Mobile Apps (travel, lifestyle, entertainment, etc.)

Thank you everyone for attending the Devices SIG meeting that took place yesterday (April 15th). We had an interesting conversation on topics that we plan to talk about after the summer.

During that meeting we talked also about several travel, lifestyle, food, drink, entertainment mobile applications that you might find useful. Summer is coming so many of us are planning some vacation – check the list of apps below.

Here is a list of some of the mobile apps you might find useful  (here you can find also the presentation from yesterday):

Would you like to find out even more mobile applications: here is a link to 13 Travel Mobile Apps (click here)

Have a great summer and stay safe on-line!

Android KitKat

Jelly Bean…KitKat are not only names of sweets we can buy but also are the names of Android operation system.  KitKat is currently only available on Nexus 5 (Android smartphone). Btw. each Android release is names after something sweet 🙂

“Smart – Simple – and Truly Yours”*

• more polished design
• improved performance
• “OK Google” – you can launch voice search, use maps, play a song, send a text
• faster multitasking – improved touchscreen
• new phone application – automatically prioritizes your contacts based on the people you talk to the most
• caller ID – whenever you get a call from a phone number not in your contacts, your phone will look for matches from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps
• better cloud print feature
• low-power audio playback – up to 60h of audio
• music and movie-seeking from lock screen

*list of features from android.com

 

Chromecast

If you know Apple devices then there is a chance you are familiar with Apple AirPlay:

“AirPlay lets you wirelessly stream what’s on your iOS device to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV. Or mirror exactly what’s on your display to the big screen. Vacation photos, blockbusters, the latest games – AirPlay and Apple TV put it all on your TV.”

more on Apple AirPlay, please visit Apple website

 

…so now we have something new from Google just recently announced Chromecast, a gadget that lets users watch content from their portable devices (smartphones, tablets or laptops) on their TV. It’s easy to use: all you need to do is to plug the Chromecast into the TV using an HDMI input and connect to the home Wi-Fi network.

Apple users use AirPlay and Android (system) users now can use Chromecast.

 

Mobile Apps for Vacation

Are you getting ready for vacation? Summer time, relax, good time around the corner?

Check this list of  travel, food, drink, entertainment and lifestyle mobile applications.

How to Monitor Your House for Free

Worried about your home while on vacation? Would you like to keep “an eye” on your dog/cat home-alone? Try this mobile application that can help you to monitor your house. Presence (mobile application) will transform your old smartphone/tablet into remote security cameras for home monitoring systems.

“Unlike traditional monitoring systems that can be expensive and need technical knowledge to install and use, Presence is a free do-it-yourself system that can be set up simply by downloading and configuring the app.”

Presence converts a spare internet-connected iPhone/iPad/ or Android device into a free video camera with a real-time video/audio streaming.

• available  on iPhone and iPad
• available on Android

 

 

Application of the Day: SeatGuru

Do you like to travel? Would you like to make sure that you have a good seat during your flight? Are you frustrated at the differences between seating arrangements across airlines? SeatGuru application can help

A single, color-coded interactive airplane seating chart. Green is a ‘good’ seat, yellow is a ‘not-so-good’ seat, and red is a ‘avoid-at-all-costs seat’.

Specification:

• seat-map – so you can decide which seat is right for you
• you can check the flight status
• search for flights
• post photos/view photos shared by others – review seat and cabin photos
• connect to Facebook
• real-time flight status alerts

Availability:

• iPad/iPhone (free) – iTunes.com
• Android (free) – GooglePlay

Additional useful information:

• Guide to airline boarding procedures – click on this link to SeatGuru website article
• Additional iPhone travel applications reviews – click on this link to SeatGuru website article
• The ultimate guide to in-seat laptop power ports – click on this link to SeatGuru website article

…and before you book your flight and choose the “right” seat check this short video:

Applications of the Day: Movies

It’s the Oscars time, so why not to check what kind of movie -editing mobile applications are available.

iMovie mobile application:

• make beautiful HD movies anywhere, the fast and fun application
• browse and play projects in the Marquee view
• create Hollywood-style trailers or sophisticated home movies. Choose from 12 trailers with stunning graphics
• users can add videos, photos, music and sound effects
• users can choose from a selection of 8 unique themes, each with its own set of titles, transitions, and music
• publish directly from iMovie to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and CNN iReport
• send to the Camera Roll and share in an email or via iMessage
• use AirPlay to stream video to your HDTV over Wi-Fi with Apple TV
• and many more features …

available on iPad ($4.99) – iTunes.com

VidTrim Pro – video editor and organizer for Android.

• simple video-editing application
• features like trimming, frame grabbing, video effects, extract audio (convert to MP3) and transcoding (convert to MP4)
• additions effects like: Black&White, Negate, Pixellate, Posterize, Glow, etc.
• share videos (via email, YouTube, etc.)

available on Android phones ($2.84) – GooglePlay

Magisto – Magical Video Editor

• intelligent video editor that stitches video clips together
• adds fancy transitions
• lets you spice thing up with an audio track of your own
• the editing process is automated for users convenience
• you don’t have to be a video editor or know anything about video editing at all. Think of Magisto as your own private video editor – Magisto will analyze your footage and splice it together for you, creating a professional looking movie – an edit that you’ll be proud to share with your friends

available on Android smartphones (free) – GooglePlay 

available on iPhone (free) – iTunes.com

AndroMedia Video Editor

• a video editor that can trim and put videos together, and transitions to them for both the audio and video clips
• overlay title effects
• export movies in standard definition or HD (320p 480p 720p)
• drag and drop video clips for easy video editing

available on Android smartphones (free) – GooglePlay

 

Usually I try to share information about mobile applications that are not very expensive but today I decided to present TouchEdit video editing app ($49.99)

Specifications:

• it’s a frame-accurate video editing system for iPad
• to perform edits, users have two monitors – a source and a record monitor – controlled by two corresponding filmstrips
• users control the filmstrips by running their fingers back and forth across them, using gestures to perform edits
• TouchEdit’s timeline based editor also enables users to interact directly with the video and eight channels of audio

TouchEdit is available on iPad – iTunes.com

more tutorials for TouchEdit app, please visit TouchEditPro

 

 

In Case of Emergency – Mobile Applications

Do you know what mobile applications to check in case of emergency?

In case of disaster – “what to do guide” mobile applications:

• Disaster Readiness ($1.49/$1.99) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com and Android GooglePlay
• iEmergency ($0.99) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com
• Disaster Survival Guide ($1.36) – for Android GooglePlay
• Emergency Supply List ($1.99) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com

 

Weather mobile applications:

• iHurricane HD (free) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com 
• Hurricane – American Red Cross (free) –  for Android  GooglePlay and iPhone/iPad iTunes.com
• The Weather Channel app (free) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com and Android GooglePlay
• MyRadar Weather (free) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com and Android GooglePlay
• NOAA Hi-Def Radar ($0.99) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com
• iMap Weather Radio ($9.99) – for iPhone/iPad iTunes.com

 

6 Mobile Applications for You

Mashable.com created a list of mobile applications you might find interesting, here are few apps from the list:

• Edamam – recipe finder. Application focused on highly visual presentation. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)

• Flashlight – yes there is that kind of application available on your smartphone. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)
• Find My Car – all you need to do is to enter your car’s parking space using the phone’s GPS coordinates (by taking a photo of your car in it’s place or just typing little note like “Parked on 100th St.”). When it’s time to find your car, just hit the “Find My Car” button and it’ll even navigate you there. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)

 

• Vision Test – in case you want to test your vision, here’s the application for that. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)

• Draw Something – and here’s a game you might like to play with your family and friends. You’re given a word to draw like “truck” or “farmer”. You do your best, using simple drawing tools and then send your creation to your gamemate. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)

• My Fitness Pal – need a calorie counter and diet tracker? this application helps you stay on track to achieve specific wellness goals. To download this app go to: iTunes (for iPhone, iPad) or GooglePlay (for Android)

Application of the Day: FastMall

I came across an interesting application called FastMall

“FastMall was created by a team of passionate shoppers, parents, developers, engineers, visionaries and bathroom-goers who are dedicated to making it the best mobile platform for offline shopping navigation in the history of mankind. The idea originally came from President/CEO Sam Feuer’s wife, Amie, who was completely fed up with static mall directories and the overall lack of restroom guidance. Up until now, there has been no interactive guidance to the restroom, stores or food court without asking 14 people who are also walking in circles.”

FastMall team are currently working on iPhone apps to add interactive maps for several other venues besides shopping malls (hospitals, airports, convention centers, etc.)

Specification:

• you can navigate any mall map without the need of GPS or Wi-Fi. Once you download any mall map you can get interactive navigation even without an internet connection
• share your smartphone for the nearest restroom
• tell your FastMall app where you parked and it will remember for you
• turn-by-turn guidance inside the mall, from store to store
• sync your status on Facebook and Twitter
• make a wish list of things you must have
• add reviews of restrooms, restaurants and stores
• and more

Availability:

• iOS – iTunes.com
• Android – GooglePlay