a fun little
opponents and it's certainly game, and a great way to keep
more challenging than you your mind active while waiting
think it would be. ● for a bus. ●
DISC WORLD KEY INFO WORD UP KEY INFO
Win the game UK price Free Get a grid and UK price £1.19
by capturing find as many
all of your US price Free words as you US price $1.99
opponent’s Web www.weiphone.com can – it’s Web www.semisecretsoftware.com
coloured discs Download size 0.5MB easy! Download size 7.3MB
iPod touch compatible Yes A great take on the classic game iPod touch compatible Yes Could use a work on the interface,
Requires iOS 2.1 or later family boardgame Requires iOS 2.2 or later but otherwise it’s great

PINBALL SIM
Monster Pinball
£1.19 Play the silver ball on your iPhone
P
inball aficionados will balls in an incredibly small
probably crucify us for space. The tilt function has made
saying this, but Monster it to the game too, and is
Pinball is a great pinball game. activated via the iPhone’s
OK, it’s not quite the experience accelerometer. ●
you’d get in a darkened bar, nor
is it as accomplished as certain
revered videogame pinball sims
of the past (you know the ones
we’re talking about). But in
terms of straightforward
pinballing fun at a ludicrously
4
affordable price, Monster Pinball
is absolutely unbeatable.
The ball physics are spot-on
and the major features of any
decent table are present and
correct. And rather than try to
present real tables in a shrunken
form (which would be, frankly,
unplayable on a small screen)
PINBALL WIZARD Go for that high score by making combinations with your shots
Monster Pinball’s developers
KEY INFO have prudently made the
UK price £1.19 Download size 10MB interconnected tables here A superb pinball experience
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes spacious enough to allow for FLIP IT! Use the left and right buttons to cleverly designed to work
Web www.matmi.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later much bashing and mashing of activate your flippers on the pinball table on a small screen
C64 EMULATOR RHYTHM ACTION
Commodore 64 Guitar Hero

£2.99 If you’re under 25, you might not get it… £1.79 The rhythm game rocks onto the iPhone
L T
ook at the App Store he successful Guitar Hero
ratings and this particular series has seen five
widget is getting an different iterations on
undeserved kicking from home consoles. So, it was about
people who don’t know any time the franchise made an
better. It’s a Commodore 64 appearance on the iPhone and
emulator and comes with a the result is mostly good.
handful of games thrown in. The game comes with a
It also has a built-in store from batch of six songs (including
which you can buy additional Seven Nation Army and Paint it
classic 80s C64 games for as Black) with expansion packs
little as 59p each. available at £1.19 each.
The emulator itself is nicely The gameplay is spot-on
implemented with full-screen with responsive four-button
landscape mode and a vertical play and innovative slide moves
mode with a small screen and a to take advantage of the
joystick-shaped icon controller. iPhone’s screen. A lack of single
The controls can be a little bit player career progression is
fiddly but the games are compensated for by a whole
perfectly playable, totally bunch of challenges to be
authentic and really fun. ● completed on each track. ●
RETRO GAMES KEY INFO KEY INFO FRET WORK
Relive classic UK price £2.99 UK price £1.79 One the most
C64 gaming successful
with this fun US price $4.99 US price $2.99 console music
Commodore Web http://c64.manomio.com Web hub.guitarhero.com games finally
emulator Download size 20.4MB Download size 122MB comes to the
iPod touch compatible Yes An enjoyable C64 emulator with A very cheap and very iPod touch compatible Yes iPhone
Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later plenty of games included worthy rhythm game Requires iOS 3.1 or later

CRAZY PUZZLE CRAZE
Angry Birds
£0.59 An iPhone phenomenon, Angry Birds is a must-have game
A
lmost overnight, Angry Birds
became an App Store hit and
has been topping the popularity
chart in the games section for months.
It’s now become so popular the
developers are even thinking of
releasing a movie and a series of toys!
What makes the game so enjoyable is
its mix of its beloved little characters
and easy to grasp touch controls.
The game has a rather bizarre story
5
involving the Angry Birds getting their
revenge on the green pigs who keep
stealing their eggs. You get to use the
unique powers of each individual bird
to help attack the pigs, capture the
eggs and free any kidnapped friends.
You start off each level by flinging
birds at the pigs in their battlements,
but you’re limited to just a few birds
with different powers for each level.
With over 195 levels, Angry Birds should KEY INFO TWEET TWEET Fling your Angry Birds
As far as App Store games cost five times as much, as it is there’s UK price £0.59 Download size 17.7MB at the pigs’hideouts to rescue birds
and eggs and complete missions
go, Angry Birds is an no reason not to buy this one – go on, US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
essential purchase join the Angry Birds craze. ● Web www.clickgamer.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
BALLOON ESCAPE GUITAR HERO CLONE
Up There Tap Tap Revenge

£0.59 The charming life of a red balloon £1.19 Simple, pretty and diverting; awesome!
U I
p There begins with a f you know the likes of Guitar
helium balloon trapped Hero or Dance Dance
in a house. When the Revolution then this game
balloon is released, tilt your will feel very familiar. It’s
iPhone or iPod touch left and nowhere near as sophisticated,
right in order to move the but it’s fun nevertheless.
balloon up through gaps in The idea is that you tap
shelves. Succeed in this along to the beat of a song,
endeavour and the next set of tapping the correct point in the
obstacles is a series of rafters in screen where the bubbles,
the roof. Break out through the dropping down the three
top of the house and the beautifully coloured strings, hit
branches of trees form the next the bottom of the screen. It
set of things in the way. And so starts off fairly easy but you’ll
it goes on, ever upwards. The be really hard pushed to
longer you can ascend for succeed at the more difficult
without getting trapped, the guitar riffs. There are four
more points you accumulate. different difficulty levels, and
Better your score each time the two-player mode is great
and check it against other fun. Uses its own tunes, not
players online. ● your library. ●
FLOAT AWAY KEY INFO TAP IT KEY INFO
Up, up and UK price £0.59 Think your UK price £1.19
away… reactions are
Proves that US price $0.99 fast? You’ll be US price $1.99
simplicity can Web www.veiledgames.com tested with Web www.tapulous.com
be the key to Download size 7.6MB Tap Tap Download size 8.8MB
a good game iPod touch compatible Yes On paper this is barely a game Revenge iPod touch compatible Yes Fast-paced interactive guitar fun
Requires iOS 2.2 or later at all, but it’s so addictive! Requires iOS 2.0 or later at the tap of your iPhone screen

PLAY Logic & Dexterity
BUBBLE BURSTER
Pang
£0.59 I’m forever blowing (up) bubbles
T
his is an almost pixel-perfect
conversion of the arcade and
home computer classic Pang. The
idea is to pop bubbles with a vertically
firing grappling hook. When a large
bubble pops, two smaller ones appear
and so on until the screen gets
terrifyingly busy with different sized
bubbles going everywhere. Clear the
bubbles and you move on to the next
of the game’s 50 levels.
3
There are different numbers of
bubbles, platforms, and power-ups, all
of which keeps things interesting. If you
don’t like frustration, it’s probably best
avoided though, you’ll be tearing your
hair out soon enough with bubbles
bouncing around all over your iPhone’s
screen! Otherwise, it’s an addictive and
challenging game that relives the
classic game from 1989. Being touch-
BUBBLING UP If you like to burst KEY INFO based though, it’s actually more
a bubble or two, the classic Pang UK price £0.59 Download size 7.5MB intuitive than the original joystick- It looks cute but this is
game is just your thing
US price £0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes based game. Expect more games like a proper old-school
Web www.soft-go.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later this to head to the App Store. ● challenge. Terrific!
CUBE CONUNDRUM
Q*Bert Deluxe
£1.19 A blend of blocks, bouncing and baddies
F
or the benefit of the under 40s,
Q*Bert was a classic arcade coin-
op. The premise is simple. The
player has to make Q*Bert jump around
a simple structure made of cubes. Each
time he touches a cube it changes
colour. When all the cubes have been
changed it’s onto the next level. The
problem is that there are many enemies
who are also bouncing around the
3
cubes and if Q*Bert gets touched, it’s
curtains for the little fella!
If Q*Bert gets into a tight spot he can
attempt to leap onto a floating disk that
will whisk him away to safety. He’s
never safe for long though, as the
further he gets, the more times he has
to change the blocks’ colours. This
release features the original version, a
sexier updated mode with multiplayer
and Co-op modes and a series of
CUBOID The cubic world KEY INFO colourful jungle levels. It’s a bit If you like retro gaming
of Q*Bert is both fun UK price £1.19 Download size 7.7MB repetitive, but essential for retro fans and aren’t afraid of tough
and frustrating
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes who will love to be reminded that repetitive challenges, you’ll
Web www.sonypictures.com Requires iOS 2.2 or later Q*Bert still exists. ● love this app

Logic & Dexterity PLAY
BALL & MAZE
Mad ’o’ Ball 3D

£1.19 Ball plus maze plus accelerometer equals fun
P
retty much any game that
features a ball and a maze –
and that uses the iPhone’s
accelerometer – is going to be
worth the asking price.
Mad ’o’ Ball 3D, while not as slick
or interesting as the more expensive
Monkey Ball or Labyrinth, nevertheless
frustrates and fascinates from start to
finish. The idea is simply to roll the ball
from the start to the finish of 32 floating
mazes. Hazards come in the form of
4
rotating platforms, steep inclines, jumps
and the like. You can play each track
with different racing styles to make it
even more challenging and this also
extends its game time.
The topography of the mazes is not
always clear, which can lead to some
frustration, but it’s compelling enough
to keep you plugging away to the bitter
end, then go at it again to improve your KEY INFO FRUSTRATING FUN Mad ’o’Ball
times. If you’ve got an iPhone 4, an UK price £1.19 Download size 49.8MB provides yet another reason for you
to be addicted to your iPhone
Not all that slick, but Mad updated Retina Display version is US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
‘o’ Ball is oodles of fun coming soon as a free update. ● Web www.madoball3d.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
RAGDOLL PUZZLE
Ragdoll Cannon!
£0.59p Love Angry Birds? It’s your lucky day
T
his game employs physics
not unlike those found in the
incredibly popular Angry Birds. In
Ragdoll Cannon, the player (predictably)
fires ragdolls from a cannon in order to
reach a target marked ‘HERE’. Pretty
straightforward, but for the fact that
blocks, dangling chains, balls and all
sorts of other obstacles are introduced
forcing you to really think about how to
use the realistic physics of the ragdolls
5
to get to the target. As they are
ragdolls, their limbs are very floppy
and cumbersome, adding an extra
challenge to how you propel them
around the screen. You’ll also need to
master chain reaction when hitting
objects to achieve goals in the more
difficult levels. There’s 220 levels, a
one-touch control scheme and iOS 4
multitasking support. Also, there’s Roly
Poly Cannon on the App Store which is KEY INFO RAG TIME Fling ragdolls at speed
A ludicrous amount of more complex, featuring timebombs UK price £0.59 Download size 16.1MB to clear a path to the goal. There’s
endless fun to be had
bizarre puzzling for and targets that you must both hit and US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
almost no money avoid; oddly, it’s slightly less fun. ● Web www.fdg-entertainment.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

GEM MATCHING
Bejeweled 2
£0.59 The classic comes to the iPhone
A
hhh, Bejeweled. Forget that you can trigger later, and
the laggy, clunky web- a line of five gives a gem that
based versions that first can wipe out all others of the
debuted on the iPhone, running same colour in a spectacular
in Safari, and hinting at its chain reaction or ‘cascade’ of
gaming potential – this is the destruction. You can also play
proper native app. And if you’ve against the clock for an added-
never played Bejeweled before – pressure challenge.
first, obviously, welcome back to Also included in the app
Earth; what’s Mars like, anyway? on the App Store these days is
5
– you’re in for a real treat. Bejeweled Blitz – which enables
The basic concept is almost you to play against your
facile: it’s a gem-matching game, Facebook friends. Bejeweled
so you swap different coloured Blitz has over 10 million players
gems around to makes line of on Facebook, so if you’re into
three, four or five same-coloured competing for global high
gems. It’s the perfect way to scores, Blitz is just the thing for
spend a few mindless minutes in you. In Blitz mode you can earn
a doctor’s waiting room or at a coins and buy boosts to allow
bus stop, and there’s enough you to reach even higher scores
IPHONE GEMS Match gem shapes and win big with Bejeweled 2
variety and strategy involved to than ever before. If you like you
KEY INFO keep you interested. Lines of can even use the coins and Fantastic. The perfect ‘pick
UK price £0.59 Download size 10.8MB three gems pop into oblivion boosts you get on the iPhone up and put down’ game for
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes immediately, lines of four give version back on the Facebook the doctor’s waiting room.
Web www.popcap.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later you a special exploding gem application instead. ● It’s good-looking, too
BEJEWELED ALTERNATIVE
Critter Crunch
£1.19 Use your tongue to grab gems
E
ssentially another gem- chain of similarly-coloured
matching game, but with friends, who’ll all pop at the
a twist. You control the same time and give you extra
monster at the bottom and use points. There are also ‘Food
your sticky tongue to feed Chain’ combos. If you feed a
smaller monsters to bigger small critter to a medium-sized
monsters. When they’re full, they critter who’s under a big one,
pop, releasing point-giving the big one will then chomp
gems or power-ups. It’s too him straight up and pop,
sluggish to load for our liking, dropping a coin to boost
but it’s adorably Japanese and your combo further.
5
some clever thought has been As you work your way
put into the gameplay. through, you’ll start to
Critter Crunch is still one of encounter power-ups, or ‘Power
our favourite puzzle games for Foods’ as they’re known here.
the iPhone platform simply Pop a sparkling critter, and you
because the gameplay is so get a power food, which turns
varied and addictive, and into an icon at the bottom left.
because it’s just gorgeous to When tapped, you get a special
look at – and the sound effects ability for a limited number of
are great, too. uses, such as being able to spit
C ATCH ’EM ALL If you’re a fan of Bejeweled you’ll love Critter Crunch
Essentially, in Critter Crunch watermelon seeds to pop
KEY INFO you work against a time limit as critters and clear some space. Although it’s sluggish
UK price £0.59 Download size 9.4MB the critters advance down the There’s more to discover too, to load, it’s one of our
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes screen. You score extra points by with new elements constantly favourite iPhone games.
Web crittercrunch.com Requires iOS 2.1 or later popping a critter that’s part of a added to the game. ● Totally addictive

TOUCH SKILLS
Orbital
£1.79 A three-in-a-row game with a twist
T
his game is kind on the eye but
hard on the brain. There’s a
cannon at the bottom of the
screen and when you tap the screen
it fires and deposits a ball (the size of
which depends on how much space it
has). To destroy each ball takes three
more collisions. So it’s a balancing act of
creating and destroying balls, without
shots rebounding back into your firing
area. It’s the splitting of each element
down into three parts that makes
5
Orbital particularly challenging. Once
you get the hang of it however, you’ll
soon be smashing your way through
the game’s levels. It’s a real mix of
strategy and reflexes that will keep
you entertained for weeks on end!
Make sure you practise though as
the online players’ scores are always,
always better than yours! In the latest
version there’s graphics updates and KEY INFO TAP IT! Orbital offers the simple
even direct support for Facebook, so UK price £1.79 Download size 7MB yet addictive gameplay that will
lose you for hours
This game is as frustrating you can show off your high scores US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
as it is addictive with friends online. ● Web www.orbital-game.com Requires iOS 2.2 or later
ON THE WONK Unlocking ENEMY TRAP

new and more powerful
Spirit
weapons are one good
reason to keep playing
£0.59 Suck enemies into another dimension
L
ike Vector Tanks, this is
another great vector-
based game, which serves
to reinforce our theory that any
game with old-school vector
graphics is automatically a
TILT SHOOTER winner on the iPhone.
Tilt to Live
Spirit sees the player
dragging a little vector ghost
around the screen, creating
loops around enemies in order
£1.79 Another reason to love indie coders to trap them in a destructive
bubble. Enemies have varying
T
ilt to Live is a near-perfect KEY INFO shapes and movement
example of a simple idea, UK price £1.79 characteristics, making trapping
executed beautifully. You move US price $2.99 them increasingly difficult as
your ship around the play area by tilting Web www.onemanleft.com wave after wave of neon
the iPhone (the controls here are Download size 13.2MB assailants litter the screen.
phenomenally accurate and responsive) iPod touch compatible Yes It’s clever, cool, and your little
in order to avoid red dots (enemies) Requires iOS 3.0 or later ghost even adds a bit of
and pick up weapons in order to cuteness to the mix. ●
destroy those enemies. The further you KEY INFO SPACE
progress in the game, the more insane UK price £0.59 INVADERS
Create loops
the action becomes, and there are US price $0.99 around your
some entertaining achievements to be Web spiritapp.com enemies to
had. If that’s not a turn-off, Tilt to Live Perfect use of the Download size 13.7MB wipe them off
should be right near the top of your accelerometer. This is a Superbly implemented. Another iPod touch compatible Yes your screen
shopping list. It’s a blinder. ● near-perfect little shooter indie gem for your iPhone Requires iOS 3.0 or later

BALL & MAZE
Squareball
£1.19 Mixing primary colours with frustration
S
ometimes the crudest games turn
out to be the most compelling and
so it proves with Squareball, a
game inspired by Pong, Breakout and
your generic basic platformer.
All you have to do is guide a ball
around a maze, collecting good stuff
and avoiding bad stuff. Look for the
green blocks to clear each stage and
you’ll be fine. You’ll spend as much time
swearing at it as smiling upon it, but it’s
5
stupendously addictive.
Squareball sits halfway between
genius and madness with its garish
colour scheme and frustrating level
designs. To go with the retro graphics
are retro sound effects and being 60fps
it’s a like a flashy disco on your iPhone!
The game has 20 stages spread across
five fantastic worlds and there’s very
different obstacles found in each maze.
SQUARED OFF It may look shocking KEY INFO To celebrate the game’s first anniversary
in terms of visuals, but you just can’t UK price £0.59 Download size 12.6MB the developers have issued a free A throwback from the late
help but play Squareball
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes update that contains an ‘endless’ mode 1980s. Vile colours, but
Web www.dromsynt.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later which extends the game’s levels. ● brilliant all the same!
DELIVERY PUZZLE
The Package
£1.19 A game that proves parcel delivery is a lot more complex than we initially thought
I
n each level of The Package,
a carboard box has to be transported
from the entry point to the exit by
means of positioning a number of
handy gadgets such as fans, conveyor
belts, springy boxing gloves and
explosive charges.
As play advances, the rooms become
more hazardous, featuring more
elaborate routes from start to finish,
nooks and crannies in which to get
trapped, and even crushing machines
5
and furnaces that destroy the package.
There are 20 levels in total, which
doesn’t seem that many. However, The
Package chooses not to guide you
through lots of introductory challenges
and instead starts off tricky, and rapidly
becomes incredibly difficult with little
help available if you’re struggling. It’s
a long process of trial and error, but
THE TRANSPORTER Deliver the KEY INFO satisfying when you find a solution.
parcels to their correct destination UK price £1.19 Download size 35.3MB Part Incredible Machine, part
without making any errors
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Lemmings, part Royal Mail sorting A superb puzzle package,
Web www.rockpocketgames.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later office, it’s a great puzzler. ● but it’s a tough one

CUBE CONUNDRUM
Balcassa
£0.59 Rubik’s Cube meets sliding tile puzzle
T
here’s proof here that you In some games it may be
should never judge a book enough to get each cube into
by its cover. Balcassa’s position with the correct side
creators, for some inexplicable showing, while in other games
reason, have decided to hide rotation of the cubes must also
their rather smart and be considered. The idea is
ridiculously challenging puzzle simple, the solution of course
game behind a truly dreadful is far from it!
front end. There’s only a handful of
The game is essentially a puzzles available, but like a
3
fusion of sliding tile puzzle and Rubik’s Cube, it’s not the variety
a Rubik’s Cube. By rolling but the complexity that’s
individual cubes around a grid, important to the game, it’s the
you have to achieve various skill involved.
aims, perhaps getting all the It’s just a shame there’s no
upper faces of the cubes linear progression through the
showing the same colour, or levels, no ‘journey’ through the
assembling the faces of a bunch game. As it stands, Balcassa is a
of dice in numerical order. The diverting toy rather than a fully-
COLOUR MATCH It looks simple, but Balcassa is far from a walk in the park
object of each of the games is fledged game. Worth the money,
to rotate a number of cubes but a bit workmanlike. Might be KEY INFO
There’s a great idea here, into a sequence, a pattern or worth a look if you loved other UK price £0.59 Download size 1.17MB
it’s just not been turned orientation by moving them popular iPhone cube rotation US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
into a proper game around the screen. games such as Cubes. ● Web www.openplanetsoftware.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
PHYSICS STRATEGY SCULPTURE WRAP
Enigmo Zen
£0.59 Have fun while learning physics Bound
C
atch a falling droplet and
put it in a canister. Hmm… £1.79 More like the Turner prize than a game
that doesn’t sound quite
T
right. But hey, this isn’t a game he iPhone is rapidly evolving
for oldies – it’s fun for kids and into a compelling gaming
also a useful physics lesson. platform, but every now and
Use bumpers, sliders, then a genre-defying app comes
sponges and accelerators to along that isn’t quite a game in the
move water, oil and lava from traditional sense. Zen Bound is a
a dripping vessel to another perfect example, but it’s fair to say
container. Earn points as you that it’s utterly pointless.
go and extra bonuses for However, that misses the point.
completing the level quickly. The basic idea is that you rotate a
It takes some concentration wooden animal sculpture to wrap
(and patience), but is worth the rope around it, coating it with paint
effort. If you love a challenge, as you do so. There’s no timer, and,
there are 50 levels for you to though you can’t rotate the view
wring every last drop of fun out itself, the act of spinning the
of. Mastering the liquids is really sculpture with one or two fingers is
fun and makes brilliant use of calming. It looks beautiful and the
the accelerometer. ● soundtrack is stunning. Try it! ●
PHYSICS KEY INFO KEY INFO ART ATTACK
LESSON UK price £0.59 UK price £1.79 Not so much
Lava and a game, but
water have US price $0.99 US price $2.99 Zen Bound is
very different Web www.pangeasoft.net Web www.chillingo.com a captivating
properties, as Download size 5.5MB Download size 53.5MB artistic
you’ll soon iPod touch compatible Yes It’s fun and you can learn some It may be pointless, but painting iPod touch compatible Yes experience
discover! Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later elementary physics while you play sculptures is very satisfying Requires iOS 3.1 or later

COG PUZZLE
Geared
£0.59 It’s a form of cog-nitive therapy
T
here are some puzzle saved automatically and there’s
games that lay their stall a skip feature so you can try any
out early. Tetris is a good level rather than having to wait
example. There are falling to unlock the harder ones. This
shapes and you fit them is particularly handy if you get
together… that’s all you have really stuck too, as you can crack
to do. Then there are the overly on with the other puzzles and
complex ones, introducing more revisit the one that’s causing you
and more elements until your problems later on.
head hurts and you wonder If you get really stuck or make
what you were thinking about a mistake don’t panic, there’s
4
in exchanging cash for mental always the Reset button on each
forms of torture. level to take you back to the
Geared is a weird one. It starts start of the puzzle, and there’s
off so simple that it’s almost even a community section on
mundane, and continues to the game to discuss solutios
plough its initially tedious with other iPhone users.
furrow for roughly 20 levels. Geared is the sort of game
Only then does the play you’ll buy, be mildly
mechanic – that of placing cogs disappointed with for five
on a grid in order to link the minutes, then go on to play
COMPONENT PARTS Use your brain to align the cogs correctly to complete levels
initial gear to the end one – find constantly until you’ve
KEY INFO its feet and provide challenging, completed it – at which point
UK price £0.59 Download size 2.9MB engrossing puzzling for the you’ll be sorely disappointed it’s A limited premise, but one
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes remainder of its 150 levels. all over. The 150 levels is worth that opens up to create a
Web www.bryandev.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later Progress through the game is every penny of its price. ● satisfying challenge
COG PUZZLE
Cogs
£0.59 App Store gaming paid in instalments
C
ogs is like a sliding tile puzzle, but
instead of completing a picture,
you’re arranging cogs in order to
bring a clanking Victorian contraption
to life. An additional challenge comes
from having to work out arrangements
over several sides of a 3D object.
There’s two different modes: Inventor
and Challenge Mode. In Inventor Mode
you start with simple puzzles and have
4
to use the tools you’re given, whereas
Challenge Mode (unlocked by
completing Inventor Mode), you have
to tackle the same puzzle again with
limited time of just 30 seconds.
Unfortunately, you only get a few
levels at first and have to pay for
additional level packs. It’s not a deal
breaker, but we’d have preferred to buy
the whole game up front to avoid the
faff. Even so, this is a beautifully
TILE FUN Build increasingly complex KEY INFO designed puzzler made all the more fun
contraptions within attractive 2D UK price £0.59 Download size 27.1MB thanks to its steampunk presentation. Superb steampunk puzzling
and 3D environments
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Extend the game by competing on the using a tiled 3D
Web www.chillingo.com Requires iOS 3.o or later online leaderboards. ● environment

ARCADE CLASSIC
Super Monkey Ball 2

£3.49 The monkey in a bubble returns
T
his was the game that got
everybody talking about the
iPhone as a gaming platform, due
to the nifty use of the accelerometer as
a control device. In this SEGA
Megadrive classic you tilt your iPhone
to guide a little monkey in a glass ball
through a series of floating 3D
platforms, trying to avoid a fall from the
edge. Unfortunately, it had a very
5
sensitive control system, which meant it
was fiendishly difficult to play and spoilt
the experience for too many people.
The new version of Super Monkey
Ball is essentially more of the same style
of gameplay but features improved
graphics, more options, more levels,
more characters, and it’s not as difficult
as the original, which makes it more fun
for the casual user. So long as you don’t
try to collect every single banana on
each level (get 10 and you gain an extra KEY INFO BALL GAME Every banana counts –
Superb. This is just what life) mere mortals do now actually have UK price £3.49 Download size 93.1MB that’s the overriding message of
Super Monkey Ball 2
the original game should a chance of completing most levels. US price $5.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
have been like Thank goodness for that! ● Web www.sega.co.uk Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
TILT BOARD
Labyrinth 2
£2.99 An a-maze-ingly good game…
W
e suspect the original
Labyrinth – in which you tilted
the iPhone to send a steel ball
from the start to the finish of a wooden
maze wouldn’t provide enough
entertainment for gamers in the long
run, but actually it’s one of the most
popular games on the App Store
because it’s so much fun.
If you loved the original free
5
Labyrinth game then you’ll love the
sequel. There’s plenty to make the task
harder including buffers, cannons,
moving walls and magnets. It’s not just
about the tilting anymore! It offers so
much variety that there’s something for
everyone and there’s enough levels to
justify the price. It’s exactly the sort of
game the iPhone was made for. The
current version (1.3.1) has been
updated for the new Apple Game
Center (including 36 achievements to KEY INFO TILT AND SHIFT Simple, addictive
obtain), with global leaderboards and UK price £2.99 Download size 12.6MB and loads of fun. Labyrinth 2 is a
hit as far as we’re concerned
This is a fantastic expansion it now supports the Retina display of US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
of the original game the iPhone 4 for extra clarity. ● Web www.labyrinth2.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

PLAY Mystery & Adventure
01 02 04
Luscious graphics and cheery

01
soundscapes mark this out as
a premium app, and it’s cheap!
It has a fantastic calibration

02
routine that sets the neutral
rest point and the tilt sensitivity
The tutorial level tells you

03
everything you need to know;
03 just as well, as there’s lots to take in!
There are four districts to work

04
through; they’re locked until
you complete earlier levels
KEY INFO
UK price £0.59
US price $0.99
Web www.thqwireless.com
Download size 8.8MB
TOPDOWN PLATFORM
De Blob
£0.59 Another oldie that’s a goodie for the iPhone
T
his is still exemplary iPhone and size before they’ll take the paint –
gaming even though it was one and there are inky baddies that cause
of the original iPhone games. At you to leach colour away from buildings
5
its simplest, you just roll a little spherical instead of adding it. You can squash
monster around a townscape, them by tapping on them when you’re
controlling its movements by tilting the nearby and the target icon appears
phone and using its accelerometer. on-screen, or, if you get inked, find a
You bump into little pots of paint pond to wash yourself off in. There are
that change your colour, and you can four different zones, 16 levels and three
then roll into buildings to paint them different modes of play for you to work
the same colour as you. Thereby you your way through, bringing colour back
bring a splash of colour to the drab to the once-lavish city of Chroma.
grey world, which is menaced by the It’s the implementation and sheer
evil INKT Corporation. scale of the work that’s gone into
Looks great and offers There’s lots of variety to keep you crafting this long-lasting title that is
plenty of scope for more engaged, though. Colours can be mixed really impressive, however. For the price
committed gamers. The tilt – a good thing since some buildings of a chocolate bar, this is phenomenal ON THE LEVEL You can choose not to use the tilting control
control option is welcome require you to be a particular colour value indeed. ● system, which is a welcome option when you’re travelling

Mystery & Adventure PLAY
PLATFORM HEDGEHOG
Sonic The Hedgehog

£3.49 Sonic speeds forward onto the iPhone
T
he spiky speedster has finally
arrived on the iPhone, enabling
you to relive the gaming
memories of the 90s. Battle Dr Eggman
and collect golden rings in this
note-perfect recreation of the original
Mega Drive cartridge; it will delight
any SEGA fan or younger gamer
exploring the origins of today’s
platform gaming.
The controls on the iPhone are
5
responsive and visually it’s a real treat.
The fast-paced gameplay also remains
as enjoyable as ever, as you careen
through the levels in search of the evil
Dr Eggman. The only downside is the
lack of a save facility. If you lose your
lives you have to go back to the
beginning. It’s harsh, but to be fair,
that’s true retro-gaming for you.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is also
available for £3.49, and the latest KEY INFO GOLD HUNTER Race around the
The pixel-perfect iPhone release is Sonic The Hedgehog 4. UK price £3.49 Download size 4.0MB obstacle courses, collecting gold
rings and avoid evil Dr Eggman
debut of everyone’s Costing £5.99, this also include two US price $5.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
favourite hedgehog exclusive iPhone levels. ● Web www.sega.co.uk Requires iOS 3.0 or later
TOUCH ACTION/PUZZLER
iBlast Moki
£1.19 Getting blown up for good…
W
ith its polished interface and
pretty graphics, this physics-
based iPhone game is very
much in the visual style of Sony PSP’s
Loco Roco – but the premise is
somewhat different. Here you’re in the
world of the Moki – small cute creatures
– and the idea is to move the Moki
around by blowing up any obstacles
that are blocking their way. It’s all about
a combination of positioning and
timing to best effect.
5
So you might, for example, set a
bomb to start the Moki rolling, set
another to blast it over a chasm, and
then set another to make it leap an
obstacle. All these bombs have to have
their timers set accurately to pull off the
stunt successfully.
There are 85 levels in seven different
worlds, each with its own gameplay,
and there’s also a level-editor so you KEY INFO LIBERATE THE MOKI! Use
can create your own. You can play UK price £1.79 Download size 11.6MB well timed explosives to
forge their path to freedom
An inventive puzzler with against friends, too. It’s clever, and it US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
an explosive play mechanic should definitely be on your iPhone. ● Web www.godzilab-games.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later

ROLLING INVASION
Rolando
£1.79 A stroke of genius for the accelerometer
T
he aim here is to save
Rolandoland from peril by rolling
its inhabitants (Rolandos) through
various hazards. Rescue a certain
number of Rolandos on each level and
you progress to the next challenge.
The key is its physics engine. The
Rolandos roll about the landscape with
the tilt of the iPhone. Basic Rolandos go
left and right and need a swipe of the
5
screen in order to leap over obstacles,
while Spikey Rolandos can roll across
ceilings and vertical surfaces. You have
to reach and activate switches that
open doors, release bombs and shove
blocks into pits to create bridges.
Progression through the 36 levels
requires concentration, thanks to the
complexity of the maps and levels.
While Rolando seems casual, it is also
a triumph of good, old-fashioned,
QUICK WITS Quick fingers will KEY INFO game design that will transport you to A visually beautiful and
rescue you from any hazards UK price £1.79 Download size 27.4MB addiction without you realising that well designed game.
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes it’s sucked you in and made you a Cheap, cheerful, and
Web rolando.ngmoco.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later master of its internal prescript. ● wonderfully playable
OPPOSING DIGIT PLAY
Sway
£2.99 A dose of old-fashioned hangin’ around
T
his appears to be a true original.
That’s not to say it’s a work of
genius – it’s pretty short-lived and
the control system can be frustrating –
but it’s a game unlike any other. Its
ingenious design is a product of the
iPhone touchscreen’s unique
characteristics.
It’s like a platform game, but rather
than standing on the platforms, your
character hangs from them and moves
4
away by swaying. Gently moving your
right and left thumbs controls the
swing and grip of your character’s
respective arms as he traverses the
scenery collecting stuff, ultimately
getting to the exit. Your score is
calculated by how quickly you
complete each level. It’s tough,
rewarding, sweet and annoying…
A Lite version is also available for free
STARRY-EYED As well as moving KEY INFO if you want to try out the game first.
to the exit quickly, you also collect UK price £2.99 Download size 9.4MB Once you’re hooked, you'll need to pay A frustrating but rewarding
stars as you swing past them
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes to unlock the full game if you want all game. And you won’t have
Web www.illusionlabs.com Requires iOS 2.0 or later 25 levels and 10 characters. ● played its like before

END IN SIGHT The last ADDICTED TO TIDYING?

couple of levels are No, neither are we, but
frustratingly much harder you could be after a blast
than previous ones of I Love Katamari
EVOLUTION CHALLENGE PICKEMUP
Spore Origins I Love Katamari

£1.19 Tinker with evolution on the fly £2.99 Like a Dyson – suck to succeed
S T
pore Origins isn’t as ambitious as KEY INFO he iPhone is introducing casual KEY INFO
the Mac version; you don’t evolve UK price £1.19 gamers to all sorts of weird UK price £2.99
your little creature onto land, and US price $1.99 Japanese titles that were US price $4.99
there’s no web connection to share Web www.eamobile.com previously the preserve of hardcore Web www.namcogames.com
creations in populating new worlds. It’s Download size 70.5MB game fans only. Download size 84.2MB
more suited to casual gaming. iPod touch compatible Yes Here the protagonist, a prince, iPod touch compatible Yes
There are 30 levels in the main Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later collects junk by rolling a sticky ball and Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
Evolution mode, and as you progress picking up stuff. Starting small, you
you can add defensive, offensive, collect pegs and dominoes, before
navigation and sensation upgrades to moving onto bottles and cartons, then
your little creature. The game is packed small pets, furniture and buildings.
with charm, and it looks great, but it’s The game is basically a collect-em-
not perfect. The calibration routine is A beautiful, fun game, but it up, but the surreal premise and An odd game, but the
handy, but it’s difficult to get it right, lacks depth, and we’d like some accurate physics make rolling this ball originality and inventiveness
and the gameplay can be repetitive. ● clearer instructions challenging and compelling. ● is beyond question
INTERGALACTIC EXPLORATION
SolarQuest
£1.79 Strap yourself in for a rough landing
C
ould you pilot a spacecraft
through 3D celestial challenges
across three levels of difficulty,
reliving Star Trek-esque intergalactic
antics? You’ll need agility because
SolarQuest’s controls are crude, with
just an afterburner for thrust and a lift
jet to keep you aloft.
As you crash headlong through
space, you can collect three types of
power-up boosts to assist you on your
3
way. Your spaceship has shields to
protect you and there are three lives.
Trying to steer by wiggling your iPhone
isn’t easy and there’s horrid thrash
music to accompany your efforts, while
the iPhone’s vibrator also kicks in from
time to time when you hit something.
There are a few bugs in this app
because operation is neither smooth
nor fluid. But you’re talking about
pocket-money price, so if you like the KEY INFO DODGE BALL Steer your way
It’s clumsy, crude and jerky. cut and thrust of competing on an UK price £1.79 Download size 2.0MB around the universe and avoid
hitting obstacles in this
But if you like clunky space online leaderboard, this could be the US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes intergalactic adventure
games, it’s perfect way to idle away a few hours. ● Web www.neonsurge.com Requires iOS 2.1 or later

01 02
03
If you want to be a pirate, the

02 01
dock is a good place to start
LeChuck is scary, but not as

02
spooky as the Ghost Pirate
himself, coming to haunt you
Hmm, what is this island

03
called, we wonder? Backdrops
hold many clues
Your enemy, the evil LeChuck

04
owns a spooky ghost ship
KEY INFO
UK price £4.99
US price $7.99
Web www.lucasarts.com
Download size 355MB
PIRATE POINTANDCLICK
The Secret of Monkey

Island Special Edition
£4.99 The best pirate adventure ever is back
5 L
ucasArts set the bar for point-and- system. Rather than having to tap a improved graphics, a new voiceover by
click adventures when The Secret desired area or object, you have to the original Monkey Island cast, and an
of Monkey Island was released grab and drag an onscreen pointer. enhanced soundtrack with live
almost two decades ago. In terms of This is fine for the most part, but when instruments – while retaining all the
storyline and comedy scripting it you’re trying to get Guybrush to head character of the original.
remains the best adventure of its type. off the side of the screen, it can In fact, the original version of the
The release of this Special Edition for sometimes be a little difficult to get the game is included and you can, rather
the iPhone gives you a fresh chance to pointer pointing in the right direction. brilliantly, toggle between the old
see wannabe pirate Guybrush Irritating it may be, but to deduct Classic mode and the new Special
Threepwood trying to earn his stripes. points for the slightly awkward iPhone Edition mode during gameplay, simply
A superb revamp of a He must carry out three tests to take on controls would be petty. by swiping the screen.
legendary adventure. evil Ghost Pirate LeChuck. No, Monkey Island SE is special Monkey Island SE is adventuring at
An essential in every true The Special Edition is very special because it not only faithfully recreates its most amusing and entertaining, and
gamer’s library indeed. But not because of the control the original game, but also adds as such shouldn’t be missed. ●

SCIFI POINTANDCLICK
Beneath a Steel Sky

£1.79 A post-apocalyptic tale with a sense of humour
T
his sci-fi point-and-click adventure
follows the character of Robert,
who was adopted and raised in
the Australian outback. Years later
Robert is kidnapped by security soldiers
sent from Union City but manages to
escape, and this is where his new
adventure begins. The backstory is
introduced through a comic book,
drawn by famous artist Dave Gibbons.
It’s familiar fare, with Rob working
with his sidekick, an intelligent talking
4
robot called Joey that he’s built himself.
Together they travel around and solve
puzzles by talking to people, pressing
buttons, collecting and using objects
and so on; in its day it was pretty
sophisticated stuff, and even now
still proves to be enjoyable.
The voice acting, it must be said, is
poor. The clunky delivery is irritating
and Joey is plain annoying. This, KEY INFO BRIGHT SPARK Rob’s party
however, is not a deal breaker and this UK price £1.79 Download size 134MB trick was going well until
the ventriloquist’s dummy
Even annoying voice acting adventure should appeal to a broad US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes spontaneously self-combusted
can’t spoil this cool classic spectrum of players. ● Web www.revolution.co.uk Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later
MYSTERY POINTANDCLICK
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut

£2.99 An oddly familiar tale retold on iPhone
T
his retooling of a BAFTA-
nominated game that debuted
on PC in 1996 features visuals
by Dave Gibbons – the artist behind
Watchmen and Beneath a Steel Sky
(see above). There’s also a score by
Barrington Pheloung. In this
globetrotting adventure George teams
up with journalist Nico to investigate
the Knights Templar, after a murder in
Paris’ Palais Royale.
5
The new script includes humour
and pathos in equal measure. As such,
it feels like the result of ramming
Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders and
a variety of comic books into a blender
and ending up with an unlikely yet
thoroughly palatable adventure.
That’s what it ‘feels’ like. What it
plays like, however, is a precursor to
the Professor Layton games on the
Nintendo DS, but without the KEY INFO ZUT ALORS! A brutal murder
A superb update to the brain-bending puzzles. As a result, UK price £2.99 Download size 353MB in Paris is the start of this
enticing chain of events
classic with impressive it’s less taxing but every bit as US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
production values engrossing. Excellent stuff! ● Web www.revolution.co.uk Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later

EPISODIC MYSTERY
1112 – chapters 1&2

£2.99 (per chapter) Dream… fantasy… nightmare…
W
e missed the first chapter of
this mystery adventure, but
having caught up with it, we
recommend it. Told through high-res
hand-drawn animation, the story takes
place in a version of America with a
government that has banned booze,
cigarettes and seems intent on spoiling
everyone’s fun.
Not a lot happens initially – in fact
the protagonist just has to perform a
few chores. But a recurrent nightmare
4
and increasingly incongruous events
soon starts to unsettle him. It’s up to
you to solve the mystery, through
multitouch puzzles and multiple-
choice dialogue.
Our only gripe is that each chapter
is quite short, and at six chapters long
the whole game will cost £18. You don’t
have to buy the previous versions,
PUZZLING IT OUT While the KEY INFO however, as you can start at any point
maid’s making out you can UK price £2.99 Download size 138MB with a handy recap. And this is an
duck inside and steal her keys
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes ongoing drama that we can’t wait An unsettling and
Web www.1112game.com Requires iOS 2.1 or later to get to the bottom of. ● intriguing adventure
TIMELESS ROLEPLAY
Fighting
Fantasy
£1.79 Warlock of Firetop Mountain
W
hen Steve Jackson Even with its basic gameplay,
and Ian Livingstone Firetop Mountain enchants from
introduced the first the very first paragraph. ●
Fighting Fantasy gamebook
back in 1982, The Warlock of
Firetop Mountain captured the
hearts and imaginations of
3
geeks everywhere. The idea
of playing a Dungeons and
Dragons-style adventure on
your own, with the book acting
as the dungeon master, was an
instant winner.
28 years later, on the iPhone,
the basic adventure remains the
same but the dice rolling, stat
MODERN UPDATE The iPhone is well suited to classic pen-and-paper role-playing
calculations and inventory
KEY INFO systems have been automated.
UK price £1.79 Download size 26.2MB In addition, the original A timeless classic. And now,
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes monochrome illustrations are a little piece of role-playing
Web www.bigbluebubble.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later now full colour. history in your pocket

THIRDPERSON COMBAT
Assassin’s Creed II
£3.99 Consoles’ killer-sequel stalks iPhone
U
bisoft and Griptonite have done
a spectacular job in bringing
Assassin’s Creed II to iPhone. The
visually stunning console chapters were
never going to be squeezed in, of
course, but as Assassin’s Creed
Discovery, this side-scrolling
interpretation of the experience is a
credit to whoever was on the design
team. It’s an extra untold chapter from
the main game, where Ezio travels to
Spain to rescue his fellow assassins.
4
Once there, he’s caught up in another
Templar plot.
It looks a treat and the controls for
moving, jumping, rolling and fighting
are intelligently implemented. It’s only
the stealth sections that mar things a
bit by being just a little too unforgiving.
Otherwise, though, it’s a beauty with
excellent gameplay.
A multiplayer version is also available KEY INFO SIDESCROLLING Assassin’s Creed II
for £1.79, where you can compete in UK price £3.49 Download size 147MB gets the side-scroller treatment but
remains faithful to the original
Agility, combat and stealth real-time multiplayer games to become US price $5.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
all in one pleasing package the master assassin. ● Web www.assassinscreed.uk.ubi.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
RANDOM BATTLE RPG
Chaos Rings
£7.49 The first iPhone-only RPG from Square Enix
T
he makers of Final Fantasy, Square
Enix, have graced our iPhones
with this RPG. And save for a few
niggles and an inflated price tag it’s
a stunner, which will keep you
entertained for many hours.
The story involves characters being
transported to an unknown realm
where ‘The Agent’ informs them they
have to fight in order to attain
immortality. Weird! What follows is
4
monster encounters, exploration,
turn-based combat and levelling up.
There are four scenarios, as you
compete in a tournament in the Ark
Arena. With sensitive navigation there’s
superb gameplay and high-quality
graphics that befit the price tag.
There are puzzles to break up the
random battling. It has plenty of replay
value too; once you’ve finished, play the
complete storyline again with each of KEY INFO WORK TOGETHER In combat you
A great-looking and the other characters and experience UK price £7.49 Download size 274MB can either attack your opponents
individually, or as a team
thoroughly enjoyable alternate endings. There’s plenty of US price $12.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
iPhone exclusive game here… ● Web www.dlgames.square-enix.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

PLAY Simulation
01 02
03
Explore the Final Fantasy

04 01
world with your character
by roaming about the landscape
Use objects around the

02
landscape to aid your
adventure; here columns can be
used to hide from enemy attacks
Your choice of weaponary

03
appears at the bottom of the
app for easy switching in combat
Fight scenes are all in the side-

04
on view, which makes it easy
to see more of the action on screen
KEY INFO
UK price £5.49
US price $8.99
Web dlgames.square-enix.com
Requirements iOS 3.0 or later
ROLEPLAYING GAME
Final Fantasy
£5.49 The seed from which the mighty Final Fantasy franchise grew
L
ess experienced gamers who are great prophecy and who, according to characters and classes to help complete
familiar only with the epic 3D the ancient rules of role-playing games, levels and achievements. They will of
cinematic splendour of recent must save the world from a great course get helpful upgrades along the
Final Fantasy releases will find the threat. The action takes place via three way to help fight off increasingly
5
original game a bit flat and crude by easy-to-use interfaces. There’s a close- difficult enemies.
today’s standards. But at the time of its up map used for exploring villages, The game has a classic set-up, and is
release back in 1987, Final Fantasy was castles, dungeons and so on. The world one that’s extremely entertaining from
cutting-edge stuff and has since map provides an expanded view from start to finish. The single irksome aspect
developed a real cult following. It where the party can travel between is that, as in the original 1987 release,
wasn’t until the release of Final Fantasy locations and randomly get involved there’s way too much random battling
VII that the franchise achieved in battles. And when this happens, the required to level up between each
mainstream success and this first game action changes to the battle window, at quest. Despite this, it’s a really fun
was initially a Japan-only release, which point, individual party members adventure, and an important game
making the iPhone version particularly can be allocated tasks such as attack, for iPhone gamers.
pleasing to see. use magic, defend, run away or even Final Fantasy II has also made it’s way
A great excuse to discover Final Fantasy follows a party of four perform healing and curing spells. The to the iPhone for £5.49 ($8.99), which
the Final Fantasy adventurers known as the Warriors of battle moments are all in a side-on view extends your role-playing adventuring
phenomenon Light, all of whom seem to figure in a and players can choose a variety of for many more hours. ●

Simulation PLAY
WORLD STRATEGY
Civilization Revolution
£3.99 Build a huge civilisation in your pocket!
Y
ou might think that trying to
squeeze a game of such epic
scope as Civilization onto a tiny
device, such as the iPhone, would be a
fool’s errand. Well, this version boasts a
lot of depth.
Featuring 10 substantial scenarios
(and a random map generator), you
gather resources to build cities and
armies to gain influence and create
4
a thriving civilisation in your pocket.
You can choose from 16 different
civilizations from history, including
America and China and victory comes
in four flavours – you can capture all
enemy cities, collect 20,000 gold pieces,
launch a space mission or collect 20
World Wonders and Great People.
The gesture-based control system
is excellent, particularly the pinch to
zoom controls, but the only problems
Revolution is a great are the lack of a multiplayer mode and KEY INFO BUILD IT Despite being squashed
interpretation of the full- the small view of your surroundings. UK price £3.99 Download size 80.9MB on to a small screen, Civilization
Revolution boasts impressive detail
sized game, but the small Otherwise, this is a real winner and US price $6.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
screen causes a few issues you’ll want to spend hours on it. ● Web www.civilizationrevolution.com Requirements iOS 2.2 or later
FARMING FUN
Astro Ranch
FREE Experience some colourful alien agriculture
F
arming games such as Harvest
Moon and Animal Crossing aren’t
everyone’s bucket of swill; in fact
they’re normally dismissed as being
timewasters. But most gamers, if
pushed, will admit they find them a
guilty pleasure. Astro Ranch could easily
have been a cheap knock-off, but far
from it. This is a fully fledged and rather
excellent farming RPG in its own right.
5
After crash-landing on a Jetsons-style
planet, you must build up a plot of land
by growing crops and rearing livestock.
Along the way you’ll meet characters,
perform tasks, play minigames, collect
stuff and share experiences with others
online. Astro Ranch features a huge
variety of alien crops, animals to help
you build up your farm. The stunning
3D graphics are very colourful and it
really shows off what the iPhone and
Attractive design with iPod touch can do with their brilliant KEY INFO ANOTHER PLANET Life on the Astro
some of the best features screens. Overall, it’s a gentle, non- UK price Free Download size 61.3MB Ranch won’t set the world on fire,
unless the landscape catches alight!
of other simulation games; threatening and more-ish farm game US price Free iPod touch compatible Yes
truly engaging gameplay you can play with your friends. ● Web www.astroranch.com Requirements iOS 3.0 or later

PLAY Simulation
01 02
On a sightseeing tour to the

03 01
Great Wall of China, you get to
take in great views and learn stuff
If you want to learn a foreign

02
language, you’ll need to play
one of these simple minigames
Touch down in Egypt and

03
you can head off to see the
pyramids, the Sphinx, or even
explore some ruins
KEY INFO
UK price £1.79
US price $2.99
Web www.eamobile.com
Download size 98MB
Requirements iOS 2.2.1 or later
PEOPLE SIM
The Sims 3 World Adventures

£1.79 Nurture your pocket Sims and even prepare them for a great journey
U
nlike its desktop counterparts, sticking to your home turf initially and and in order to avoid air sickness, you
The Sims 3 World Adventures is doing some more traditional Simming. must take part in an exceptionally dull
not an expansion requiring the This of course involves getting a job, minigame. Succeed, however, and
original game, but a standalone title making friends, extending your house, your little person will arrive at the
4
in its own right. As such, we would washing, eating and using the toilet… destination thoroughly refreshed and
recommend new gamers to ignore which is all very mundane but casually ready to explore.
the first game as this is a much more entertaining nevertheless. In foreign locations there’s a wealth
rounded experience. Later, as tasks are offered to you of stuff to do. Here, as at home, you can
The idea here is that your Sim can (sleep in a friend’s bed, visit the Great make friends, go shopping and so on,
break the shackles of its household and Wall of China, kick over a dustbin and but you can also choose to learn a
local neighbourhood in order to seek so on) you can either opt to lock them foreign language or explore some old
fortune and fun in various locations in as firm goals or simply let them pass ruins; success in such endeavours being
around the world. The three exotic you by and get on with the chores. achieved by playing and winning a
locations on offer are China, Egypt Heading off to distant places is as simplistic minigame. Alternatively,
and France. The player has enough simple as leaving your house to access perhaps the tourist in you will opt for
An excellent casual Sims Simoleons (currency) to jet straight off the town map, then heading off to the visiting great landmarks such as the
experience with broader to foreign parts if they want, but the airport to buy a ticket. During the flight Pyramids or Eiffel Tower for a delightful
than usual horizons money soon runs out, so it’s worth your Sim will experience turbulence cut-scene and history lesson. ●

Simulation PLAY
BATTLE STRATEGY
UniWar
£0.59 Budget strategy gaming with premium fun
N
intendo’s Advance Wars franchise
is a joy, providing a rich strategic
challenge presented in an
accessible way. But seeing as Nintendo
will probably never bring its games to
the iPhone, UniWar is the next best
thing for war strategy fans.
Hexagonal tiles represent the
battlefield, with forests, mountains, and
other scenery providing both offensive
and defensive advantages. Units can
5
be employed to engage the enemy,
defend territory, capture bases and so
on. The game is a turn-based strategy
sim that enables players to take turns
building their army and fighting against
each other using the different arsenals
at their disposal. Move up the ranks to
become a top player in the online
UniWar universe and try to hold on
to your high scores.
UniWar is a really fun way to pass KEY INFO MAP ATTACK Fans of strategy battle
A wonderful strategy game time for a fraction of the cost of other UK price £0.59 Download size 8.7MB games with love the intuitive
interface of UniWar
– easy to play yet still war strategy games. Be warned though, US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
provides a challenge it’s highly addictive! ● Web www.uniwar.com Requirements iOS 2.2
FLIGHT SIMULATION
Flight Control
£0.59 Aircraft chaos without the turbulence
H
ave you ever wished you could
take control of dozens of aircraft
and their passengers? No.
Neither have we.
As it turns out, the stresses of being
an air traffic controller make for great
game fodder. Flight Control presents
the player with a top-down view of an
airport. The aircraft then appear so the
player can trace flight paths to guide
the planes to the landing points,
5
hopefully avoiding mid-air collisions.
The random paths and speeds of the
aircraft make it harder than you think,
and more addictive than you can
imagine. From small airliners to jumbo
jets and helicopters, you'll have hours
of fun trying to juggle all these aircraft
around the runways without them
crossing paths and colliding. There's a
variety of airports, from simple landing
strips to busy airports and even an KEY INFO FLIGHT PATH Test your airplane
The cool app that turns air aircraft carrier. The current version has UK price £0.59 Download size 13.4MB landing skills with the challenging
and fast-paced Flight Control
traffic control into the best also been updated for the new Game US price £0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
and most fun job ever Center for competing with friends. ● Web www.firemint.com Requirements iOS 2.0 or later

PLAY Racing & Action
CITY RACING
GTA: Chinatown Wars

£5.99 A life of crime has never been more affordable
C
hinatown Wars is a spin-off of
the smash-hit Grand Theft Auto
franchise, bringing its controversial
but action-packed car theft gameplay
to a string of mobile devices. Gameplay-
wise, there’s little to distinguish this
from the DS and PSP versions. It’s
basically the same game, but with
controls tweaked to suit the iPhone’s
touch-sensitive display. Although the
5
game features 3D visuals, it still uses
the top-down view of the original and
features cel-shaded graphics.
The camera occasionally gets a little
confused and the driving controls are a
little sensitive for our liking – but these
are minor irritants in what is otherwise
a substantial and superbly crafted
game. The illustrative elements, cut-
scenes, environments and missions are
every bit as involving as those in the
RACE AGAINST TIME Outmanoeuvre KEY INFO GTA releases you get on living-room A criminally good version
the cops and pick your automobile of UK price £5.99 Download size 232MB game consoles. Creator Rockstar Games of GTA for the iPhone,
choice from the law-abiding public
US price $9.99 iPod touch compatible Yes deserves huge respect for this especially once you get
Web www.rockstargames.com Requires iOS 3.1 or later spectacular release. ● used to the controls
STREET RACING
Car Jack Streets

£1.79 The game where crime does pay
T
o all intents and purposes, this
game is a hark back to the original
Grand Theft Auto. That’s no great
surprise considering that Paul Farley,
founder of Car Jack Streets developer
TAG Games, was part of the original
GTA team.
There are no fancy visuals in this title,
with the emphasis placed firmly on
gameplay. You view the city top-down
5
and scroll around to follow your deviant
character, Randall Meyers: his task is to
run around the city, nicking cars and
performing tasks in order to raise cash
and get in the good books of the local
crime boss.
The game runs in real time and you
have an actual week in which to rack up
each $50K payment you have to make.
Playing more often, therefore, increases
your chances of success. One negative
FROM THE MAKERS OF… Some faces KEY INFO point is that the steering controls can Even the awkward controls
behind the original Grand Theft Auto UK price £1.79 Download size 106MB be a bit fiddly, but this is still a classy bit can’t ruin a game that’s
have made a compelling look-alike
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes of top-down crime-foolery – and a lot essentially Grand Theft
Web www.carjackstreets.com Requires iOS 2.2 or later of fun to boot. ● Auto on the iPhone

Racing & Action PLAY
01 03
04
CRASH BANG Race a series of

01 02
‘zany’racers round a dozen
tracks; it’s lots of fun, but the nav
system isn’t easy
COLLECT WEAPONS You can

02
pick up power-ups that can
help you beat your opponents, or
protect you from their aggression
REVERSE GEAR Yes, we’re

03
driving backwards in this shot.
We told you the navigation was
tricky to master…
MARIO KART INSPIRED

04
Special parts of the track
boost your speed – now where have
we seen that idea before?
KEY INFO
UK price £1.79
US price $2.99
Developer www.activision.com
KART RACING
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D

£1.79 It’s no Mario Kart, but this classic racer still keeps us amused
Y
es, we want Mario Kart on the screen away from the normal viewing
3
iPhone – but until then, Crash angle, it can be tricky to see detail
Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D will have on-screen as the colours shift, never
to do. In any case, the similarities are mind the play of reflections from
startling: you race a kooky character ambient lighting. Ironically, we found it
round a series of tracks – there are a difficult to play this racing game while
dozen in total, a number we’d like to being a passenger in a car or bus.
see increased – driving through boxes For our money, Crash Bandicoot
to reveal various offensive and Nitro Kart 3D doesn’t quite have the
defensive power-ups. The graphics charm that Mario Kart has, but it’s still
may look disappointing if you’re FAMILIAR FACES Friends and foes from other Crash a well-built game. We’d also like to see
wedded to your PS3, but they’re Bandicoot games control your rival vehicles a multi-player option; even without it,
sufficiently fluid and detailed to impress though, it’s still huge amounts of There’s room for
here. Think Nintendo DS and you won’t option. Part of the problem with any battery-sucking fun. The great thing improvement here,
be far wrong. accelerometer-based navigation system about the iPhone and iPod touch as a especially in the number of
The tilt-the-iPhone-to-steer control is that the angle of view on some gaming platform is that the games are tracks to race through, but
system can be tricky to get to grips iPhone screens isn’t particularly much cheaper than usual, making this is a competent and
with, although there is a calibration accomplished: as soon as you move the Crash Bandicoot a good buy. ● fun racing game

JET SKI RACING
Aqua Moto Racing

£1.19 Dip a toe into the concept of racing on water
M
otor sport took some time to
find its feet on the iPhone, but
now there are plenty of great
titles available. While Aqua Moto Racing
isn’t destined to become the definitive
water racing experience, it certainly
presses the right buttons.
The accelerometer is perfectly
employed in steering your jet ski, while
touch spots at the bottom of the screen
4
enable you to apply brakes and boosts
as required. The 18 courses, set across
three locations including the
Everglades, are simple yet nicely
designed; you can extend the game’s
lifespan by racing each course in
reverse too. The difficulty level is spot-
on, enabling you to progress easily
through the initial levels, but throwing
up challenges later in the seven
championships provided. Completing
SPLISH SPLASH Attractive locations, KEY INFO stunts to receive power boosts adds With plenty of challenges,
competitive races and cool water UK price £1.19 Download size 18.2MB a level of strategy to races, while time Aqua Moto delivers solid
effects enliven Aqua Moto Racing
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes trials encourage you to hone your racing thrills and intelligent
Web www.resolution.se Requires iOS 2.1 or later racing skills. ● use of the accelerometer
KART RACING
Cro-Mag Rally
£1.79 Go back to the Stone Age for a fun-filled racing experience
C
ro-Mag Rally was a big hit on the
Mac, and is every bit as good on
the iPhone. In fact, it’s even more
fun, as steering via the accelerometer is
very intuitive.
You can choose to be Brog or Grag,
respectively male and female Stone
Age drivers, and there are nine tracks
and a choice of 11 karts. As well as
steering, there’s forward and reverse,
5
plus a release button for throwing
weapons at your rivals.
There are two game modes to test
your skills against: Race is exactly what
it says, and Gather is about collecting
spears, bone bombs and bottle rockets,
and heat-seeking pigeons. There’s also
a wireless multi-player option.
There are echoes of Mario Kart
throughout, of course, and it’s all about
getting around the track at breakneck
WACKY RACES Cartoon fun abounds KEY INFO speed. If you crash often, you can end Such great fun. The speed
in Cro-Mag Rally, a racing game UK price £1.79 Download size 66.2MB up disorientated. Thank goodness, then, control is a bit too jerky;
that’s suitable for all ages
US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes that the game displays a big red X that aside, this is a really
Developer www.pangeasoft.net Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later when you’re going the wrong way. ● superb waste of time

01 02
03
That guy’s not slowing down.

01 04
Switch weapons or be
mincemeat…
A floating disembodied face?

02
Now that’s different – and no
less frightening
For heaven’s sake, is there

03
nothing normal in this place?
Heel, boy
Yup, that’s his bowels. You

04
can see what this foe had
for his breakfast
KEY INFO
UK price £3.99
US price $6.99
Developer www.idsoftware.com
FIRSTPERSON SHOOTER
Doom Resurrection
£3.99 It’s neither the original Doom, nor Doom 3, but it’ll do for now
F
ollowing the conversion of the tilting the iPhone to aim and shoot
classic Wolfenstein to the iPhone at stuff with a tap of the screen.
(see the next page), the smart To be fair, there’s a little more to
4
money was on the subsequent release Doom Resurrection than that – but only
of a chunky-pixel-perfect version of the a little. As you play, you’re given the
original Doom. That arrived as Doom opportunity at points to take cover and
Classic – but, more interestingly, dodge enemies. If you get grabbed, you
developer id has also created Doom can shake your iPhone and break free.
Resurrection, an entirely original title In this regard, it offers a little more
for your favourite handheld device. involving combat than your average
Don’t get too excited, though. Rather on-rails shooter. FREAK SHOW A compelling animation sets the scene for
than the free-roaming action of the To its credit, Doom Resurrection the story behind Doom Resurrection’s violent gameplay
Doom franchise, this is more like one of looks amazing – far more sophisticated
those light gun point-and-shoot games than either Wolfenstein or Doom are also some suitable chunky sound
you may have played in a seaside Classic. The linear action has enabled effects to complete the sensory A great shooter with strong
arcade, with movement being the developers to make the scenery experience. In summary, this is a decent Doom flavourings and
predetermined and the player left to that bit more detailed, and the story simulacrum of the real thing, but polished graphics, but it’s
deal with the oncoming hordes by has been crafted with care, too. There ultimately you may be left wanting. ● not the real deal

COMBAT GAME
Metal Gear Solid Touch

£4.99 The legendary game series hits the iPhone and iPod touch, but what’s missing?
T
he Metal Gear series is known for
its stealth-based gameplay, so it’s
odd that this instalment, created
for iPhone, ditches that remit almost
entirely in favour of first-person-style
shooting action.
Metal Gear Solid Touch stays true
to its roots on one level, with high
production values and long, but
interesting, cut scenes. In this respect,
3
devout followers of the series will lap
up the latest plot revelations and twists.
To be fair, the gameplay itself, involving
picking off distant enemies with various
guns, sniper rifles and the like, is solidly
entertaining. But surely the Metal Gear
Solid fan base (and we include
ourselves in this) would’ve been better
served by a collection of puzzle-like
challenges based on the VR missions
in previous chapters, rather than the
SOLID STORY Metal Gear Solid Touch KEY INFO derivative blasting action seen here. Polished and fun, to be
continues the tale of this hugely UK price £4.99 Download size 249MB Let’s hope that any subsequent chapter sure, but this isn’t anything
popular combat series
US price $7.99 iPod touch compatible Yes is more like the Metal Gear solid games like the Metal Gear game
Web www.konami-europe.com Requires iOS 2.0 or later we know and love. ● we might have hoped for
Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum

£1.19 The grandaddy of first-person shooters comes to the iPhone
S
ome say that id Software’s
Wolfenstein was the game that
defined the first-person shooter
genre as we know it today. What was
once a ground-breaking and cutting-
edge desktop game is reborn here on
the iPhone. The premise (you play a
super-agent imprisoned by Nazis in
Castle Wolfenstein) hasn’t changed,
and neither has the gameplay, which
5
involves finding your way through
corridors and rooms in order to find
the exit, blasting enemies as you go.
There are 60 levels with graded
weapon pick-ups for you to battle your
way through. Crucially for a game not
originally designed for a touch-screen,
Wolfenstein features a superb control
system where you can strafe with one
thumb, look around with the other, and
shoot by moving a digit deftly to the
ALL-OUT ASSAULT It looks primitive, KEY INFO top corner of the screen. It works A game design classic.
but Wolfenstein popularised many UK price £1.19 Download size 21.5MB beautifully. With Wolfenstein 3D, you’re Kitsch, comfortably familiar
of the ideas seen in the modern FPS
US price $1.99 iPod touch compatible Yes not just re-playing part of gaming and yet still cool – and all
Web www.idsoftware.com Requires iOS 2.0 or later history – you’re also having a blast. ● on your iPhone

Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes

£2.99 Big gaming goes small screen in this ambitious evocation of World War II
W
hile games on mobile phones
have shown us that novelty
puzzlers can be entertaining,
the idea of settling down for a
heavyweight gaming experience on a
mobile device wasn’t an option at first.
Newer iPhone releases, though, prove
that we have a proper gaming platform
on our hands, rather than just a music
player with added gaming functions.
3
Hour of Heroes represents a stepping
stone from electronic frippery to proper
handheld gaming. Charting your
progress across three WWII campaigns,
the game’s 12 missions provide thrills to
spare. Slick cut scenes set the tone and
detailed 3D environments successfully
bring big-screen shooting action to the
small screen.
However, the developers have
struggled with the control system. It’s
Brothers in Arms looks inaccurate and unresponsive, and KEY INFO RETRO WARFARE Hour of Heroes uses
great and it’s a big game, manic thumb movements can obscure UK price £2.99 Download size 87.9MB World War II as the backdrop of its
hours of action-packed gameplay
although control issues mar the action at crucial moments. It’s still US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
the fun to a degree worth a look at the price, though. ● Developer www.gameloft.com Requires iOS 2.1 or later
Modern Combat: Sandstorm

£2.99 Modern Combat kicks sand in the enemies’ faces, then laughs
A
lthough a game simulating
combat situations in the Middle
East might strike some people
as too close to the evening news for
comfort, Modern Combat: Sandstorm’s
10 missions have an adherence to
realism that make them wholly
compelling to play.
Everything here is polished to
perfection. The opening cut-scenes of
5
Modern Combat alone are of a quality
befitting a big-budget title – but what
makes the game is the sophistication
of the level design and the control
implementation. A directional stick on
the left leaves your right thumb to look
around, shoot and select stuff, and it
works well.
The banter between squad members
is unconvincing, but that’s probably
down to budgetary constraints, so we’ll
Looking, sounding and let it go. Sandstorm looks good, assails KEY INFO IN THE ZONE Forget Doom
playing great, this is a first- your ears with industrial-strength UK price £2.99 Download size 199MB Resurrection – this is the
first-person shooter you
person shooter of the sound effects and is one of the most US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes want for the iPhone
highest order playable iPhone FPS titles to date. ● Web www.gameloft.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later

NOVA
£3.99 Experience the future face of combat as you journey to alien worlds
W
e’ve had a few decent first-
person shooters on iPhone
now, but this original title from
Gameloft is possibly one of the best.
The multiple internal and external
environments are reminiscent of the
hugely popular PC and Xbox franchise
Halo, and the gameplay, while doing
nothing innovative, is engineered
with creativity and panache.
5
The story features the unoriginal
pairing of a lone space marine and
a bunch of aliens, but the superb
gameplay more than papers over
the narrative cracks. The scenery is
very well designed throughout the
13 missions, there’s a solid arsenal
of weapons, and enemies are both
intimidating and intelligent.
Best of all, there’s an online
multiplayer mode, which enables you
SCI-FI SHOOTER If you’re into KEY INFO to take on other NOVA players in a A full-on shooter with loads
FPS games, NOVA is definitely UK price £3.99 Download size 187MB selection of levels. We also love the of gaming value and an
one to grab for your iPhone
US price $6.99 iPod touch compatible Yes support for iPhone 4’s gyroscope, which online multiplayer mode
Developer www.gameloft.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later introduces a new control dynamic. ● as the icing on the cake
Prey Invasion
£0.59 Cheaper than Doom Classic and just as much fun to play
T
here’s not enough space to go
into the plot here except to say
that it’s the old story of ‘Native
American Indian boy meets girl who
gets abducted by aliens and boy
discovers spiritual side’…
Thus the scene is set for a first-person
shooter that works well on the iPhone
thanks to intelligently designed
controls. Unlike Doom Resurrection, a
4
game that uses an on-rails, light-gun
shoot-’em-up style, Prey Invasion has
opted to implement proper FPS
controls, with two analogue pads
controlling direction and camera angle,
and a screen-tapping mechanism for
shooting. It works almost perfectly, and
you can switch to a more conventional
control system if you prefer.
Prey Invasion looks great, too. Early
criticisms about the lack of enemies
BEWARE! This brute’s claw might KEY INFO were addressed in an update, although It’s not the most polished
look withered, but get too close UK price £0.59 Download size 10MB the level design does remain a bit weak. FPS you’ll play, but this is
and it can do a lot of damage
US price $0.99 iPod touch compatible Yes Still, this offers enough fun to make it good fun and great value
Developer www.handson.com Requires iOS 2.1 or later worth a look. ● for money

FLIGHT COMBAT GAME
Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion

£2.99 The long-running flight combat series comes to iPhone
T
he Ace Combat series features
gameplay that eschews strict
flight simulation in favour of a
more arcadey take on airborne warfare.
Much effort has been put into
making the iPhone version look great.
The planes, scenery and effects are a
treat. The controls can be fiddly until
you get used to them, but flying using
the accelerometer and accessing
3
weapons with the on-screen buttons
work well.
With only five missions in the game,
however, your play can end all too
soon, and it feels like you’re getting
short-changed. Ace Combat Xi is just
about worth the asking price, thanks to
the high production values and the
replay potential offered by the game’s
ranking system. You can also buy
additional planes to squeeze more
Ace Combat Xi is a superbly replay value from the game. Utlimately, KEY INFO SHORT BUT SWEET Skies of Incursions
designed game with great though, what we really want are more UK price £2.99 Download size 139MB looks great, but we’d love a lot more
of it… five levels isn’t enough
graphics, but it’s all over of the missions and their gorgeous US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
far too soon backdrops to soar through. ● Developer www.namcogames.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later
BATTLEZONE REDUX Vector ARMOUR WARS Taking on

Tanks Extreme! is a fitting enemies can be simple,
homage to a classic game even if they are disguised
as pesky military vehicles
KEY INFO KEY INFO

UK price £1.19 UK price £0.59
US price $1.99 US price $0.99
Web vectortanks.com Developer paramount.com
Download size 12.9MB Download size 34.4MB
iPod touch compatible Yes iPod touch compatible Yes
Requires iOS 3.2 or later Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
ARCADE COMBAT GAME SHOOT’EMUP
Vector Tanks Iron Man:

Extreme! Aerial Assault
£1.19 An update of an updated old classic! £0.59 Nice suit. Have they got it in TK Maxx?
V T
ector Tanks, an iPhone homage possible while you still can. he financial commitment for entertaining enough
to the 1980s Atari arcade classic You may get post-traumatic games based on films for is often through its 12 levels, making
Battlezone, has been beefed up stress in the process (but in a lower, with complexity less of an it more than worth the
with the release of this Extreme! good way). ● imperative. This means this simplistic asking price. ●
version, boasting more firepower on Iron Man spin-off is pretty good fun.
both sides of the battle. You have rail- The reason this game works is the
guns, rockets and nukes, while the two control system. As Iron Man, you fly into
tanks of the original are joined by a the screen, taking on enemies from
new model that sports a laser cannon, planes to attack drones. Some enemies
plus land mines and even helicopters. Vector Tanks Extreme! pumps are taken out simply by locking on to Iron Man is cool, and so is this
The aim is simply to get a high score the great old Battlezone them, while others have to be shot game. Excellent controls, nice
by shooting as many enemies as formula up a few notches manually. It’s very simple, but it remains visuals and a low price

PLAY Sports games
FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT
Soccer
Manager
£2.99 Take your team to the top of the league in style
F
or a quick fix of footy when out and about. What
management-lite, which we really liked about Soccer
you can pick up and play Manager is its scope. Choose any
whenever you fancy, Soccer team from the top two divisions
Manager ticks most of the boxes of six European countries, buy
for hardcore managerment fans and sell players, negotiate
and casual players alike. contracts, deal with your
3
This is a tidily designed chairman and even get your
football game and player staff to help develop players
transfers, squad management, Your team can qualify
strategy and training options are through playoffs, get promotion,
all dealt with much like the win the premier division and
bigger games you get for qualify and win European
desktop computers. However, competitions in order to fill your
there are no graphical trophy cabinet. Your status will
representations of matches and record historical achievements
FOOTY MAD Line up your team in a variety of formations for better results
the text-based commentary on even if you change jobs. You can
KEY INFO offer is, at best, perfunctory. view all this detailed information
UK price £2.99 Download size 18.7MB Still, this game provides a about your club and players in A tightly-designed, casual
US price $4.99 iPod touch compatible Yes solid framework for you to a simple to use interface that’s footy management game.
Web www.fizzsoftware.com Requires iOS 3.0 or later explore your management urges perfect for the small screen. ● Just don’t expect the earth
ARCADE FOOTBALL
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

£4.99 Play the silver ball on your iPhone
T
hings are looking bright for footy
fanatics everywhere thanks to the
2011 update of Konami’s beautiful
Pro Evolution Soccer franchise on the
iPhone platform. Always the preferred
choice among critics in its console
incarnations, PES on the iPhone also
delivers a slightly superior game to EA’s
rival FIFA franchise – but only just.
As well as the flowing passing and
shooting gameplay you’d expect from
5
a PES game, this version is also notable
for the implementation of the control
systems. A directional pad and
simplified single tap for passing and
shooting is the preferred option, but
even the accelerometer control works
remarkably well. Chuck in UEFA
tournaments, league games, quick
matches and proper player names and
you have a pretty pleasing footy
INSTANT REPLAY Have fun mucking KEY INFO experience. You can also play friends
about with the replay camera to UK price £4.99 Download size 51.5MB over Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. It lacks the finesse With this latest version, PES
relive those classic footy moments
US price $7.99 iPod touch compatible Yes of its console counterparts but as a 2011 just edges out its
Web www.konami.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later pick-up-and-play fix, it’s unbeatable. ● rivals on the footy scene

Sports games PLAY
ATHLETICS EVENTS
International Athletics
£1.79 Track and field sports with a spin
W
hen it comes to quality
and quantity versus price
International Athletics should
be a gold medalist. The game’s
developers have done a great job
of converting this from Sony PSP,
presenting more than a dozen track
and field sports in full 3D. There’s no
official event sponsorship, but the
medal tables, personal bests and world
records featured will keep you coming
4
back again and again until you’ve swept
the board. As well as running events
such as the 100m and 400m there’s
Shot Put, High Jump, Discus, Pole Vault,
Long Jump and the Hammer!
The only downside is that the
throwing events all use a similar play
mechanic so there’s not much to
choose between them and it does take
a while to get used to the odd controls
for the hurdles and javelin events. Other KEY INFO ON TRACK International Athletics
If the London Olympics are than that this is a splendid sports sim UK price £1.79 Download size 50.1MB speeds ahead when it comes to
gameplay, looks and addictiveness
as fun as this competitive that will keep you enthused about US price $2.99 iPod touch compatible Yes
app, then roll on 2012 athletics while you’re on the move. ● Web www.ghostlight.uk.com Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later
CAST OFF Catch yourself FREESTYLE FINGERS

a big ’un with this Kick back with
oddly compelling some kickflips
fishing simulator
VIRTUAL ANGLER SKATEBOARDING FUN
Fishing Kings Touchgrind

£2.99 Get hooked on this superb angling sim £2.99 Flip a skateboard with your fingers!
A T
fishing game could be the KEY INFO here’s much fiddly fun to be had KEY INFO
dullest grind in the world. But UK price £2.99 with this skateboard game. UK price £2.99
not so. Like golf, fishing games US price $4.99 Operate the board using two US price $4.99
are bizarrely compelling and Fishing Web www.fishingkings-iphone.com digits, sliding a front finger to move, Web www.illusionlabs.com
Kings is a pretty good addition to the Download size 210MB releasing for ollies and sliding to do Download size 6.9MB
proud tradition of virtual angling. iPod touch compatible Yes flips… and that’s just for starters. iPod touch compatible Yes
After choosing your angler, you Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later After learning the basics you can Requires iOS 3.0 or later
wander out to a stretch of water to warm up in your backyard, go to the
compete in competitions, unlocking skatepark to practise more elaborate
new items of tackle and fishing venues skills, then enter competitions.
as you go. Casting out and wrestling Unfortunately, the controls are hard
with fish is achieved by waggling the to master and the board takes up a
phone; reeling in takes a swirl of the large proportion of the screen so you’re This game is fun, and it looks
thumb. Hitting your angling goals is, Plenty of fishing fun to be had unable to see far enough ahead to plan great too. It is quite awkward
oddly, a hugely satisfying experience. ● in this great little virtual angler daring stunts properly. ● to operate the board though

PLAY Imaginary apps
10 APPS…
we wish existed any of the 4.2 million security cams in
the UK. Like TV channel surfing but
with more drunk tramps and
shoplifting.
5 “Working from home”

The app equivalent of propping a
cardboard cut-out of yourself at your
desk. Should the office email, this
would send out vague but helpful-
sounding replies such as “Sounds good,
let’s meet about it tomorrow,” while you
catch up with some sleep or shopping.
6 Singleton’s Radar
Take a Facebook-like database of
single folk, add location services and
augmented reality and you’d have the
MAPPED OUT Your iPhone’s ultimate dating aid. Scan the bar,
geolocation abilities can be railway station or wherever you happen
used for all sorts of weird and to be with your phone’s camera, and
wonderful location-based apps unattached and/or available members
of the clientele will be highlighted with
a big red arrow. Icons could denote
how discreet they require you to be,
and what their “interests” are.
“Hey, I’ve got an app for that!” That’s what Apple iPhone 4 users say at 7 Survey Avoider
Makes your phone ring as if
someone important is calling you as
least 20 times a day and Android users six to seven times a day. Nokia soon as you come within guilt-trip
and Palm users? They don’t talk so much. But how much more frequent range of a dingbat in a red vest holding
a clipboard or jangling a bucket full of
would these exclamations be if these fondly imagined apps existed… coins right in front of you.
1 Twitticism
Keeping up with the level of wry 3 Londoner’s eye
Uses Google Maps and Yell.com
8 GET OUT!
Another location-based app,
this would detect anywhere that could
wit generated by your Tweeting peers data to calculate whether a town is be described as undesirable but
can be tricky. This app would access the likely to be attractive to well-off occasionally tempting and make the
reams of quotes available online from Londoners. Thus, if the number of sound of 1,000 vuvuzelas until you exit.
noted wits such as Oscar Wilde, Dorothy tattoo and body-piercing parlours, army Let’s say Starbucks, Subway or your
Parker and John Major, then generate recruitment offices and sportswear local illicit all-night booze store at 3am
140 droll characters on the topical stores per square mile is found to be on a Tuesday, for instance.
theme of your choice. For instance: unacceptable, a large skull and
“Those MPs are like the unspeakable in
pursuit of the inedible,” “The only thing
worse than being on a TV talent show is
crossbones wearing a hoodie is
displayed, warning suburbanites to
keep away. The presence of multiple
9 PintPuller
Going one better than the many
apps that find pubs in your vicinity,
NOT being on a TV talent show,” etc. cheese shops, farmers’ markets and PintPuller will alert your chosen bar to
anything with the word ‘artisan’ in it, by your arrival, so staff can dutifully pour
2 Morgan be gone
Detects possible exposure to Piers
contrast, brings up a large smiley face. your favoured tipple in advance.
Morgan on TV or online, shutting down

web pages or using your phone’s Wi-Fi
to deactivate your telly.
4 CCTV Hacker
Fun aplenty could be had from an
app that gives access to live feeds from
10 iPhone 4 Signal Fix
Well, we can dream can’t we?
In the meantime, grab a bumper. ●

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DEVELOP
E
very one of the 250,000 apps in the App Store was created
by an ordinary person or team with a great idea and the
determination to make it happen. The free tools that Apple
provides means that you don’t need a programming degree and
a vast budget: you can code your own app and put it in front of a
global audience with just an ordinary computer. We’ll show you how
anyone can build a basic app in half an hour and meet some of the
people who made the apps you use. But first, let’s remind ourselves
how the iPhone came to be the phenomenon it is today…
160 The story of the iPhone

166 App Store success stories
170 The iPhone SDK
173 Build an iPhone app
176 Meet the app man

DEVELOP The iPhone story
The story
of iPhone
From the original model to iPhone 4, we track the rise and rise of the phone that’s
captured the public imagination and led to the apps you use every day
T
he idea of an Apple-branded unveiled. the device’s evolution since sale to a worldwide audience. (We look
mobile phone existed long before then has been a thrilling rollercoaster at the iPhone from the developer’s
the reality. Apple registered ride for both Apple and everyone who’s perspective on page 166.) There are
‘iPhone’ as a trademark in some bought one. We’ve seen three further now over 250,000 different programs
countries as far back as 2002, while a iPhone models, culminating in the you can run on your iPhone.
short-lived partnership between Apple amazing iPhone 4 – as well as the iPod The iPhone has seen its fair share of
and Motorola saw the latter offer touch and the magazine-sized iPad, controversy as well. A sudden price
mobiles with iTunes support in 2005 which both much of the same drop only a few months into the
and 2006. Then the rumours really technology that drives the iPhone. Over iPhone’s life outraged early-bird
started to fly… 100 million iPhones, iPod touches and customers who’d paid the original price.
In September 2005, Ed Zander, the iPads have been sold worldwide. Initial complaints about having to use
CEO of Motorola at that time, told the We’ve also seen the arrival of the slow mobile networks turned to elation
news website CNet: “We know that App Store, a one-stop location within as the iPhone 3G made its debut. And
Apple is going to build a smartphone – the popular iTunes Store. Well-known the recent ‘Antennagate’ furore saw
it’s only a matter of time.” By March software developers have found a Apple take flak for phone reception that
2006, speculation mounted as word of brand-new market for their products wavered depending on how you held
Apple shopping around for component but, more importantly, a whole new the iPhone 4.
suppliers arrived from the Far East. generation of developers has emerged, Here, we look back at some of the
Rumour finally became fact in encouraged by the ease with which you highs and lows that have shaped the
January 2007 when the iPhone was can create your own app and offer it for story of iPhone since its launch…

The iPhone story DEVELOP

JAN 2007 iPhone is here!

Finally, it’s a reality. The iPhone is announced at
Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote speech at San
Francisco’s Macworld Expo. Jobs teases his eager
audience by claiming that he’s “introducing three
revolutionary products” – a widescreen iPod with NOV 2007
touch controls, an all-new mobile phone and an
internet mobile communicator. He then drops the iPhone hits the UK
bombshell that these weren’t three separate
devices, but one single earth-shattering product. Apple’s iPhone goes on sale in the UK on 9
“Today, Apple is going to re-invent the phone.” November, and O2 is the UK carrier for the handset.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of this The iPhone costs £269 for an 8GB model, identical
attention-grabbing device is its control system. to the one being sold in the US. Steve Jobs and O2
Unlike anyone who has built a smartphone UK’s CEO Matthew Key had announced the UK
before, Apple has opted not to install a keyboard. launch at Apple’s Regent Street store, revealing that
Instead, the iPhone relies entirely on a touch- iPhone customers have to take out a minimum
sensitive screen. “We’re all born with the ultimate 18-month contract with O2. There’s a choice of
pointing device – our fingers,” Jobs says. “iPhone three contracts, ranging from £35 to £55 per
uses them to create the most revolutionary user month. All three contracts include unlimited data
interface since the mouse.” traffic, with the cheapest offering a maximum of
The phone itself is as attractive as you’d 200 minutes and 200 SMS texts per month.
expect an Apple product to be. What really Like the US, the UK iPhone eschews 3G in
grabs the attention of those listening to the favour of the old, slow Edge technology for data
demonstration, though, are the built-in sensors. transfer. But Key admits that O2’s plan to upgrade
A proximity sensor automatically turns the its network to support Edge only covers around
display off if you bring it close to your face. 30% of its customers at launch time.
An ambient light sensor adjusts the screen However, Jobs adds that iPhone users get free
brightness according to the external conditions. access to the 7,500 odd WiFi hotspots operated by
Most astounding of all, an accelerometer senses The Cloud, making patchy and slow Edge coverage
how you’re holding the phone, and instantly less of an issue, as well as providing fast
switches between portrait and landscape modes. performance for activities like web browsing.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007
JUN 2007 SEP 2007 iPod touch DEC 2007

iPhone has landed! pumps up the volume! iPhone rings up
After six months of frenzied anticipation, US Apple has launched the iPod touch, a brand new media record sales
consumers are finally getting their hands on Apple’s player with an iPhone-style interface, as part of an
iPhone. For a device that has variously been dubbed overhaul of the iPod range for the Christmas buying The iPhone is a smash hit, according
the ‘Jesus phone’ or the ‘God machine’, Apple’s season. The iPod touch represents a big to O2, Carphone Warehouse and
groundbreaking handset has a lot to live up departure from the rest of the iPod Apple, although none of the three
to. Judging by the first reviews and consumer models, which retain their existing partners for the UK launch is willing
response, it has not disappointed – touch wheel interface. The touch to reveal precise sales numbers. O2
although not everyone is as impressed has a 3.5-inch landscape display, reports that sales of the hot new
by AT&T’s mobile network, which making it the first iPod designed gadget during its first seven days
comes as part of the package. from the ground up for were in the tens of thousands but
An astonishing 200,000 iPhones are watching TV or movie below 100,000. “Sales are more
sold on the first evening of sale, according downloads. than exceeding our expectations,”
to US analyst Global Equities Research. “The iPod touch is a says an O2 spokesperson, adding
New Yorker Greg Packer was the first landmark iPod, ushering in a that two thirds of customers who
person recorded as starting to queue whole new generation of bought an iPhone switched from
for an iPhone, lining up outside Apple’s features based on its a rival phone network.
Fifth Avenue store 110 hours before revolutionary multi-touch A spokesman for Carphone
the iPhone went on sale. interface and built-in WiFi Warehouse, which carries the
Apple’s use of iTunes to enable wireless networking,” says iPhone across its 1,300-plus outlets,
people to activate their iPhones from Steve Jobs. “People are says the company is “really pleased”
home, rather than waiting to activate going to be amazed at with the demand the new phone
them in a store, works well – until how thin it is and how has created. “The iPhone will be on
AT&T’s servers pack up under the strain… much it does.” most people’s Christmas wish list.”

SEP 2008 App Store is a huge success

JAN 2008 iPhone
breaks browsing records App Store sales are off to Sales of the apps so far will per day in sales during the
a terrific start, with well in allow me to make more first month, suggesting it
People surfing the web with excess of 100 million apps applications in the future.” could make at least $360
iPhones accounted for 0.09% of downloaded since its July Sega’s Super Monkey Ball million a year from such sales.
all browsers being used during launch. Developers are happy: sold 300,000 copies in 20 70 per cent of this total is
November 2007, according to Net “It’s been amazing,” says Eliza days, while free apps going to developers, whose
Applications, which monitors Block, creator of the crossword Facebook and Tap Tap share of the first month
visitors to over 40,000 sample puzzle app 2 Across. “I’ve sold Revolution surpassed one revenues was about $21
websites. That doesn’t sound like thousands of copies of the million downloads each. million, with the top 10
much of a dent, compared to paid version, and the ‘light’ With all this activity, Apple developers earning $9 million
Windows XP’s 78.37% share or the Mac’s 6.81% – but it’s version has been downloaded raised an average $1 million between them.
50% better than the 0.06% combined market share for 25,000 times in its first week.
all Windows Mobile and CE smartphone handsets. MooCowMusic’s Band and
What’s more, the 2.5 million iPhones currently in use Pianist have been popular
have only been available for a few months, whereas the since the App Store’s
seven million Windows Mobile handsets out there have inception, according to
been sold across six years. Also note that this is a developer Mark Terry. “Being
snapshot of a just-released product entering its first asked to stand on stage at
market (the US). Now the iPhone’s rolling out in Europe, WWDC in July alongside Sega,
everyone’s seeing significant rises noted in subsequent eBay and Steve Jobs gave me
surveys as iPhone mania takes hold. some indication that Band
It also begs the question: does the iPhone makes it would be well received. So I
easier to browse the web, or are there a heck of a lot of took a gamble in quitting my
Windows Mobile phones gathering dust in desk drawers day job to concentrate on
around the globe? developing for the iPhone.
2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
Steve Jobs is talking iPhone at for contacts, a new scientific

JUL 2008 iPhone 3G is here! Apple’s developer conference calculator and parental controls.
WWDC. “Just one year after You can also save images directly
launching the iPhone, we’re from a web page or email them to
launching the new iPhone 3G that your iPhone, and transfer them to
is twice as fast at half the price.” your computer photo library.
Cheaper, thinner and faster than Inclusion of GPS support ushers
its predecessor, iPhone 3G offers in true location-based services,
data access up to twice the speed allowing you to and it opens up
of Edge. It hosts built-in GPS for other new opportunities for
expanded location-based mobile developers. Developers can build
services, for example tracking apps using all the software and
where you are on a Google Map, hardware features, including the
and supports quad-band GSM and movement sensors.
tri-band HSDPA for voice and data iPhone 3G integrates with
calls. It also supports WiFi, 3G and MobileMe, which pushes email,
Edge, switching between them contacts and calendars from an
automatically to ensure the online ‘cloud’ to native applications
fastest possible downloads. With on iPhone, iPod touch, Macs and
iPhone 3G, you can browse the PCs. This means email messages
web, get directions and check are pushed instantly to all your
email, all while on a call. devices, removing the need to
iPhone 3G also includes a new manually check email and wait for
generation of Apple’s iPhone OS downloads. It also keeps contacts
software. Additional features and calendars continuously up to
include the ability to mass-move date so changes made on one
and delete multiple email device are automatically updated
messages, a facility for searching on others.

MAR 2009 New iPhone software JUN 2009

The iPhone has entered a new chapter,
iPhone 3GS is in the building!
as developers ponder the potential
possibilities of the newly introduced More queues welcome the launch of Apple’s iPhone 3GS, the fastest,
iPhone OS 3.0. The new release offers most powerful and best-featured model yet. On the first day of sale, O2
more than 100 new features, including sells more of the new model by lunchtime than it sold iPhone 3Gs across
the ability to cut, copy and paste, as its entire launch day.
well as send and receive MMS, and read The new iPhone model is laden with attractive new features,
and compose emails in landscape including a three-megapixel video camera, longer battery life, hands-free
mode. It’s introduced by Scott Forstall voice control and much faster performance. The device also runs the
(pictured), Apple’s senior vice-president new iPhone OS 3.0, which has also been made available for upgrading
of iPhone software. older iPhones, and adds more than 100 new features, including MMS
iPhone OS 3.0 also includes a new outside the handset in a way that other messaging, Spotlight search and copy and paste.
Voice Memo app and expanded search handsets do well on paper but rarely do
capability for all key iPhone apps, as well in practice,” he says. “With stereo
well as Spotlight search across the Bluetooth support, could we now
iPhone or iPod touch. “iPhone OS 3.0 is finally have your iPhone automatically
a major software release packed with flick from headphones to stereo
incredible new features and speakers as you walk into your house?”
innovations for iPhone customers and Godber adds that iPhone OS 3.0
developers alike. It will keep us years promises to extend the way iPhone
ahead of the competition,” says Phil interacts with the real world. “Proper
Schiller, Apple’s senior vice-president of push notifications have potential –
worldwide product marketing. not just for IM and messaging – to plug
Tom Godber is CTO of Masabi, a firm a gap between iPhone and the rest
that develops secure applications for of the mobile world, while true
mobiles. “This marks the point where micropayments allow the platform to
iPhone grows up and opens up to the leapfrog other handsets, which are
real world and becomes useful for non- mired in operator arguments and
trivial apps, exploiting connectivity poor margins.”
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009
JUL 2009 1.5 billion App Store downloads OCT 2009 UK iPhone
A million-plus iPhone 3GS buyers get more choice
sales, and 1.5 billion App Store
downloads in one year, mean There’s no longer any need to sign up to O2 in order to
that Apple’s winning the get your hands on an iPhone in the UK, as the carrier has
smartphone war. In his first lost its exclusive rights to distribute the device. Orange is
public statement since now offering the smartphone here, with Vodafone
returning to Apple after following closely behind. O2 hasn’t lost all rights to sell
recovering from illness, CEO the must-have gadget, however – it continues to offer
Steve Jobs says, “The App the iPhone for sale.
Store is like nothing the Many iPhone users are likely to look for better deals
industry has ever seen before when their contracts expire, but O2 is denying it intends
in both scale and quality… it is a price war, telling Stuff.tv, “We’ve sold more than a
going to be very hard for million iPhones, so we’re confident. There are no plans
others to catch up.” There are for price cuts”.
now over 65,000 apps Orange has the largest
available in-store. development platform. web-based apps for the 3G network in the UK,
Others in the industry have “We believe the web has won, iPhone, but expanded this to and is likely to stress this
begun dismissing Apple’s and over the next several built-in apps under developer as it attempts to sell the
advantage, though. Speaking years the browser will and customer pressure. But device through its
at the MobileBeat 2009 become the platform that Gundotra says, “I think Steve network of shops and
conference, Google’s matters. And certainly that’s Jobs really did understand online channels. Carphone
engineering vice president, where Google is investing.” that, over the long term, it Warehouse will also be
Vic Gundotra predicts web- Earlier in iPhone’s would be the web, and I think joined by Phones4U in
based apps will become the evolution, Apple allowed that’s how things will play out offering the Apple mobile
dominant mobile application developers to create only in the end.” through its stores.

APR 2010 Multi-tasking comes to iPhone

Multi-tasking, socially-connected
gaming, iBooks and an all-new
advertising system Apple calls iAds
are all coming to your iPhone in a
summer OS upgrade. Steve Jobs
previewed the features in a
presentation at Apple HQ, observing:
“iPhone OS 4 is the fourth major
release of the world’s most advanced
mobile operating system. We’re
delivering over 100 new features,
including multitasking, folders, a
unified inbox, and an iPhone version
of our iBooks reader and store.”
A beta version of the latest
iPhone software is already available
for iPhone developers. This provides
over 100 new features for users.
Perhaps the biggest improvement is
the introduction of intelligent multi-
tasking. When you’re running
multiple apps, a double-tap of the
home button invokes a dock
representing all active apps, to help
you move between them. Multi- receive a call when the iPhone is “We figured out how to implement network, Game Center, offering the
tasking also means developers can asleep or the user is running other multitasking for third-party apps and ability to invite friends to play a
improve their apps – so a music app apps. Apple says it has developed avoid those things,” says Jobs. game, start a multi-player game
can play music in the background multi-tasking so it doesn’t impact Apple also announces an through matchmaking and track
while a internet phone app can device performance or battery life. imminent new social gaming achievements and high scores.
2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010
JUN 2010 iPhone 4: Apple’s biggest ever launch

Apple’s iPhone 4 is a huge functionality, which lets are affected.
success, with 600,000 sold in iPhone 4 users make video The Daily Mail
advance and up to a million on calls to each other without website even
its launch. Queues outside using operator minutes. publishes (and
iPhone retailers in Japan, Reviews are highly positive, deletes) a story
Germany, France and US for with the device winning claiming the
launch morning confirm the praise for hosting an excellent iPhone 4 faces a
demand. In the UK, up to camera, boasting a stunning recall – the report
1,000 people wait outside display and for being a was based on a
Regent Street, with around triumph of engineering tweet from satirist
half that number standing design. Stephen Fry calls it Fake Steve Jobs.
firm at Buchanan Street, “a thing of rare beauty”. Apple releases a
Glasgow – the biggest lines With everything looking statement in response:
for the launch of any Apple so positive, it was almost “Gripping any phone will
product yet. inevitable the company would result in some attenuation
iPhone 4’s new design hit problems. No activation of its antenna performance,
comprises two glass plates issues mar the introduction, with certain places being
that are rimmed with a metal but consumers quickly note worse than others depending
band. The iPhone is capable that the iPhone 4 would drop on the placement of the
of multi-tasking, introduces its connection if firmly antennas. This is a fact of life
support for folders, and lets gripped on its lower left-hand for every wireless phone.”
you use the iBook app for side. Complaints emerge But it does go on to offer a
reading a huge variety of within hours of the device software update to present
titles. There’s also the warmly going on sale and quickly the reception strength more
welcomed FaceTime grow to an uproar. Thousands accurately, and free cases.

DEVELOP Success stories
App store
millionaire How do iPhone app developers make it big on
Apple’s App Store? Read on for the inside story
B
ack in the early days of PCs,
anybody with a computer and a
good idea could make stacks of Breakin’ the law
money from writing software. Those
days are long gone – unless, that is, When you look at some of the daft data without asking for permission;
you’re writing iPhone apps. The App stuff in the App Store, you might think infringe copyright; libel people; include
Store is Apple’s ace in the hole when it that Apple will approve almost content “that in Apple’s reasonable
comes to the success of the iPhone and anything – but that’s far from the case. judgement may be found offensive by
iPod touch, transforming them into Podcaster (www.nextdayoff.com) was iPhone or iPod touch users” or “unduly
banned because it was too close to burden network capacity or
The iPhone and iPod iTunes, while digital comic book

Murderdrome (www.infuriouscomics.
bandwidth”.
Also, “Apple reserves the right to
touch are transformed com/2008/08/murderdrome-killer-
app) was deemed too adult. However,
approve or withhold approval”. So even
if you stick to the rules, Apple can still
into devices that can Apple has since introduced an age say no. When Alec Vance’s Freedom
rating system for apps such as these. Time app (www.juggleware.com/
do so much more than Here are some pointers so you can iphone/freedomtime), which counted
tell whether your app plans are down to George Bush’s departure, was
anybody had imagined doomed to failure. Just for the record, banned, Vance emailed Jobs to protest.
you can’t: use secret APIs; break Apple’s The reply? “Even though my personal
versatile devices that can do so much Human Interface Guidelines; enable political leanings are democratic, I think
more than anybody had imagined. It’s stalking or harassment; provide real- this app will be offensive to roughly
opened up a new platform for time route guidance; access location half our customers. What’s the point?”
developers and there’s a land-grab
going on right now. While the apps
don’t cost that much, the number of
potential customers means there’s gold
in the iPhone. So how do you get it? We
asked three developers to spill the
beans on developing for the App Store.

Success stories DEVELOP

DEVELOP Success stories
APP SUCCESS Trism is a polished and addictive puzzle game, which has gone on to become a huge success
Steve Demeter, Trism

L
ast September, Wired suggested done before launch; having a good and it can prove its worth in 10 to 15
that Steve Demeter’s puzzle game amount of buzz from people who seconds, then you’ve got yourself a
Trism would turn over $2 million enjoyed the jailbroken version… and successful app.”
by the summer. It’s a story Demeter’s Apple getting behind it and helping Marketing matters, too, as Demeter
come to regret. “Releasing sales figures market it as an iPhone exclusive. Once explains: “Start courting an audience
was a bit of a novice business move on you have Apple behind you saying, before you release,” he suggests. “Build
my part,” he says. “I’ve been swamped ‘Here, apps like this are why you should relationships with the gaming public
with people asking for loans!” buy an iPhone’, it’s money in the bank.” and fellow developers. Make sure you
After just two months of Trism sales, So has the environment changed? can get at least 20 people to buy your
Demeter was able to leave his day job “The market is definitely a lot tougher game and give your app good reviews
writing software for a large bank. “It’s than it was then,” Demeter says. His in the App Store on the very first day it’s
been surreal more than anything else,” advice to developers? “Make sure you’re out. And remember to put some of
PROFILE he says. “I’d put myself under pressure asking yourself, ‘Does my app convey your profit back into advertising – on
Name Steve Demeter to polish and release the game on time something unique and interesting in 10 the web and in-game.”
Company Demiforce – I’d burnt myself out two or three to 15 seconds?’ “The one thing I liked about doing
App invented Trism times by the time I finished coding.” “Look at it this way: most people are Trism was that it was an opportunity. It
Web www.demiforce.com/ Demeter is quick to agree that part eager to show their friends what cool was a chance to pull myself out of a day
games.html of Trism’s success was being in the right new things they’ve got on their iPhone. job I didn’t like, innovate a game genre
place at the right time, although it Of the 50 apps they may have, they and trailblaze an emerging platform, all
wasn’t all luck. He says, “Trism was the might only get a chance to show five of with limited amounts of time, resources
combination of getting everything them. If your app is one of those five, and money.” ●
How do I write an iPhone app?

Fancy getting in on a little App Store There are also a number of hoops
action yourself? Anybody can write Apple makes you jump through. First
their own iPhone app. All you need and foremost you have to join the
to do is download the SDK (Software Apple Developer Program, which
Development Kit) and become a costs $99 a year. Next, you have to
registered iPhone App Developer at submit your finished app for
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/ approval by Apple, and this can be a
sdk1. It’s a simple sign-up process tortuous process. Once the company
and the SDK is free. However, your finds a single bug during testing,
next step might be a little more your app is rejected instantly. You fix
complicated: you need to learn how the bug, re-submit the app and wait
to program in Objective-C. Apple again, hoping that it passes testing
uses a special abstraction API called this time. This cycle can continue
Cocoa Touch. There are code through many iterations until Apple
examples you can study in the is happy that your application is fully
Developer area of the website. bug-free. GOOD EXAMPLE You can find free resources and code samples on the Apple Developer website

Success stories DEVELOP
Ethan Nicholas, iShoot

T
he game iShoot started life as an
after-hours project. “It wouldn’t
have been so bad if I hadn’t
already had a full-time job,” says Ethan
Nicholas, who was working for Sun
Microsystems and coding in his spare
time. “I was working 18-hour days
during iShoot’s development, but
[despite that] it only took six weeks, and
that included learning Objective-C,
Cocoa and OpenGL.”
When iShoot took off, Nicholas
PROFILE handed in his notice. So does he spend
Name Ethan Nicholas his days rolling around on piles of
Company Ethan Nicholas money? “So far, not much has changed,”
App invented iShoot he says. “I spent the past four years
Web www.ethannicholas.com working from home, so I’m still at the
same desk, the same computer.
Honestly, I don’t think the magnitude of
the change has really sunk in. I haven’t
even managed to take any time off!” TOP GUN Sales of iShoot rocketed after Nicholas released a free Lite version on the Apple App Store
iShoot was initially offered as a paid
download, but sales were hardly stellar. he asks. “One number-one hit generates continuing to improve iShoot. “I’m not
When Nicholas introduced the free more money than 100 bottom-of-the- ready to share any details, but I have
iShoot Lite, though, sales of the paid barrel apps, so I’d prefer to see more two firm game designs I’d like to get
app went into orbit. His other advice for people striving for number one and not cracking on,” he says. “They’re very
promoting your paid apps? “How about, polluting the iPhone with so much different from iShoot, but I think they
‘Stop producing so much shovelware’?” abominable crap.” For now, Nicholas is both have a shot at number one.” ●
Bill Rappos, iSteam

S
team simulator iSteam has racked
up more than one million
downloads. Just one week after its
launch, GreatApps, iSteam’s developers,
predicted sales of $100,000 per month.
We asked Great Apps’ Bill Rappos, how’s
that target going?
“The 100 grand was only an
estimation we made, based on our first-
week sales. The way things are right
now, it seems we’re going to hit that
target a couple of weeks later than
PROFILE initial predictions.”
Name Bill Rappos That doesn’t mean things are going
Company GreatApps badly, though. “The success of iSteam
WET LOOK iSteam cleverly turns your
App invented iSteam has given us the luxury to make long- iPhone into a steamy window,
Web isteam.co.uk term plans,” Rappos says. “iSteam was leaving you free to doodle and
just the beginning. We’re all committed impress your mates
to our vision, to become a significant
player, providing a wide range of
amusing and cheap apps.”
GreatApps was founded in
November 2008 by 24-year-old Kostas
Eleftheriou and 22-year-old Vassilis
Samolis and they didn’t know anything
about Mac or iPhones – so they bought
a Mac Mini and got to work. The team is
currently brainstorming its next
selection of apps. “There’s no easy way
in the App Store,” Rappos says. “It’s
saturated with apps, which makes it
really hard to survive. Our tip would be,
keep it simple and be professional.” ●

DEVELOP The iPhone SDK
The story behind the apps

The hundreds of third-party apps you can install on the iPhone elevate it from merely excellent to
truly legendary – but none of these would exist if people didn’t create them. We talk to app
developers to see what they think of the tools Apple has given them to work with…
O
n 11 June 2007, Apple CEO Steve underwhelmed by the announcement iPhone is built on the same foundations
Jobs announced that developers that web apps were the ‘one true way’ as the Mac’s operating system, the
would be able to create to bring third-party software to the development tools used to create apps
applications for the iPhone. It was iPhone,” says Marco Piovanelli, chief for the iPhone are essentially identical.
during WWDC, Apple’s developer technology officer at development firm The core program is Xcode, which
conference, so the crowd couldn’t have Ovolab. “We felt this decision left enables you to write your iPhone app’s
been more pleased had Krispy Kreme a huge potential untapped, despite key functionality. Xcode ties into
announced it was slashing its prices to the power of today’s web apps.” Interface Builder, which enables you to
4¢ a donut. A whole new platform! A create your app user interface and link
whole new revenue stream! A whole Software development visual controls to the functions you’ve
new chapter in the long and endlessly Four months later, Jobs recanted in an written. You can then open the app in
entertaining story of Apple. open letter on Apple’s website: proper iPhone Simulator, which emulates the
But then Jobs dropped the third-party apps would be allowed after iPhone operating system on a Mac for
bombshell. Dress it up how he liked, all. And on 6 March 2008, the dream basic testing, or transfer your app to a
the shocked silence and mutterings came true: the iPhone SDK (software real iPhone for live testing. Another
that followed his announcement that development kit) for Mac OS X was application, Instruments, enables you to
these would only be web-based apps – made available for download. performance-test more complex apps
tools that were stored on a web server, Reaction to the SDK release has been so that you can make your software run
not proper applications that lived on largely positive ever since its release. as efficiently as possible. (The knock-on
the phone – showed that developers “The iPhone SDK is wonderful – much effect, of course, is that the shared
were disappointed. “We were a tad more than I expected,” says Craig development suite also enables new
Hockenberry, principal and engineer developers to discover how easy it is to
“Developing for the iPhone involves at Iconfactory. It’s a view echoed by
equinux CEO Till Schadde. “Apple’s SDK
develop software for the Mac as well.)
“We’re very happy to see that our
the same tool chain, the same solution is well designed. It offers an expectations were met,” says Marco
easy way for the existing community Piovanelli. “Developing for the iPhone
programming language, and mostly to develop simple apps for the iPhone. involves the same tool chain, the same
the same frameworks modern Mac The tool chain is complete and simple,
and all necessary tools are available.”
programming language, and mostly the
same frameworks modern Mac OS X
OS X developers know and love” Schadde’s point about it being easy
for existing Mac developers to create
developers know and love. That means
we can leverage our long-standing
Marco Piovanelli, Ovolab iPhone apps is important. Because the experience to get a head start over the

The iPhone SDK DEVELOP
developers flocking to the iPhone from

other platforms.”
and developers can account for Apple’s
withholdings when determining the “The iPhone SDK offers an easy way
Not everyone has been happy with
the iPhone SDK, however. “The SDK also
price of their application.”
Piovanelli agrees: “The 30/70 deal
for the existing community to develop
comes with many legal restrictions as sounds sweet to us, especially simple apps for the iPhone. The tool
part of the agreement,” says Paul considering that Apple will be
Kafasis, CEO of Rogue Amoeba. “These shouldering the entire cost of the chain is complete and simple, and all
restrictions are onerous, and we’ve distribution infrastructure – hosting,
talked publicly [on Rogue Amoeba’s bandwidth, payment processing, necessary tools are available”
blog, www.rogueamoeba.com/utm] automatic updates – and even part Till Schadde, Equinux
about how we believe they’ll stifle of the marketing expenses.”
innovation unnecessarily. There will be Rogue Amoeba’s Kafasis points out need to be approved for the App Store,
hundreds of good apps for the iPhone, that the revenue split is potentially the we have to follow requirements.”
but it will also be missing plenty of least contentious part of the App Store.
apps it could have had, because the “I think 30% is a bit high, but it’s within Health and safety
SDK agreement prevents developers reason. People are overplaying the Apple is justifiably keen to keep
from making them.” supposed exposure they get through the iPhone clean and stable; any
the App Store, but it’s still a good thing. instabilities or crashes that the user
Through the App Store It streamlines the process of getting experiences are as likely to be blamed
For iPhone users, the App Store is software to users, and I think it will on Apple rather than on the developer.
a one-stop outlet for buying and encourage many people who wouldn’t It has publicly stated that it will not
downloading apps from the huge otherwise buy software to do so. allow apps on the App Store that are
choice available. It’s simple and “However, I view having the App illegal, malicious, pornographic, hog
convenient. For the developer, the App Store be the exclusive way of getting bandwidth, compromise privacy or
Store is the only option they have if software as a distinct negative. The only fall under the worryingly vague
they want to distribute their work to argument I’ve seen in favour of this description of ‘unforeseen’. Apple can
the public. That means that iPhone is that it will enable Apple to better enforce these because its App Store is
developers have no choice but to control the software. The idea that the gatekeeper; the only legal and, as
accept the conditions Apple sets to Apple can provide true quality control far as the average punter is concerned,
gain admission to the App Store. or security isn’t realistic. They don’t do possible way to install apps.
For example, Apple takes a 30 per this on the Mac; users would have a fit There’s huge potential for the iPhone
cent cut from each sale. While this may if they tried. as a platform – its meaty processor,
sound high, Mac developer Chris Wilson “This one limitation also means that accelerometer, location-awareness and
believes the deal is fair. “[High Street] we’re stuck with everything else in the innovative Multi-Touch interface opens
retailers make the price whatever they SDK agreement. If users could load our it up to some original programs – but
want, so profits range from 10 to 200 software on to the device on their own, developers should understand all the
per cent. With Apple’s model, there’s a we wouldn’t need to worry about implications of writing iPhone apps
constant understanding of the costs, appeasing Apple. However, because we before taking the plunge. ●

Theworld’sgreatestgadgetmagazine,
nowontheworld’sgreatestgadget*...
*AS VOTED IN THE

T3 iPad edition available to download on iTunes October 2010 T3 GADGETAWARDS 2010
Make an app DEVELOP
GET CREATIVE
Build an
iPhone app
Join the mobile software gold rush by assembling a tip calculator using the free iPhone SDK
A
WHAT YOU’LL NEED pple’s App Store in iTunes is by
● Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6:The far the world’s most popular
iPhone development suite is venue for software for mobile
available only for the latest Mac devices. Over 250,000 applications
OS.Your computer should also are now available – all created by
have an Intel processor. developers with the iPhone SDK, a
● iPhone SDK: Apple’s free software package that anyone can
download provides all the tools use to create their own iPhone apps.
and templates required to The iPhone SDK (software
develop an iPhone application. development kit) is free to download
Get it at developer.apple.com. at www.apple.com/developer, but it’s
available only for Mac OS X – there’s
no windows version. It’s based on the
same Xcode development suite used to
develop many Mac OS X apps, which
provides a versatile environment for
writing the Objective-C code that
underpins iPhone software. It’s
complemented by companion tools
that enable performance analysis and BUILD IT Using Apple’s free iPhone software development kit, you can build and test applications that take advantage
drag-and-drop interface building. of the iPhone’s advanced hardware, then upload them to the App Store to offer them to millions of iPhone users
Here, we’ll use the iPhone SDK
to code and build an interface for a tip. The tip total will automatically choose Window-Based Application
restaurant gratuity calculator, which update as you adjust these controls. from the selection of application
we’ll call TippedOff. This software templates. Make sure that the Product
package will enable you to enter Getting started drop-down menu below the templates
the amount of a party’s bill with an In Xcode, select File ➜ New Project. In is set to iPhone. When prompted, name
on-screen keyboard, then adjust touch- the dialogue box that appears, click this new project ‘TippedOff’.
operated sliders to set the number of Create a new Xcode project. In the In the main window that opens,
people in the dining party and the next dialogue box, click Application select TippedOff in the left list, then
proportion of the bill that decides the under iOS in the left-hand list and highlight ‘TippedOffAppDelegate.h’
in the file list. This document lists
variables, interface functions and other
components. At present, it contains a
Tools for iPhone developers single controller, which is automatically
named after the project name you
Apple’s own website is a accessing the Internet and entered – in this case, ‘TippedOffApp
formidable resource for would-be displaying media. iPhone Delegate’. Remove all the text between
iPhone developers. The iOS Dev Application Development, the curly brackets within this document
Center (developer.apple.com/ meanwhile, is a free course from and enter the following in its place:
iphone) provides overview videos, Stanford University, available via
in-depth documents and sample iTunes U in the iTunes Store. float bill;
code to study. If you need more If you’d prefer sample code, float people;
help, Xcode’s documentation then visit Apps Amuck (www. float tip;
system, available via the Help appsamuck.com), which offers over float split;
menu, enables you to download 30 pieces of sample code to study. IBOutlet UIWindow *window;
an iPhone reference manual. And if you want to get acquainted IBOutlet UITextField *bill_enter;
Independent help is also with the iPhone SDK’s foundations, IBOutlet UILabel *bill_label,
available via Erica Sadun’s iPhone Stephen Kochan’s comprehensive *people_label, *tip_label, *split_label,
Developer’s Cookbook, which takes book Programming in Objective-C *split_result;
you through the basics of a well- is regarded as one of the best IBOutlet UISlider *people_slider,
rounded development regime. It introductions to the language. *tip_slider;
explains concepts such as views An updated third edition is due HELPING HAND With videos and sample code,
and tables, then walks you through in November 2010. iPhone developers have lots of places to turn Note the semicolon ending each line.
The first four lines of code define our

DEVELOP Make an app
Extend your iPhone application
NICE TIP A huge variety of tip calculators can be found on the App Store, each with its own approach. Study a few that catch your eye for inspiration on how to make your own iPhone tip calculator stand out from the crowd
Given that you can code your own tip sophiestication.de/iphone) wraps its figures. It’s convenient for changing feature that adds genuine benefits.
calculator in under an hour, it’s hardly simple tools in an elegant package, the tip, but more unwieldy for CheckPlease, for example, is able to
surprising that many are available to while iTip (www.gabcas.net) uses entering the bill amount. Conversely, export each restaurant transaction
download via the App Store. This icons to offer a clear workflow and TipStar (sites.google.com/site/ to its sister finance package
makes a gratuity calculator a great a clean look. But CheckPlease (www. tipstariphone) divides the calculation PocketMoney. International Tip
early development project: there’s catamount.com) looks crowded, with into separate pages, using the space Calculator (www.vault13studios.
plenty of opportunities for studying too much graphical sheen added to a to provide buttons for the most com/Vault13/itip.html) enables you
how other developers approached busy interface. common options – this way it only to choose which currency to use,
the challenge of turning a simple Also think about how you should takes a few seconds to enter details and suggests the level of tip that’s
idea into a compelling application. enter the bill and tip figures. and get a result. appropriate for the country you’re in.
Graphics are an important Tipulator employs dials – a standard What will really set your app apart See what distinctive twist you can
consideration. Tipulator (www. SDK element – for entering all from its rivals, though, is an extra devise fo your own iPhone apps…
four variables – bill, people, tip and element names that follow. The first Again, ‘IBAction’ is a cue for Interface
split – as floating-point numbers. The line, for example, should read: Builder, while the sender parameter
remaining lines set up a series of Instruments identifies the source of a piece of data.
interface elements, which are defined ‘@property (nonatomic, retain) Included with the Xcode As a separate line, enter:
through the UI descriptions. The UIWindow *window; development suite,
IBOutlet tag defines the elements Instruments is used in the - (void)calculate;
later stages of developing
as usable within Xcode’s companion ‘nonatomic’ aids multithreading an iPhone app. It helps you
program Interface Builder, which efficiency, while ‘retain’ prevents the improve performance by This declaration of the ‘calculate’
you’ll use later on. property value from being erased providing real-time function is needed here, even though
feedback on how your app
Next, you’ll set property declarations without your approval. affects the hardware. You
it’s undefined, because later functions
to store the current status of each Next, name the three functions that can use this data to invoke it as part of their operation.
interface element. In your document, the application uses as ‘peopleSlider’, optimise your code.
delete the existing line that starts ‘@ ‘tipSlider’ and ‘splitResult’. Below the Building the application
property’. In its place, copy and paste four ‘@property lines’, enter: Now you can start to build the app’s
the four ‘IBOutlet’ lines you entered mechanics, which enable the functions
earlier. On each of these copied lines, - (IBAction)peopleSlider:(id)sender; you’ve defined to work together. Begin
exchange ‘IBOutlet’ with ‘@property - (IBAction)tipSlider:(id)sender; by copying the four ‘@property’ lines
(nonatomic, retain)’, keeping the - (IBAction)splitResult:(id)sender; you created earlier, then switch to the
document ‘TippedOffAppDelegate.m’.
In this document, delete the line that
opens with ‘@ synthesize’ and paste the
four ‘@ property’ lines into the position
that line had occupied. For each of
these copied lines, replace ‘@property
(nonatomic, retain)’ with ‘@synthesize’,
which is an instruction for your
software compiling program. Next,
remove the UI describers in each of
these lines, as well as the asterisks
preceding each function.
Several functions that handle
application start-up and shut-down
tasks are already set up. Any further
functions are entered between these
and the ‘@end’ line. The first section
of code initialises the values of a few
of the variables:
- init {
if (self = [super init]) {
bill = 0;
people = 2;
tip = 15;
split = 0;
}
return self;
CODE MASTERS Xcode manages your development project and provides an Objective-C programming environment with helpful debugging features }

Make an app DEVELOP
The next piece of code watches

for users who enter text into the
top-right text field, linked to the Release
‘bill_enter’ parameter: your app
Although the iPhone SDK
- (BOOL)textFieldShouldReturn: is free to anyone who
(UITextField *)theTextField { registers at www.apple.
[bill_enter resignFirstResponder]; com/developer, there’s a
price attached to bringing
return YES; your new application to
} market. To test your
program on hardware,
After new text is entered, the next rather than the iPhone
Simulator, and to release
fragment updates the text field display your application via the
and converts numerical text into a true App Store, you must join
number. The calculate function is then Apple’s iOS Developer
Program. It costs $99
invoked to update the ‘bill split’ total. for individuals or small
companies, and $299
- (void)textFieldDidEndEditing: for large companies.
(UITextField *)theTextField {
bill = bill_enter.text.floatValue;
theTextField.text = [NSString
stringWithFormat:@”%1.2f”, GOOD CONNECTIONS To connect your defined functions to the components you’ve created in Interface Builder, hold down
theTextField.text.floatValue]; Ctrl and drag the mouse between relevant objects, select a function that appears when you release the mouse button
[self calculate]; Dislike
}
Add some control You also need to link some Outlets in the SDK?
Next, you create two Slider objects. Double-click ‘MainWindow.xib’ in the the opposite direction. Ctrl-drag from Third-party development
The first is peopleSlider, which sets the TippedOff file list to open both a blank the Text Field object to TippedOffApp tools for the iPhone are
emerging. Among these
number of people in the group. The first interface window and a separate Delegate and select ‘delegate’. Similarly, is Shiva (www.stonetrip.
line echoes the naming instructions in window holding objects to link to link up peopleSlider and tipSlider to com), a tool for creating
the previous document. The second your interface parts. the higher and lower Sliders. 3D games and rich
interactive applications.
line enables the position of the Select Tools ➜ Library to open up The final operations to complete in The iPhone has been
peopleSlider control to set the value a list of objects that you can drag on Interface Builder tighten the controls’ added to its list of
for the variable ‘people’, turning the to the interface window. Place a Label behaviour. Select the Text Field object. supported platforms,
number into an integer. The third line object in the top-left corner and a Text In the Attributes Inspector’s Text field, which also includes
Windows, Mac OS X and
changes the control’s accompanying Field object in the top-right. Placement enter ‘0.00’ as the default value, then Linux. A free learning
label according to the value of the guidelines appear as you move objects, change Alignment to centred. Make edition is available, while
‘people’ variable. enabling you to line up components. sure that ‘Clear When Editing Begins’ licences start from €169
(approx £132).
Below these two objects, add two is ticked. Under Text Input Traits, set
- (IBAction)peopleSlider:(id)sender; { pairs of Label and Slider objects. Stretch Keyboard to ‘Numbers & Punctuation’
people = rintf(people_slider.value); the Slider objects so that they go across so the user doesn’t have to switch over
people_label.text = [NSString the screen’s width. Next, add two Label from the default keyboard. Change
stringWithFormat:@”%1.0f people”, objects in the bottom-left and bottom- Return Key to
people];
[self calculate];
right corners. Adjust the bottom-right
Label’s Layout Alignment to ‘right’ to
‘Done’ and tick
‘Auto-enable
You can now use the
} make it look a bit neater.
To change the text inside the
Return Key’.
Now select
app, dragging sliders and
The tipSlider function is a little different: Labels, select Tools ➜ Attributes the higher Slider entering the bill total
it doesn’t need to be changed to an Inspector, then click on each Label in object, which
integer and the variable part of the turn and change its ‘Text’ value. From sets the number of people in the dining
label is set to ‘%1.1’ rather than ‘%1.0’. the top, rename the Labels as ‘Bill’, group. For Values, set Minimum to
This means that a single decimal point ‘2 people’ and ‘15.0% tip’. Rename the ‘2’ (you don’t need to use the app to
is displayed: bottom two Labels as ‘Split’ and ‘0.00’. work out the split if you’re eating alone)
Some Labels will change values as the and Maximum to ‘20’. Set Initial to ‘2’ as
- (IBAction)tipSlider:(id)sender; { controls are adjusted: what you’ve well: this matches the default Label for
tip = tip_slider.value; entered here represents the defaults this Slider that you created earlier. For
tip_label.text = [NSString stringWith that a user will see when the the lower Slider, which is used to set the
Format:@”%1.1f%% tip”, tip]; application is launched. tip percentage, set Minimum to ‘0’ and
[self calculate]; Next, you’ll link the interface parts Maximum to ‘25’, then set Initial to ‘15’ –
} to controllers so that the user’s again matching the default Label object
adjustments affect the variables that you’ve defined for that Slider.
The final code for this document you’ve established. Hold Ctrl and drag Your tip calculator is now ready to
defines the calculate function, which from the TippedOffAppDelegate object use. To try it out, return to Xcode and
updates the ‘bill split’ figure whenever to the Bill Label. From the pop-up menu press ‘Build and Run’ in the toolbar.
the app use adjusts a control: that appears, select the ‘bill_label’ Xcode compiles the code and bundles
Outlet. Similarly, link the ‘people_label’ it into an application, triggering iPhone
- (void)calculate { Outlet to the ‘2 people’ Label; ‘tip_label’ Simulator to present the result. You can
split = ((bill * tip / 100) + bill) / people; to the ‘15.0% tip’ Label; ‘split_label’ to now use the app as you would on an
split_result.text = [NSString the ‘Split’ Label; and ‘split_result’ to the iPhone, dragging sliders and entering
stringWithFormat:@”%1.2f”, split]; ‘0.00’ Label. the bill total in the top-right text field.
} Now hold down Ctrl and again drag There’s a glut of such tools on the
from TippedOffAppDelegate to the Text App Store, so you can study how
With the various functions defined Field object, and link ‘bill_enter’ when different programmers have tackled
as code, you can now assemble the prompted. Then link ‘people_slider’ their tips calculators. (See ‘Extend your GUIDED Interface Builder enables
application itself with the SDK’s to the higher Slider object and ‘tip_ iPhone application’, opposite.) See if you you to drag and drop UI components
graphical Interface Builder. slider’ to the lower Slider object. can come up with your own approach! ● and use auto-positioning guides

DEVELOP Interview
APP MAN
Wracked by commuter misery, Malcolm Barclay developed an iPhone app
to help himself and others keep track of delays. Now it pays his rent…
C
ontract programmer Malcolm of applications, and some months have available to third-party developers
Barclay was facing the familiar surpassed what I could even make at a price that’s affordable, or at all.
perils of having to navigate home contracting. I have been invited to,
on the London Underground when he flown to and been paid to speak at Do you think that the simplest
decided to make his first app. Tube conferences. I have met all manner of ideas are the best?
Status simply displays live information people, from grass roots designers to Yes, but it’s the execution and polish
about any Tube line suffering delays. CEOs and presidents of multinational that counts. People will never see
It’s been such a success that he now corporations. I can pick and choose my the many screens or even whole
develops apps full time. We visited his contracts, or just work on my own stuff features that were removed during
office – his kitchen in east London – to for a while. development. They only see the end
find out how apps changed his life. The level of media coverage has product and then think, “Wow what a
been really unexpected; going on a great idea.” The idea happened a long
Why Tube Status? live-to-air BBC TV interview certainly time ago; what followed was a lot of
I was caught out by a Northern Line gets the adrenaline pumping. hard work and decisions.
closure on my way home one night. This is why I don’t place much value
It seemed obvious to me that this What’s your background? on ideas; they are a tiny part of what it
information should be easily available I’ve been a contract programmer for 10 takes to make a great app. Apps that
as an app on my first-generation years, building a mixture of interactive are dead simple on the surface aren’t
iPhone. I didn’t even think the idea was and corporate websites. I started always so easy to program. The less you
particularly inventive, so I thought: coding from a young age but never bother the user with, the better.
“Make it yourself, make it fast and thought it would be my career.
make it work.” I thought all kids programmed on their What are your favourite apps?
Having worked on and off with Macs, 48K ZX Spectrum… Of course, I did Hipstamatic, Twitter (formerly Tweetie),
I set about teaching myself Objective-C other things like skateboarding and Reeder, Dropbox and Evernote.
[programming language] and wrote radio control cars too.
Tube Status, a simple free app that I studied photography at design What does the iPad bring to the table
quickly gives you the status of all school, got a job in a digital bureau and for developers?
London Underground lines. then the internet came along. From Space. It’s quite clear, now that the iPad
then on, I taught myself a lot about has been out for a while, that existing
Was it an instant success? programming but also had the benefit iPhone apps don’t translate well to it.
I submitted it to the App Store; it took a of working with very smart people. One needs to really take advantage of
month to approve and it had 10,000 what the iPad has to offer. It doesn’t
downloads in the first week. Requests Have you always been inventive? necessarily mean ‘stuff everything into
for a map, journey planning, timetables, Yes. Whether it was modifying my one screen’, but it does mean you need
departures and everything else you radio control cars growing up or to take a different approach. For me, it’s
could think of came flooding into the photography, I was always tinkering or almost a rewrite.
inbox, so I licensed the map from making something. It was two years
Transport for London and set about ago that I got interested in apps, just as Have you actually seen people using
writing Tube Deluxe. I charged £1.79 in Apple was releasing the iPhone SDK. any of your apps?
the first month it went live, did 10,000 I had never programmed a mobile Yes – it’s really cool. I often see people
downloads and thought “maybe I could application before, and had even using Tube Deluxe. Strangely, I feel
make a living off this.” It now sells for ignored things like Wap for mobiles. really shy about saying anything
59p and has had no fewer than five directly to them. People that meet
months’ development work put into it. Have you had any failed app ideas? me in social situations are genuinely
I’ve since introduced other travel apps I was very nearly there with a Tube surprised to meet me. The fame side
that have also been successful: London Exits-style app, and the Tube Exits guys has been quite an experience.
Bus, NextBuses & Traveline S&E. got the jump on me. It just wasn’t
RICHARD GRASSIE
worth completing. What’s next?

How has it changed your life? I’ve had other train app ideas too, An iPad app for Greater London travel,
It pays the full rent and then some. but getting hold of the data has proved and more features to take advantage
I make a very healthy living off my suite too difficult; very little data is made of the new iOS 4. ●

Interview DEVELOP

 E Meebo 84 Soccer Manager 154
1112 Chapters 1&2 140 eBay Mobile & eBay Selling 76 Melodica 50 Sol Free Solitaire 120
1Password 110 Ego 109 Met Office Weather 69 SolarQuest 137
1Shoot 38 Email ’n Walk 112 Metal Gear Solid Touch 150 Sonic The Hedgehog 135
3DVIA Mobile 40 Enigmo 131 Mill Colour 43 Spawn Illuminati 47
eReader 93 Mobile Maps 63 Spirit 129
A eScrap App 80 MobileMe iDisk 109 Spoke 48
Ace Combat Xi 153 Euphonics 48 Modern Combat: Sandstorm 151 Spore Origins 137
AIM 84 Evernote 101 Momento 86 Spotify 91
Air Mouse Pro 107 EyeTV 88 Mondo Solitaire 121 Squareball 130
Air Sharing 108 Monster Pinball 124 SquatFu 75
AirPhones 83 F MotionX Dice 22 Stage Hand 103
Amazon Mobile UK 76 Face Melter 41 Music Studio 55 Stanza 17
AmpliTube 22 Facebook 86 Myst 140 Starbucks 68
Angry Birds 125 FatBooth 41 Storyboard Composer 45
Animation Creator 44 FileMagnet 108 N Super Monkey Ball 2 133
Aqua Moto Racing 148 Final Fantasy 142 National Trust 68 Sway 136
Argon 53 Fishing Kings 155 Navigon Mobile Sygic Mobile Maps UK & Ireland 65
Articles 94 Flare Scratch 56 Navigator Europe 65
Artisan 46 Flickr 93 NetNewsWire 113 T
Assassin’s Creed II 141 Flight Control 145 NOVA 152 TabToolkit 57
Astro Ranch 143 Flipbook 44 NumberKey 105 Talking Carl 95
Atomic Clock 21 FlipTime 82 Talking Phrasebook 69
Attic 90 Fluid FX 46 O Tap Tap Revenge 125
AutoStitch Panorama 39 For All Seasons 46 Ocado 23 technoBox 54
Awards 80 Frenzic 127 Ocarina 50 TED 89
Fring 84 Occasions 81 Texas Hold’Em 122
B OldBooth Premium 41 The Cat in the Hat 95
Balcassa 131 G OmniFocus 102 The Package 130
Balloonimals 95 Geared 132 On This Day 94 The Secret of Monkey
Band 52 Gliss 48 Opera Mini 112 Island: SE 138
Bathomatic 19 Google Earth 69 Orbital 129 The Sims 3 World Adventures 144
Battleship 121 Grand Theft Auto: The Warlock of
Bebot 49 Chinatown Wars 146 P Firetop Mountain 140
Bejeweled 2 128 Groceries 76 Pang 126 Thereminator 50
Beneath a Steel Sky 139 Guitar Hero 124 Pastebot 105 Tilt to Live 129
Bento 102 Guitar Toolkit 57 Pennies 79 TimeTuner 82
Billings Touch 104 Photo fx 39 Tipulator 77
Birdhouse 85 H PhotoKeys 42 Tom Tom 63
Bistromath 77 Happening 86 Photoshop Express 39 TomTom Western Europe 64
Black and White 123 PianoFly 54 Touch DJ 56
bleep!Synth 53 I Postman 87 Touch Grind 155
Bloom 47 I Love Katamari 137 Prey Invasion 152 TouchPad 106
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut 139 iBlast Moki 135 Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 154 Tozzle 95
Brothers in Arms: iDrum 51 PullupFu 75 Trails 66
Hour of Heroes 151 iFractal 46 Pulsar 47 Trails GPS Tracker 63
Business Card Reader 104 iGO My Way 2009 62 PushupFu 75 Trism 128
iHandy Carpenter 18 Trope 48
C iHome+Sleep 82 Q Truphone 22
Calcbot 105 iMovie 45 Q*Bert International 126 TuneIn Radio 90
Camera Dialer 107 InstantDrummer 51 Qik VideoCamera 38 Tuner Internet Radio 90
CameraMagic Effects 40 International Athletics 155 QuadCamera 38 Twitter 85
CameraBag 18 iPlayer 17 Quickoffice 100 Twitterrific Premium 85
Car Jack Streets 146 Iron Man: Aerial Assault 153 Quiz Quiz Quiz 123
Cardiograph 23 iShred 51 U
Chaos Rings 141 iStat 111 R UK Cinema Times 77
Chordmaster 57 iTalk Recorder 104 Radio Times 89 UK Train Times 67
Civilization Revolution 143 iTracer 44 Ragdoll Cannon! 127 Units 78
Classics 93 ReaddleDocs 109 UniWar 145
Cogs 132 J ReBirth 55 Up There 125
Color Expert 43 Jasuto Pro 54 RedLaser 83
Comic Touch 41 Reeder 112 V
Commodore 64 124 K ReelDirector 45 Vector Tanks 153
Concise OED 94 Kineo 44 Remote 83 Vicinity 66
ConvertBot 78 Rimote 19 Virtuoso Piano 51
CoPilot Live 62 L RjDj 56 Vocalia 106
Crash Bandicoot 147 Labyrinth 2 133 Rolando 136
Critter Crunch 128 Last.fm 91 RunKeeper 75 W
Cro-Mag Rally 148 Layers 42 Wagamama
CrunchFu 75 Leaf Trombone 50 S Wallet 110
Cue Play DJ 56 Lightsaber Unleashed 18 Sally Park 67 WeightBot 78
Limits 81 SAS Survival Guide 68 WhatTheFont 43
D Liquid Scale 40 Seismometer 22 WiScale 20
DarkSlide Premium 92 LogMeIn Ignition 107 Shazam 91 Wolfenstein 3D 150
DataCase 108 London Tube 67 SketchBook Mobile 42 Wurdle 123
De Blob 134 LuxGallery 93 skobbler UK/Ireland 66
Delivery Status touch 76 Sky Mobile TV News & Sports 89 Y/Z
Documents To Go 101 M Sky+ 83 Years 81
Domino’s 23 Mad ’o’ Ball 3D 127 Skype 87 Yell.com 23
Doom Resurrection 149 Measures 17 SlingPlayer Mobile 88 Zen Bound 131

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE VERY BEST iPHONE APPS
the 2011
We showcase the very best apps for your

iPhone and iPod touch, from top games
to photo editors and shopping apps
Create
Learn a musical instrument, edit
photos and even paint a picture
Explore
Use your iPhone as a sat nav, find
local attractions or check the weather
Enjoy
Improve your social life, get radio and
TV on your iPhone and much more
Work
Boost your productivity with our pick
of home and business applications
Play
Discover the games that are setting
the iPhone user’s world alight

2011 Iphone App

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180 PAGES OF ESSENTIAL iPHONE ADVICE AND APP REVIEWS

Revealed! The best social, gaming,

Printed in the UK £12.99

From the makers of

Create Explore Enjoy Work Play

Editor Christian Hall

FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED

Group Senior Editor Paul Newman

PRINT & PRODUCTION

The text paper in this magazine is totally

The 2011 iPhone app guide 3

6 Meet the iPhone and iPod touch 60 Sat-nav on the iPhone

26 Install apps with iTunes 72 Can an iPhone get you fit?

36 Edit photos on your iPhone

6 The 2011 iPhone app guide

Whether you’re getting

The 2011 iPhone app guide 7

8 The 2011 iPhone app guide

iPhone 3GS 8GB iPhone 4 16GB iPhone 4 32GB

iPod touch 8GB iPod touch 32GB iPod touch 64GB

The 2011 iPhone app guide 9

10 The 2011 iPhone app guide

The details KEY INFO

2 Two cameras: Five-meg

for video calls using FaceTime

4 Stainless steel band:

The 2011 iPhone app guide 11

12 The 2011 iPhone app guide

DISCREET DISPLAY The

quality, but they are much better than

The 2011 iPhone app guide 13

SUBTLE The iPhone 3GS looks

iPhone 3GS 8GB

14 The 2011 iPhone app guide

PORTABLE AUDIO PLAYER

The 2011 iPhone app guide 15

things you never

16 The 2011 iPhone app guide

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

1 Radio & TV 2 Unit converter

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…

3 Dictionary 4 Instant library

The 2011 iPhone app guide 17

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5 Retro camera 6 GPS logger

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

8 Rock group 9 Tape measure

18 The 2011 iPhone app guide

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

The 2011 iPhone app guide 19

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

20 The 2011 iPhone app guide

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

13 Remote control 14 Number pad

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The 2011 iPhone app guide 21

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19 Shopping mall 20 Phone!

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A… TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO AN…

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…

22 The 2011 iPhone app guide

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A…