eXtensions: AMITIAE

AMITIAE - Tuesday 19 March 2013

Several Updates to iOS Apps (9): Facebook, Kickstarter, GM Magazines and Others

By Graham K. Rogers

Apps

A number of updates appeared in my list in the iTunes App Store this morning, and one or two of these are significant.

MyScript Calculator

The iPhone and other iOS devices are touch screen devices, so apps that use this prime feature to the full are useful. I first looked at MyScript Calculator in January of this year. Numbers and symbols are drawn by hand (or finger) on the screen: the app changes these to calculator-friendly input and provides an answer. It is nice and simple. When compared to the keyboard input of a normal calculator app, there are some distinct advantages.

This update of MyScript Calculator, to version 1.1.2, fixes a calendar bug introduced in the previous update and the developers apologise for this.

F1 2013 Timing App

I had a look at the F1 2013 Timing App late last week while waiting for the opening Grand Prix of the season in Australia. There was an update just after I downloaded the app, with some minor fixes. It is not unusual for the start of any season that more bugs are found when changes to the app - and to data delivery - are tested for the first time in real conditions as the races are run. The app has been improved and updates to postions during racing were much better than last year.

This latest update to F1 2013 Timing App fixes a minor annoyance: when the app was used in landscape mode, there was a slight problem with the display of drivers' names. This will now show the correct positions. The developers, Soft-Pauer, also report minor bug fixes.

AP Mobile

Associated Press is still one of the major news organisations, along with Reuters. The AP Mobile app is one of many apps that provide news for users of iOS devices. Indeed, the variety of ways in which news can be delivered is sometimes confusing and the end decision on what apps to use becomes subjective: what do I like the most?

The AP Mobile app has now been updated to version 5.5 and a number of improvements are reported. A breaking news alert now provides a heads-up for new items: a link is provided as they are being uploaded. There is a fully localized version for Spanish readers, as well as several stability improvements. AP also write in the update news that the app "works great on iPad mini and iPhone 5".

Facebook

Any update to the Facebook app has the popular sites and the Tweeters racing to report first. Version 5.6, just released, has a number of improvements and the developers write, "Keep your timeline fresh by updating your cover photo on the go": a new feature allows the cover photo to be updated by using the camera or, on the iPhone, selecting an image from the Library. Also changed is the ability to start a group message with fewer taps; and it is easier now to find and name group conversations.

iMore

The online publication iMore, which had a couple of other names before hand, has some valuable output and its contributors, led by Rene Ritchie, do some good work. This site is worth following by RSS or the app. Or by any other means: useful opinions and news items here.

The iMore app was updated to version 2 only last week, so this newest update to version 2.0.1 is just a bug fix and enhancement release.

Image Blender

I have a couple of apps from Johan Andersson: Image Straightener and Image Blender ($2.99). The latter allows two images to be over-layed and the amount each is displayed can be adjusted: more of one or the other, depending on the effect wanted.

There were a number of updates recently to Image Blender including interface improvements, a GIF picker (selection of a specific frame), iCloud synching and TIFF support. Now the latest update to version 1.9.1 tweaks those changes and fixes an issue that caused some images to be flipped after being saved, when using a mask.

Kickstarter for iPhone

While I had used the services of Kickstarter (micro-investment for new projects), it was not until February this year that I downloaded the iPhone app. There was an update to this last week, and now the developers have a further update bringing Kickstarter for iPhone to version 1.1.2.

The update fixes some small problems that some users had found when sharing on Facebook after backing a project. In addition, orientation on an iPad is corrected. The developers also report that a problem that prevented the app staying live in the background has been fixed.

Camera360 Concept - HelloCamera

Although I downloaded Camera360 Concept - HelloCamera, I do not find that it is in my list of apps that I use regularly. Yet, looking at output on sites like Facebook, it is clear that many people do enjoy using this.

The update to version 0.9.7 has three comments:

Add photo fine adjustment functions;
Add new and cool textures;
Better photo editing experience.

GM GROUP Magazines

One for local users now. The GM Group has had an app for the iPad for quite a while now and through the app, users are able to read (download) many of the company's titles. Titles include GM Magazine, GM Watch Magazine, GM Car Magazine and many others. Users must have an account with Ookbee, so there is some setting up to be done.

The GM GROUP Magazines app history shows a number of regular updates, so the developers are keeping things running (some developers write, then run). The latest update only reports some minor bug fixes although the previous one (last month) had a number of improvements.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.

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