eXtensions: AMITIAE

AMITIAE - Tuesday 30 October 2012

Updates to A Baker's Dozen of iOS Apps (Plus 1 - Updated)

By Graham K. Rogers

Apple

While Apple watchers like myself are sort of reeling from the changes within the upper levels at Cupertino, at the consumer end of things, I see that a number of apps are available for update this morning.

Typic

I reviewed Typic only last week and was rather favourable towards it, but noted then that "there are no other filters available. . . nor are there other fonts. I add that I was looking forward to "some in-app purchasing options for those who might want to increase the ways this can be used."

My wish here has been granted in part as the 1.3 update to Typic has 7 fonts for in-app purchase as well as other changes shown:

Remove frame button

New text color: black

New start-over button

as well as the usual bug fixes.

iBooks

Although iBooks was only updated last week, there is a 3.0.1 update which apparently resolves an issue where iBooks may unexpectedly quit. Useful.

Find My Friends

Apple has also updated the Find My Friends app and it is now at version 2.0.1. There are two changes with the way temporary friends appear and how Friends notifications regarding a user's location appear in Me > Followers.

Photo Editor by Aviary

This useful photo editor and effects app is a particular favourite of mine and I reviewed it initially in June. This update has new sticker packs, has added OpenGL support of quicker editing and saving, and now has a number of new aspect ratios *16:9, 16:10, 2.35:1, 4:5, 5:6, 11:14.

An improved text tool allows multiple lines of text input and there are the usual bug fixes and improvements.

Paper Camera

Another app for adding some excellent effects to both still and video images is Paper Camera. JFDP Labs have been hard t work and there are several improvements. Facebook integration has been added, and the quality of output has been enhanced, "greatly". A review of shots taken has been added and there is (we are told) improved import pictures flow. A bug that produced black pictures and inverted videos in some cases has been dealt with.

Phoster

I first reviewed Phoster last December and rather liked the way this worked on the iPhone. The latest version (1.4.2) has been brought up to date with support for iPhone 5 and iPod touch (Gen 5) as well as iOS 6 support and optimization.

Doodle Kids

I grabbed Doodle Kids when it first came out a couple of years back for the simple reason that it was a simple app, written for kids by a 9 year old. Lim Deng Wen was obviously bright and keen on programming, but it is still an unusual feat. The app now supports iPhone 5.

Also Updated

A number of other apps were also updated:

Picture Effect Magic, which has a bug fix and a new editor plugin;
NASA App, which reports a new interface and new sections;
Hubble Top 100 (bug fix);
HP ePrint service which allows users to print photos to Walgreens stores (in the US presumably);
QuickFind (for multiple site searches) with iOS and iPhone 5 updates as well as bug-fixes; and
Fancy.

Just after I uploaded this item to my site, another update appeared: Tonara. This is a useful app for those who like to read sheet music (a blind-spot for me I am afraid). It is now up to version 2.0.1 and the developers report bug fixes today.

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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