Ipad & Iphone User - Issue 73, 2013

APP REVI EWS, TI PS AND BUYI NG ADVI CE FOR i OS ADDI CTS
93

APPS & GAMES
REVIEWED
iWatch revolution
Nothing will be the same
Master iCloud
Advanced syncing masterclass
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
iPAD COMIC READERS
REPLACE APPLES APPS NOW
Apple
iPhone 5
Meet the PowerSkin for
www.powerskin.co.uk
PowerSkin battery cases provide the ultimate power solution
with a quick-wrap protective case for your on-the-go lifestyle.
Because battery life is life.
Learn More
Untitled-1 1 21/03/2013 11:34
iPad & iPhone User 2013 3
O
h, Samsung. Will your cheeky capers never end?
You accuse Apple of valuing marketing magic above
product innovation, then you outspend Apples
marketing budget by $68m. You make snide adverts
about Apple customers queuing up for new iPhones
with tiny changes, then unveil a Galaxy S4 that couldnt be picked
out in an S3 police line-up. And you claim not to copy Apples
products, but then do everything you can bar resurrecting Steve
Jobs to do a zombie keynote to copy its launch events.
In the world of Apple and not-Apple (a position currently
occupied by Samsung), double standards are par for the course;
but the contrasting receptions given to the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4
are still vexing. Everyone else rolls
out cautious, iterative upgrades
and gets a cheer for trying,
but Apple has to redene the
product category every time.
In an ideal world, of course,
every Apple launch would be like
the rst iPhone: thrilling, new,
and ripe with possibilities. But no company can keep that up forever.
Some, as Samsung has shown once again, never manage it at all.
Still, we can all dream, and like most of you, we love to come
up with ideas for future Apple products. Starting on page 16, we
sift through some intriguing concepts for the next iPad, iPhone and
version of iOS. Who knows? These could appear in the Apple launch
line-up of 2014. And, perhaps, in the Samsung line-up of 2015.
WELCOME
David Price
EDITOR
WHATS NEXT?
In an ideal world, of
course, every Apple
launch would be like
the rst iPhone
Email me your thoughts: david_price@idg.co.uk
Or contact me on Twitter: twitter.com/pricivius
iPad & iPhone User is published by IDG UK
IDG UK, 101 Euston Road, London NW1 2RA
Tel: 020 7756 2800
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Distribution: Seymour Distribution Ltd 020 7429 4000
No material may be reproduced in whole or part without written
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legally responsible for any errors in articles, listings or advertisements.
All material copyright IDG UK 2013
EDITORIAL
Editor David Price
020 7756 2867 david_price@idg.co.uk
Editorial assistant Ashleigh Allsopp
020 7756 2918 ashleigh_allsopp@idg.co.uk
Art director Mandie Johnson
020 7756 2881 mandie_johnson@idg.co.uk
Production editor Rob Woodcock
020 7756 2876 rob_grant@idg.co.uk
Games editor Alec Meer
games_ipad@idg.co.uk
ADVERTISING
Head of sales Steve Marshall
steve_marshall@idg.co.uk
Group ad manager Tom Drummond
tom_drummond@idg.co.uk
Senior account manager Michael Newton
020 7756 2836 michael_newton@idg.co.uk
Account manager Tom How
020 7756 2833 tom_how@idg.co.uk
Sales executive Becky Clewarth
020 7756 2803 rebecca_clewarth@idg.co.uk
PRODUCTION
Head of digital production Richard Bailey
020 7756 2839 richard_bailey@idg.co.uk
CIRCULATION & MARKETING
Marketing manager Ash Patel
020 7756 2861 ash_patel@idg.co.uk
FINANCE
Financial director Chris Norman
Credit controller Dawnette Gordon
Purchase ledger clerk Lyn McNicol
Accountant Parit Shah
PUBLISHING
Editor in chief Mark Hattersley
020 7756 2879 mark_hattersley@idg.co.uk
Publishing director Simon Jary
020 7756 2808 sj@idg.co.uk
Managing director Kit Gould
Follow us on Twitter and join the conversation
@ipadiphoneuser
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003 Intro 73.indd 3 25/03/2013 18:12
10 6
NEWS
All the hot
headlines in
your iPad,
iPhone
and iPod
world.
4 iPad & iPhone User 2013
CONTENTS
03 WELCOME
06 NEWS HEADLINES
10 NEWS NEW GADGETS
12 NEWS APPS & GAMES
56 HIT LIST BUYERS GUIDE
66 OPINION KIRK MCELHEARN
WIN
A YEARS
BROADBAND
SEE PAGE 9
NEW GADGETS
The tech kit
and accessories
were currently
lusting after.
APPLE: NEXT GENERATION
From iPhone mini to iPad 5,
from iPhone 6 and iWatch
to iOS 7; we bring you our
fantasy Apple launch line-up
for 2013 and beyond.
16
14
THE iWATCH REVOLUTION
What would change if Apple
announced an iWatch next week?
Almost everything, we predict.
READING COMICS ON THE IPAD
Tablets have breathed new life into
comics. We show you the best
ways to enjoy comics on your iPad.
24
iPAD & iPHONE USER ISSUE 73: MAY 2013
50-53 Syncing with iCloud
44 Ive got the power
Charging tips to prevent you running out of juice
46 Seize the moment
Jot it down quickly with CaptureNotes 2s
range of advanced tools
48 Living in the past with Timehop
Find out what you were up to a year ago today
50 Syncing with iCloud
Get down to business with iCloud
54 Productivity-boosting stock app alternatives
Four awesome replacements for Calendar,
Mail, Notes and Reminders
55 Clean your lawn in Plants vs Zombies
Games academy: master a classic iPad game
Learn how to master iClouds syncing components, among its
most valuable core offerings, in this months iCloud how to.
34 ProCutX for Final Cut Pro X
iStopMotion for iPad
35 Kodable
Wood Camera Vintage Photo Editor
Alt Photo
36 WeatherPro
Horizon Calendar
MeteoEarth
BOOK CLUB:
37 The Hare With Amber Eyes:
The Illustrated Edition
APPS:
38 Real Racing 3
39 Shifts
Year Walk
Capsized+
40 Little Inferno
41 iCueda
Zombies, Run!
SEQ
GAMES:
HARDWARE:
30 Gear4 StreetParty 5 Lightning speaker dock
Orbitsound M9 wireless soundbar/sub-woofer
31 Otone Varsa mini soundbar
Sonoro cuboDock wireless speaker
32 Just Mobile Gum Plus portable charger
Wahoo RFLKT bike computer
33 Belkin Thunderstorm iPad case
Musubo Retro iPhone 5 case
Dodocase Classic iPad case
One-box stereo loudspeaker, with the option of Bluetooth wireless
32Just Mobile Gum Plus
34 iStopMotion for iPad
38 Real Racing 3
41 Zombies, Run!
35 Kodable
Sonoro cuboDock 31
Neat, smart little battery unit
Teach your kids coding basics Version two of the excellent animation app
Undead-themed tness app A free, fun and beautiful driving game
O
n 14 March Samsung revealed
the Galaxy S4. Weve since
seen Apple react with a new
web page describing whats so
great about the iPhone, coupled with a
promotional email. Weve seen analysts
question whether the S4 will be a match
for the next iPhone. And weve laughed
at the rumours from around the web
about Samsungs misogynistic and
embarrassing launch event. So whats
the big deal about the Galaxy S4, and
should Apple be worried? The general
consensus is no, and following the S4
launch Apples share price has risen.
The Galaxy S4 wont actually be
available until late April, nor is it all
that different to the S3. Its marginally
smaller than its predecessor and slightly
thicker than the iPhone 5. Samsungs
handset has a Super Amoled display with
a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, compared to the iPhone 5s
1,136 x 640 resolution, while its 441 pixels per inch is also
higher than that of Apples handset, which is 326ppi. The
S4 comes with a 1.6GHz octa-core processor; the iPhone
has a 1.2GHz dual-core chip.
The S4 also features two cameras, and signicantly, the
ability to use both cameras at the same time. We wonder at
the practical implication of this, additional bandwidth aside.
Some experts expect that the advanced features, which also
include eye-tracking functionality, may overwhelm some users.
Distancing from Google
Samsung has, however, decided to use the year-old Android
4.2.2 as its operating system, and the company went to
great lengths to demonstrate its own software at the launch
event, leading some to suggest its trying to distance itself
from Google. Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg tweeted:
Whats interesting is Samsung clearly pushing their own
ecosystem over Googles.
The Korean company introduced a number of new
software features, including Group Play (for sharing music,
photos, documents and games using NFC); S Translate
(voice-based language translation); Smart Pause (pauses a
video if you look away); and Voice Drive (for using maps
and navigation when driving).
The launch wasnt received well. Described as cringe-
worthy, the event consisted of sketches that featured
50s-era stereotypes of women. HTC president Jason
MacKenzie called the Samsung event embarrassing.
Should Apple be scared of
Samsungs new Galaxy S4?
MacKenzie said: I went from laughing to feeling embarrassed
at some of the acting. Watching the presentation, it looks like
they invested a lot in marketing instead of innovation.
Analyst reaction
In the run up to the event there was talk about how Apple
should be scared about the new phone in fact the companys
marketing head, Phil Schiller, even gave two interviews the
day before the launch
event in which he
blasted Google.
The concern may
have been unwarranted.
Topeka Capital Markets
analyst Brian White
was unimpressed with
the S4. He claimed
that the plastic casing
is no match for the
aluminium enclosure
of the iPhone. The S4 is evolutionary but it is also heavier,
fatter and less rened than the iPhone 5, White said. He also
noted that adding features is the easy stuff to do but when
it comes to the app ecosystem, the iPhone still holds the cards.
Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray also suggested that the S4
was unlikely to meaningfully impact the iPhone.
However, Ben Reitzes of Barclays Capital sounded a note of
warning. Samsungs momentum is a major issue for Apple,
he said. We need to see Apple expand its iPhone market this
year in a big way and improve its platform.
Looking at the
presentation, it
looks like Samsung
invested a lot in
marketing instead
of innovation
HTC president
BattlefeldSamsungs new Galaxy S4 is the latest challenger to Apples iPhone 5
Not really, say analysts, following Samsungs latest smartphone launch
This is not an alarm dock for your night table, its a wake-up call for your
smart music. In fact, this is an entirely new performance sound system in
one compact unit. But if it was a dock, the NAD VISO 1 would be the best
sounding dock in the world. FULL STOP. Crisp, vivid, room-lling, heart-
pounding and soul-singing sound. Call it what you like, we call it
Totally Insane Sound.
YOU DONT NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT,
YOU JUST NEED TO HEAR IT.
UNRESTRICTED.
UNBELIEVABLE.
UNPLUGGED.
www.NADelectronics.com
Available at Sevenoaks Sound & Vision Stores
13-026_NAD_VISO1_FullPageAd_MacWorld.indd 1 13-03-21 4:23 PM
i Tech
APPLE RELEASES iOS 6.1.3
Apple released iOS 6.1.3 on 19 March,
an update to the operating system
that powers iPhones, iPads and iPod
touches. Included in the update is a
x for a recently discovered means of
breaking past the lock screen, along
with Maps improvements for Japan.
However, less than a day after the
update was released, it was discovered
that iOS 6.1.3 has a new bug that
allows users to bypass the lock screen
on an iPhone 4.
Apples iOS 6.1.3 update plugs
exploits that allowed Evad3ers Dev
Team to release an unthethered
jailbreak. Apple did, however, credit
the hackers for nding the exploits in
its iOS 6.1.3 security note.
APPLE PATENTS INDUCTIVE
SMART COVER WITH BATTERY
A new Apple patent spotted this
month describes an iPad Smart Cover
that acts as an inductive charging
point to provide wireless power to
the iPad and other devices. Apples
invention could take power wirelessly
from a plugged-in iPad and store it
within an internal battery to send
the other direction when you use the
tablet, or it could be plugged into the
mains via Apples Lightning connector.
A
pples marketing chief, Phil Schiller, has criticised Samsung and Googles
Android, which he says is fragmented and has security issues. On 7 March,
he took to Twitter to have a dig at Android, highlighting a security report that
shows malware threats on the operating system have increased.
Schiller wrote: Be safe out there in his tweet, linking to F-Secures latest
Mobile Threat Report, which reveals 96 new families and variants of Android
malware were found in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone, almost doubling
the number recorded in the previous quarter. No new iOS malware was found
during this period. Its worth noting that, following his tweet, three researchers
revealed App Store users had been vulnerable to attack for six months because
Apple didnt fully encrypt trafc travelling between its App Store and users.
In addition to his tweet, Schiller also highlighted the plain and simple
fragmentation of the Android operating system as a problem, which he said
extends to the news we are hearing this week that the Samsung Galaxy
S4 is being rumoured to ship with an operating system thats nearly a year
old during an interview with Reuters on the eve of the S4s launch.
In a second interview on the same day, this one with The Wall Street
Journal, Schiller argued: Android is often given as a free replacement for
a feature phone, and the experience isnt as good as an iPhone.
Marketing boss Schiller tweets Be safe out there
Sculley: Apple needs creative leap
T
he former CEO of Apple John Sculley believes the
company is experiencing a lull in innovation.
What it needs is the next creative leap, he argued
during an interview on CNBA Asia.
You have periods of time that are creative leap
areas, he elaborated. Thats what Apple excels
at its a creative leap company. In the last 10 years,
weve had a creative leap decade in technology. Weve seen social media,
weve seen 3G, mobile wireless, youve seen companies like Apple, Google,
Facebook, all doing extremely well. Then you run into a decade like were
just sort of in right now the fast follower evolution decade.
Were not at a big breakthrough point in time, but fast followers
excel. So Samsung, an excellent fast follower, is doing well. What
Apple needs is the next era of creative leap.
Sculley also believes Apple should focus its attention on emerging
markets such as China and India. Right now, Samsung is much more
aggressive in this part of the world, he argued.
Thats what Apple excels at, says ex-CEO John Sculley
R UMOUR S
iPHONE 6 COMPONENTS TO BEGIN
SHIPPING END OF MAY iPHONE 6 WILL
HAVE KILLER FEATURE TO BEAT GALAXY
S4 APPLES WWDC EVENT TO TAKE
PLACE 10-15 JUNE iPAD 5 TO ARRIVE IN
APRIL OR JUNE iWATCH TO LAUNCH THIS
YEAR AROUND 10-15 JUNE
Apple executive blasts
Android, Samsung
with
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NEW & NOTEWORTHY
ASHLEIGH ALLSOPP PRESENTS THE BEST
NEW KIT FOR YOUR iPAD, iPHONE AND iPOD
VERDICT: Fli Tunes is a neat little
gadget for holidaymakers and
outdoor lovers. Just dont forget
to remove your iPhone before you
throw it!
Natural noise
Grifn WoodTones
Over-The-Ear Headphones
79.99
www.grifntechnology.com
Available in beech, sapele and
walnut, the Grifn WoodTones
Headphones have noise-
isolating over-ear pads that
aim to ensure comfortable
listening for long periods
of time. The headphones
come with a remote control
and microphone on the
detachable cable. For extra
portability, the WoodTones
have foldable earcups.
VERDICT: The Grifn WoodTones
Headphones bring a touch of nature
to audio technology.
Flying high
Fli Tunes
12.95
www.prezzybox.com
This crazy contraption could come in
handy as summer approaches. Ideal
for trips to the beach or picnics in the
park, Fli Tunes is an audio amplier for
your iPhone or iPod that also doubles
as a Frisbee when attened. As well
as being waterproof, lightweight and
wire-free, the Fli Tunes doesnt require
batteries in order to give your iPhones
music a boost.
VERDICT: A great solution to keep your
power-hungry iPhone 5 on the go as long as
you. The ultra-angular design is a real bonus.
On the case
PowerSkin
64.99
www.powerskin.co.uk
If your iPhone 5 runs out of power on a regular
basis, you might benet from a PowerSkin
battery case, which offers up to 6.5 hours
additional talk time, according to the company.
The PowerSkin
for iPhone 5
also doubles
as a protective
case, while only
adding 8mm to
the thickness of
the device. LED
indicators help
you know when
to charge the
PowerSkin, and an
included earphone
extender means you can listen to
music without removing the battery case.
CATWALK
THE BEST-LOOKING iPAD & iPHONE CASES
C
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Crystal clear
Crystal Acoustics i-40-EN
29
www.crystalaudiovideo.com
The new Crystal Acoustics i-40-EN in-ear
headphones aim to make good-quality audio
affordable. At just 29, the i-40s are made from
aluminium, and include a microphone and three-
button remote on the anti-tangle at cable.
Crystal Acoustics provides three sizes of soft
silicon ear tips and extra double- and triple-stage
dip ear canal tips for added noise cancellation.
A carrying case is included.
VERDICT: You get lots for your cash with the
Crystal Acoustics i-40 in-ear headphones.
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Hot stuff
Epiphany onE Puck
From $150
www.epiphanylabs.com
Picture this: youre in the pub and your iPhones
battery is on its last legs. Enter the Epiphany
onE Puck, which uses heat disparities, such as
a hot or cold drink, a candle or ice, to charge
an iPhone or other USB device. The onE Puck
connects to your handset using its USB cable,
and will charge it up when a mug of coffee, an
icy glass of water, or in this case a cold pint of
beer is placed on to its coaster-like surface.
VERDICT: Cool! Epiphany says the tech
could power a household in the future.
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NEW APPS ON iTUNES
NEW & NOTEWORTHY THE BEST NEW APPS, GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT
NEW GAMES ON iTUNES
Path on (1.49)
Add text to photos
with this new app,
which lets you draw a
path of any shape with
your nger to ow your
words along. There are
also pre-made paths to
choose from.
Meetings for iPhone
(2.99)
Designed to make
meetings more
productive, this app
offers easy minute-
taking, action planning
and cloud syncing
between devices.
Files App (69p)
Keep everything in one
place with Files App,
which lets you read
PDFs and Ofce les,
view videos and photos,
listen to music, get
les from Dropbox and
store ZIP and AVI les.
SequenceApp (Free)
With eight patterns
to play with and 30
samples from classic
drum machines,
this circular audio
sequencer is ideal for
creating polyrhythms,
electronica and techno.
PicTapGo (1.49)
By remembering your
favourite photo effects,
and allowing you to
customise and save
lters, PicTapGo helps
speed up snapping,
editing and sharing
photos on your iPhone.
BBC Earth Wonders
(2.49)
This new app from
the BBC brings users
images, video clips
and interesting facts
about creatures that
roam the Earth and the
landscapes they live in.
Infect Them All 2:
Zombies (69p)
This sequel to Infect
Them All has eight
playable zombies to
help you turn everyone
in town into the walking
dead. Each zombie has
different moves, skills
and upgrades to unlock.
Trenches II (Free)
Lead your troops
into battle across 50
locations. Customise
your army, either
British, German or
French, with more than
20 different units.
Nightmerica (69p)
Use randomly
generated weapons
to ght monsters in
this retro-style arcade
game. Three arenas,
20 different monsters
and wave-based
battles make for an
action-packed app.
Up In Flames (69p)
Chillingos new physics-
based puzzler sees Baff
the Dragon unleash his
re-breathing powers
to free his friends
from sharks, wolves
and yetis.
Cognition Episode 1
(2.49)
FBI agent Erica Reed
needs your help to
catch four serial killers.
Find clues hidden by a
mystery aide to track
down The Hangman in
this rst episode, drawn
by comic book artists.
1001 Attempts (69p)
This universal game
aims to make you
addicted to its simple
gameplay. Dodge
missiles, sawblades and
laser beams to collect
loads of jewels.
Facetune (1.49)
RATING
We were impressed by Facetunes powerful yet
easy-to-use photo editing features. Ideal for
touching up portraits, the app lets you whiten
teeth, smooth skin, emphasise details and even
reshape the face of your subject. It provides a patch
tool for removing blemishes and a tones tool that
can recolour grey hair, for example. Theres red-
eye removal and a defocus tool for blurring out
backgrounds. To top it all off, Facetune also has a
lters tool to add various effects and frames to your
nal image. Its one of the best photo-editing apps
for iPhone weve tried.
Slingshot Puzzle HD (69p)
RATING
Alawar Entertainments Slingshot Puzzle HD is a

challenging but addictive iPad puzzle game, with
gorgeous graphics and a fun soundtrack. The aim
is to get the golden ball into the hole by using the
slingshot to propel it towards the goal.
Of course, its not that easy. Youll need to avoid
obstacles and use various objects to help you reach
the hole, while trying to collect three blue gems on
the way. There are 126 levels of varying difculty
to complete, with seven different worlds and three
board types to choose from.

CaptureAudio (1.49)
Record voice memos and organise them.
With CaptureAudio, you can also Flag
important points within memos, so you
can easily come back to them later.
Vio (1.99)
Turn your voice into an instrument
with this universal app that uses pitch
correction, harmonies and gesture control
within an interactive visualiser.
Penumbear (1.49)
Play with light to
solve puzzles and help
Penumbear escape the
dark castle basement
across this platformers
100 levels. Fight against
monsters and bosses
and discover secret
levels and characters.
Eighty-Eight (1.49)
Test your number
logic skills in this
addictive puzzle
game for iPhone. Win
badges to help you
beat your high-score,
and show off your
achievements on
Game Center.
Cyto (69p)
Cyto is a cute creature
who needs your help
to collect memory
fragments throughout
his colourful universe.
There are 81 puzzling
levels to play through.
Dojo Danger (69p)
Its Ninjas against
Zombies in this turn-
based strategy game
that lets you choose
from more than 30
characters, each with
individual abilities.
Gravity.Duck (69p)
This universal puzzle
platform game has
100 levels and three
environments though
which Gravity Duck
can walk on walls and
ceilings to avoid death-
by-spikes and reach the
goal. Quackers.
Unmechanical (1.99)
Embark on a puzzle-
lled adventure with
a little helicopter who
has become trapped in
a mysterious 3D world
full of secrets that youll
need to uncover.
NEW COMICS ON iTUNES
Ellerbisms (3.49)
Ellerbisms is a collection
of Marc Ellerbys
autobiographical web
comics. They began as
sporadic tellings of trivial
events, but became a
love story when he met
a Swedish girl called
Anna at Gatwick Airport
in 2007.
Young Justice Vol.1
(7.49)
Based on the Cartoon
Network series, DCs
Young Justice Volume 1
sees teenage heroes
Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy
and Miss Martian take
on the League of Shadows
and the Joker.
Jaybird (2.99)
This 133-page-long
graphic novel by Lauri
Ahonen and Jaakko
Ahonen portrays the
story of an adorable
little bird, who lives in
a large, dusty, cobweb-
lled house, with just his
bedridden mother and
spiders for company.
Avengers Prime (4.49)
Marvel has collected all
ve issues of Avengers
Prime from 2010 and
2011 into one iBooks
comic that sees heroes
Thor, Iron Man and Steve
Rogers (aka Captain
America) band together
once more following the
Siege of Asgard.
The Walking Dead
(7.49)
The Walking Dead comic,
which has been adapted
into a hit US TV series,
follows the story of police
ofcer Rick Grimes, one
of the few survivors of a
zombie apocalypse. There
are currently 17 volumes
of The Walking Dead
available on iBooks.
Field Trip (Free)
RATING
Googles customisable Field
Trip app helps you discover
new places of interest.
You can set it to let you
know when youre close
to something cool such as
an historic building or an
upcoming concert.
FAVOURITE NEW
MAPS APP

What would change if Apple
announced an iWatch next week?
Almost everything, predicts Ryan Faas
B
efore we begin, a confession. We
havent tested the iWatch yet. To be
honest, we havent seen it. You know
what? We dont even know it exists, or that
its ever going to. Phew! Glad thats out there.
What we do know is that wearable
computing is one of this years major trends,
whether or not Apple decides to join in.
(And between the two of us, theres a fair bit
of evidence that it will.) From the Kickstarter-
funded Pebble smartwatch to the Google
Glass head-mounted display, numerous
companies are responding to consumer
interest in super-portable communications.
Its likely to be a highly disruptive trend,
too: almost all aspects of personal computing
will be affected. If and when Apple drops
its iWatch, you can expect some reworks.
Business potential
Reports about the iWatch indicate that it
would be tethered to an iPhone or iPad
that would provide a stream of content and
alerts to the wearer, including email, caller
ID, calendar info and updates of pre-selected
information like weather reports and stock
quotes. All of these ideas are present in
existing smartwatches coming to market,
including the Pebble watch, which can pair
with an iPhone or Android phone. Many are
also anticipated uses for Google Glass, which
is expected to ship by the end of the year.
All of these capabilities have direct
business potential. The updates that can
be displayed on an iWatch are often those
that professionals check throughout the day.
Accessing them in an unobtrusive way on a
wearable device would allow workers to check
notications in real time without disrupting
a meeting or even a casual conversation
by pulling out their phone and unlocking it.
Two-factor authentication
While distraction-free meetings are a big
business innovation for an iWatch, theyre
relatively small compared to what such a
device could mean in terms of data security. In
fact, an iWatch could be the perfect solution
to many IT concerns about mobile devices.
The key is that the iWatch would be
designed to pair with a mobile device most
likely an iPhone. That offers an easy way to set
up advanced authentication. The iWatch could
replace a passcode on an iPhone or iPad. If
the iWatch is in range, the iOS device could
unlock without a passcode, saving users time.
THE iWATCH REVOLUTION
The iWatch revolution
iPhones best friend?
(opposite)
Will the iWatch work
with the iPhone, or bring
its usefulness to an end?
Artists impression by
Nickolay Lamm from
MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
Main illustration:
James Walker
More dramatically, the iWatch could
be used as a physical security token
alongside a passcode to offer multifactor
authentication. If the iWatch isnt
detected by the device, it would remain
locked even after the user (or someone
who has stolen it) enters the passcode
It could wipe all data (or all corporate
data). Or even send out an alert, to help
ensure sensitive data is securely erased
and/or aid in recovering the device.
The idea isnt all that different from
many token-based access systems,
including smartcards. Such tokens are
often used to secure access to sensitive
devices or computers as well as to
encrypted data on a computer or access
to a secure network. Similar systems are
also used to control access to ofces and
secure buildings. Theyre also becoming
common features of automobiles that
rely on a keychain fob rather than a
traditional car key. In fact, depending
on the technology used in an iWatch, it
could be used for all of these purposes.
Biometrics
Apple could ratchet up the security
even further almost to the level
of a spy thriller with a third level
of authentication. If Apple includes
biometric sensors in the iWatch, which
is expected, the company could ensure
that the wearer is the legitimate owner
of both the iWatch and a paired device.
A bit like James Bonds gun in Skyfall.
The most obvious biometric
authentication is a thumbprint scanner
quite possible, given Apples purchase of
AuthenTec last year. Other options might
include an iris scan or facial recognition.
All of these ideas would require specic
hardware like a camera to be built into
the iWatch, but theres another option
that might be just as secure and much
easier listening to a users heartbeat.
Given the popularity of devices like
the Nike+ Fuelband and Fitbit activity
monitors, it seems logical for Apple to
build such features into an iWatch. The
company has had a long relationship
with Nike for pairing devices with
running shoes. That would mean sensors
to detect movement, temperature, and
heart rate. Heart-rate monitoring offers
an easy biometric identication option.
Much like we all have unique
ngerprints, we also each have a unique
cardiac rhythm. Cardiac biometric
recognition systems are already on the
market as standalone solutions or as part
of even more comprehensive biometric
authentication system by companies like
Bionym. Incorporating that into a iWatch
already designed to measure cardiac
activity should be a relatively easy task
that wouldnt require additional sensors
or hardware.
Its not just Apples rivals that face
a rude awakening. Some analysts
reckon wearable computing will
land on the world of mobile
technology like a prehistoric
asteroid, pulverising the iPhone just
as much as non-Apple smartphones.
Author Jay Yarow, writing for
Business Insider, has seriously
considered the idea that the
smartphone era will perish almost
as quickly as it began. Lots of
people disagree with me, but I
think something like Google Glass
or whatever Microsoft is working
on could end up replacing the
smartphone as the dominant way
people access the internet and
connect to each other.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene
Munster has argued that wearable
computers could replace the iPhone
and smartphones in general over
the next 10-plus years. We believe
technology could progress to a
point where consumers have a
tablet plus wearable computers,
like watches or glasses, that enable
simple things like voice calls, texting,
quick searches, navigation and so on
through voice control. Longer term,
screens in glasses or projectors could
replace the necessity of a screen
from a smartphone or tablet.
In fact, back in the summer
another analyst was suggesting that
Apple needs to kill the iPhone, and
that disruption is the path to the
future. Its not only disruption of
markets that makes Apple successful
it also disrupts its own products.
Asymcos Horace Dediu explained:
Apple creates new categories and
self-cannibalises in a way: the iPhone
was about killing the iPod. Apples
number-one job today ought to be
killing the iPhone. Even though its
the rms biggest product. Apple
should be doing that, and if not
it will face a crisis in a few years.
Karen Haslam
iPHONE IS DEAD, LONG LIVE iWATCH?
IF APPLE LAUNCHES A SMARTWATCH, ITS OWN PRODUCTS MAY SUFFER
From iPhone mini to iPad 5, from iWatch
to iOS 7; heres our fantasy Apple launch
line-up for 2013 and beyond
Y
ouve got ve minutes with Apple boss Tim Cook.
Quick: how would you use your time? What idea
would you pitch? Which product would you beg him
to launch or ditch? And (assuming he asks) where would
you advise him to take Apple over the coming years?
For this fantasy feature, we put ourselves in that wonderful
(and entirely imaginary) position. We created an Apple
manifesto for 2013 and beyond. From iPhone mini to iPad 5,
from iWatch to iOS 7, heres what wed like to see from Apples
next round of launches. Oi, Mr Cook! Wed like a word
2 The next iPhone(s)
2 iWatch
2 The next iPad
2 The next iOS
2 The App Store
2 No more secrets:
company policy
Where next, Apple?
CONTRIBUTORS
Ashleigh Allsopp, Serenity
Caldwell, Kirk McElhearn,
Abbi Perets, David Price
17
18
19
20
20
22
APPLE: THE NEXT GENERATION
After seeing a comparatively major physical
overhaul in the launch of the iPhone 5
among other things, Apple made the rst
change to screen dimensions since the rst
iPhone expectations are high for the follow-
up. What can we expect? And what should
Apple do, if it knows whats good for it?
1
LOWER PRICE TAG
Lets start with that price tag. Seems a bit
high, dont you think? Could you sell the
iPhone 5S for a few hundred quid less, Tim?
We jest, of course. Yes, it would be nice
to pay less for a top-of-the-range iPhone, but
were talking about something more complex:
either splitting the iPhone into two product
lines, with one aimed at the budget market,
or overhauling Apples entire supply chain to
shift its focus towards emerging markets such
as India the latter being the policy recently
advocated by former Apple boss John Sculley.
Numerous industry rumours suggest Apple
will create a lower-cost version of the next
iPhone; the latest reports propose this could
have a see-through plastic design.
Were not convinced by Sculleys drastic
conceptual leap shifting from rigorous
perfectionist to budget box-shifter would
undermine everything that makes Apple
unique but that doesnt rule out some
kind of compromise. Wed like to see Apple
experiment with a parallel line of lower-cost
iPhones, produced with cheaper materials
or less powerful components: an iPhone 5S.
And then go to town on an iPhone 6 proper.
2
SMALLER BODY
One theory is that an iPhone mini will be
launched at a lower price alongside a full-sized
iPhone 6. Much as the iPad minis non-Retina
display lets Apple keep the price down and
target the upper end of the e-reader market.
But were going to wish for something
else. The iPad mini is increasingly looking like
the all-purpose portable computing device of
choice, with a form factor that suits gaming
on the go, surng, email, eBooks, and so on.
And the logical companion for a jack-of-all-
trades iPad mini isnt a full-sized iPhone, which
serves a similar purpose; its a specialist phone.
Our fantasy iPhone mini is the size of a
mobile from the late 90s. It doesnt have the
screen for gaming or video, but you can read
your email and surf websites on a stripped-
back, Instapaper-style optimised interface, and
a range of apps enables you to customise the
experience almost without limit.
3
FINGERPRINT-
SCANNING SECURITY
Speculation over an iPhone with a ngerprint
sensor was sparked in July of last year by
Apples acquisition of AuthenTec, a company
that specialises in related security systems.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted
that Apple will nd a way to conceal the
ngerprint scanner in the iPhone 6s Home
button to maintain the minimalist design.
But this is our fantasy, so
we can be more specic. The
ngerprint scanner replaces
the passcode, of course, but
why not go further: if Apple
adds multiple user accounts
to iOS 7 (see page 20), the
scanner could enable the
iPhone to punch up your
personal apps, email accounts
and system preferences.
And what if using different
ngers produced different
results? Touch your index nger
to the Home button and the
iPhone activates normally,
use your middle nger and it
brings up the camera using
your left thumb could even
call the emergency services
if youre being mugged.
THE NEXT iPHONE(S)
Mini-me
One artists conception of
an iPhone mini (left, of
course!) next to iPhone 5
4
ADVANCED GESTURES
To start with, this could offer another labour-saving substitute for a passcode.
Already available on a wide range of Android handsets, gesture unlocking lets
you open a smartphone by swiping across a grid of nodes in a preset pattern.
But lets go further. Like our ngerprint sensor, the grid would be sensitive to
multiple gestures, each one unlocking a specic user account or function. And
within iOS the gestures could continue: the iPad game Innity Blade interpreted
a range of gestures as triggers for magic spells, so why not let the user program
gestures on the Home screen? At the swipe of a nger, you could activate apps,
send off frequently repeated messages (a text to your wife that says leaving
the ofce now, for example), jump to a bookmarked Safari page or do
essentially anything that a PC user could set as a keyboard shortcut.
5
NFC E-WALLET PAYMENTS
You may well have heard users of non-Apple smartphones talking about
something called NFC. This stands for near-eld communications, and is a set
of short-range wireless standards that let mobile phones communicate with
each other or with other electronic devices. Plenty of NFC-equipped Android
phones can act as an e-wallet, paying for goods with a swipe of your handset.
Wed like to see Apple join the NFC party. Passbook which offers a partial
e-wallet experience already, providing quick access to tickets, boarding passes
and loyalty cards could be expanded to include NFC and mobile payments.
6
CUSTOMISABLE HARDWARE SWITCHES
Weve toyed with the idea of adding an extra hardware switch or two, but
that would probably be a step too far for Sir Jony. Instead, wed like to take
an existing idea from the iPad that you get to pick whether the side switch
controls lock rotation or mute and run with it on our next iPhone.
On our fantasy iPhone 6, an option lets you program the mute button to
do almost anything switch vibrate or 3G on and off, set Do Not Disturb or
Airplane mode, or activate emergency battery measures (see overleaf).
7
LASER KEYBOARD
The iPhones keyboard can be a bit cramped for typing, so why dont we
give our iPhone 6 the ability to project a laser keyboard on to any nearby at
surface? Aatma Studios conception of such a setup is pictured below.
If you think this sounds fanciful, you should know that standalone products
that do this are already available. ThinkGeek.coms Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard
connects to iOS devices via Bluetooth and retails for $149.99 (98.75).
8
FACE RECOGNITION THE NEXT GENERATION
Our iPhone 6s front-facing camera runs all the time in quiet low-power mode,
simply looking for anything head-shaped; when it spots one, it scans it to work
our how close it is, and if the face belongs to its owner. If the answer is yes, it
wakes up the iPhone. Better still, it could immediately start taking shots with the
rear-facing camera, helping you grab pictures before you hit the shutter button.
Even with the low-power stipulation this would hobble battery life, so
naturally well make face-scanner mode optional.
1
iPHONE AUTHENTICATION
Discussed in more detail on page
14, this concept would enable your
iPhone (or a desktop PC or Mac) to
unlock when it detects the presence
of its paired partner iWatch, saving
you typing in a passcode or password.
Or you could require both, for thief-
thwarting two-factor authentication.
2
HEART/PULSE MONITOR
Our conception of the iWatch
encompasses a wide computing
experience, but why ignore the more
obvious applications? A wrist computer
would be perfect for tness, and its
constant proximity allows it to monitor
your lifesigns at all times.
3
SIRI
What about controls? If the iWatch
is going to be more than simply an
iPod nano on a wrist strap, a 1.5in
touchscreen isnt going to cut it. This is
a situation that screams voice controls.
4
HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTOR
And until the linked iGlasses are
available, well need to be able to
display images full size on a nearby wall
or hanging holographically in mid air.
More iWatch analysis on page 14
iWATCH
4 THINGS WE WANT FROM
APPLES MYSTERY MACHINE
1
TOUCH-SENSITIVE BEZEL
Strictly speaking, the wide bezel around the
edge of the iPads screen is wasted space. So
our fantasy iPad 5 has alert lights built into
its bezel; a blue light at the top indicates
unread emails from VIP contacts, for instance.
The most vital of notications are continually
visible without having to turn the screen on.
The smart bezel is also touch-sensitive,
so you can swipe through eBooks or up and
down web pages using off-screen gestures,
instead of putting your ngers in the way
of the stuff you want to see. In fact, Apple
secured a patent for this idea back in 2010,
so it might not be fantasy at all.
2
HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS
This one, on the other hand, is a bit more
of a long shot, particularly in the next few
generations. But we can dream.
Shortly after the iPad 2 appeared in 2011,
a video appeared supposedly showing how
to unlock hologram mode, which projected
app visuals upwards into the air above the
iPad (pictured below right). In classic Minority
Report style, the user could move photos and
documents around by swiping through the air.
Of course, there was no such technology
built into the iPad 2, and this was just a clever
fake (watch it yourself at bit.ly/fV8Nvp).
But leaving aside the more fanciful swipable
hologram sci- part of the equation, imagine
the possibilities. Gaming, on a 3D projection
that appears to leap up from the coffee table,
would be a mesmerising experience; as would
watching sport or talking on FaceTime: it
would be like actually being there.
3
LINKABLE DISPLAYS
If youve got time for one more concept video,
check out Aatma Studios idea of 3D, multi-
iPad gaming at bit.ly/wwDk4y. Again, its an
idea illustrated through digital trickery rather
than a plausible demo, but since this is our
fantasy iPad, we can cherry-pick the parts that
make sense and wave away the difculties.
What we like about this video is the ease
with which two iPads can link up (wed
suggest that NFC, discussed in our iPhone
section, is the most practical approach)
and share an image between their displays.
The advantages for multiplayer gaming are
obvious, particularly on boardgame apps; and
viewing photos across two iPads would be
a delight. If you could put up with the join
down the middle, a pair of iPads would make
a rather ne living-room cinema, too.
4
UNIVERSAL PORTS
iOS devices have never been blessed with a
huge amount of storage space, and a long-
term item on our iPad wishlist has been the
ability to bolster this with an SD card (or one
of its mini or micro equivalents). For that
matter, a mini-USB port would let us use a
wide range of chargers and accessories with
our fantasy iPad. Apple has never been big on
universal connectivity, but we can dream.
5
INDUCTIVE CHARGING
Inductive wireless charging is one of those
technologies thats been the Next Big Thing
for years. We think its ready for the big time.
Inductive charging lets you transfer power
wirelessly, provided the distances are small
enough; with current products this basically
means being able to place your iOS device on
a charging mat instead of having to plug it in.
The down sides are that the technology hasnt
been embraced by Apple itself, so you have to
use a third-party case along with the charger;
but if Apple built inductive coils into the iPads
chassis you could use whichever case you like.
Then all thats left is extending the wireless
range. Whenever youre ready, science.
Hologram sham
This demo video
showing how to enable
hologram mode on the
iPad 2 is actually a terric
bit of video editing fakery
by the clever chaps
at FinalCutKing. But
something like this might
be possible in the future
Opposite page
Artists conception of
iWatch by Nickolay Lamm
of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk
THE NEXT iPAD
1
APP VIDEO PREVIEWS
We get to listen to 90-second clips of
songs on iTunes before shelling out (fun
fact: at one stage the record companies
wanted to charge royalties on these). And
we can view trailers before buying digital
lms. So why cant we see what an app
does before clicking download?
Considering the number of negative
reviewers on the App Store who complain
that the app theyve just bought isnt
what they expected, it would be in all
parties interests to include brief video
previews as well as a few screenshots.
2
REFUNDS
Whether you got bored of typing your
password and disabled the warnings,
or just clicked on an app too soon after
buying another, the chances are that
youve bought an app by mistake at some
point. Many of us swear, sigh and put
this down to experience; the only
alternative is to report a problem
with the app, which usually leads to a
refund but is obviously unsatisfactory
if you dont want to spoil the record
of a blameless developer.
Wed like to see a Silly me! I hit
download by mistake! button, which
would refund your money if pressed
within 15 minutes of the download.
3
SMART SEARCH
Finally, and most importantly, Apple
needs to sort out search on the App
Store. Theres 800,000 apps on there,
but most are effectively invisible because
the search function is so weak.
It should be sensitive to version
numbers, for one thing, since many
users wont know if a sequel to an app
is an update (iBooks 3) or an entirely
new release (Fieldrunners 2).
THE NEXT APP STORE
THREE IMPROVEMENTS WED LIKE TO SEE
Call off the search
Looking for version 3
of iBooks? Whatever
you do, dont type in
iBooks 3. The App Stores
search functions leave
something to be desired
1
MULTIPLE USER ACCOUNTS
Picture this common scene. A family shares an
iPad, with each person struggling to maintain
control of it long enough to play their
favourite game, check Facebook, send email
and surf the web. But since an iPad can have
only one account, Mum cant perform such
everyday activities as checking her personal
email account (unless she uses webmail),
checking Facebook (without logging out and
logging in with her credentials), and saving
her high scores or recording the levels she
has completed in a game; in addition, her
bookmarks and browsing history are visible
to all other users, as are any saved auto-ll
information and passwords.
Most people get around this problem by
not using a shared iPad for email and other
personal data but why should they have
to limit their use of the device? Apple could
easily x the situation by adding multiple user
accounts to iOS.
Logging in and out of a shared Mac or PC
is no big deal: lots of people do it regularly.
On an iPad, having multiple user accounts
would enable you to wake it up, see a screen
with several icons, tap or swipe the one for
your account, enter a
passcode, and access
your own setup.
Many couples
and families share
an iPad; with a
system of multiple
accounts, each user
would be able to
set up a separate
home screen, and
each would have
personal settings,
just as happens
with OS X accounts.
Users would have their own email accounts,
bookmarks, contacts, calendars and so on.
And their games would be linked to their
Game Center accounts: theyd see personal
stats and high scores. Finally, each user could
hide any of the apps installed on the device.
Naturally, Apple would prefer that we
just buy more iPads to serve each member
of the household. But for people who cant
afford the expense, the best way to make
iPads more exible is to allow each user to
have his or her own account.
THE NEXT iOS
Login screen
Having the option to
create multiple user
accounts is standard
in desktop computing.
Why not in mobile?
2
PARENTAL CONTROLS
Microsoft has so far struggled
to stand out in the smartphone
and tablet war, but its Windows
Phone 8 platform contains
one fairly fantastic innovation:
Kids Corner. Its effectively a
user account within the phone
accessible at any time by
swiping left from the lock screen
thats designed to be safe for
children: one in which the apps
and settings are all controlled
by you. They cant make calls or
texts, and social networking is
severely restricted.
Windows smartphone users
swear by the convenience of
this feature. You can simply
hand the device over to the
kids, safe in the knowledge that
they wont waste your money
on in-app purchases, stumble
on to 18-rated games or view
inappropriate websites. Unlike
owners of iPhones and iPads,
who have to activate parental
controls on a case-by-case basis,
and have far fewer options even then.
So why not pinch Kids Corner for iOS 7?
3
DEFAULT 3RD-PARTY BROWSER
Many of our colleagues use Apple Macs,
but almost none of them use Safari as their
default web browser; most favour Chrome or
Firefox instead. So why does Safari maintain
such a stranglehold on iOS? Because you still
cant make a third-party browser the default.
Dolphin is a great web browser; Chrome
for iOS has its fans. But as soon as you hit a
link in an email or on Twitter, youre yanked
back to the default: Safari. When Microsoft
bundled Internet Explorer with PCs, it got
taken to court for monopolistic practices. Its
time for Apple to give the other browsers a
chance, or it might as well ban them.
4
MULTI-USER FACETIME
Skype lets you speak to more than one person
at once; Google+ Hangouts allow you to do it
for free. Apple is ofcially behind the times.
5
CUSTOMISED AUTOCORRECT
Apologies to the comedy websites that would
be put out of business if autocorrect stopped
changing See you in ve minutes to I like
wearing dresses. But its time for Apple to
give ner control over when and where this
much-mocked function weaves its magic.
Pages, for example where you create long
pieces of writing, want to work fast, and are
likely to check through at the end for howlers
really benets from autocorrect. In emails
and tweets its more dangerous. It would be
nice to have the option to selectively apply
autocorrect on an app-by app basis.
6
BATTERY EMERGENCIES
A staple proposal of these kinds of article is
a better battery. But even in our fantasies,
were grimly realistic about battery lives.
With all the extra features were adding,
Apple is going to have to work hard just to
keep battery life the same.
Instead, how about a set of customisable
actions set to kick in when your iOS device
reaches 10 percent power? Instead of just
popping up that annoying warning, the
device could be programmed to automatically
lower the brightness, switch off 3G, Bluetooth
and location services, and generally do
everything in its power to stay alive.
7
DEFAULT APP ON WAKE
Instead of defaulting back to whichever app
you were using last when you wake the iOS
device, wed like the option to set a different
app, or the Home screen, as the default.
8
WIDGETS AND
HOME-SCREEN CUSTOMISATION
Last but not least, a concept straight out of
the Android handbook: widgets or mini-apps
on the Home screen. Our fantasy iOS 7 device
has a Home screen stuffed with widgets
displaying the weather, the latest headlines
and the rst line of unread VIP emails.
Much as we like this idea, its not very
likely to happen: Apple hates the idea of users
being able to create their own desktop on
iOS and has been known to remove apps from
sale for attempting to offer this.
Kid-friendly
Microsofts Windows
Phone 8 operating system
has a superbly convenient
set of parental controls
that Apple would do
well to imitate
Ortocorekt
might save you from
some embarrassing errors,
but its better known for
creating gaffes of its own
APPLE: WHERE NEXT?
Followers of Downton Abbey will
recall the Lady Granthams great
lament: Is there anything worse
than losing your ladys maid? We
believe there is. Its when you buy a
new iPhone on launch day and, due
to its new shape and size, you cant
get a decent case for it or connect
it to any of your old accessories.
Sure, this is a minor issue in the
broad scheme of things, but its just
one example of how Apple could
stand to temper its legendary secrecy
with a little more openness in order
to improve its customers lives. This is
the nal item on our Apple wishlist.
BOTTLED LIGHTNING
In the weeks leading up to the
launch of the iPhone 5, rumours
abounded about the phones shape
shifting and, in particular, about the
replacement for the dock connector.
But many vendors like consumers
didnt have a chance to see the new
connector until launch day.
This meant that vendors couldnt
update their docks and other
accessories ahead of the launch. So
they rushed to implement those
changes without, in some cases,
adequately testing their products.
The end result? Consumers suffered
from a less than optimal out-of-
the-box experience. And that type
of disappointment undermines the
excitement of an Apple launch.
Likewise, while a few apps here
and there had been optimised to
take advantage of the new, larger
screen, the overwhelming majority
of developers had to head back to
the digital drawing board, or suffer
the indignity of seeing their apps
with black bars displayed at the
top and bottom of the screen.
iWORK IN SECRET
You can make an argument for not
releasing information outside the
company prior to a launch (especially
Apple, which so often has to play the
expectations game). But why keep
your own employees in the dark?
According to Inside Apple author
Adam Lashinsky, many Apple
employees end up
working in a vacuum;
he has described the
lockdown rooms
where those developers
toil. The problem is that
when employees cant
see the whole picture,
they cant always make
good decisions. (Might
the launch of Maps have
gone better if more of
Apples employees
and their spouses and
friends had been able
to provide more real-
world testing?)
And the thing is,
cross-innovation could
very well help Apple.
Remember back in 2011
when iCloud was rst
released? It worked
beautifully with iOS.
With Mac OS X Lion?
Not so much. If the iOS and OS X
development teams had merged
back then, we might have been a
step ahead of where we are now.
And that would be a good thing,
at least from where were sitting.
THE BLACK MARKET
When you walk into most high-
street shops and theyve run out of
whatever you came for, the staff can
generally tell you when the item will
be back in stock. They might even be
able to locate you one nearby.
When you walk into an Apple
Store and ask for an in-demand item
thats out of stock, dont expect a lot
of information. Sure, they can put
in an order for more iPhones, but
according to one former employee,
that might not be granted, since
corporate powers-that-be determine
where units are most needed.
This lack of information from
Apple also creates some truly insane
black markets, particularly in the Far
East. In Singapore in late October
2012 after the iPhone 5 had been
ofcially released there we visited
six or seven Premium Apple Resellers,
and none could say when theyd get
a new shipment of iPhones. Yet they
were surrounded by unofcial sellers
in kiosks with plentiful stock at a
hefty markup. In some places, 16GB
phones were being sold for as much
as $1,250. The price gouging only
feeds the frustration of even the
most dedicated Apple fans.
HERE COMES THE SUN
Despite these and similar issues,
there are signs that Apple may
be lifting the cone of silence. Last
October, the company announced
a restructuring that put several key
executives in a position to oversee
larger groups of developers. If were
lucky, this will, as the press release
promised, encourage even more
collaboration between hardware,
software and services teams.
We can haggle over whether
even more is the right term to
use, but Tim Cook doesnt seem
to be afraid to kick down a few
windowless walls and open things up
a bit. So we think there are grounds
to be cautiously optimistic that
things are changing for the better.
And thats one secret that should be
shouted from the rooftops.
NO MORE SECRETS
THREE WAYS APPLE COULD LOOSEN UP
D
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No matter which iOS device you have,
we have the Complete Guide for you
Available on the
Newsstand
Available to download in digital format through Zinio,
Magzter and Macworlds free Newsstand App
ON SALE
NOW
2.99
091 Digital Editions.indd 91 19/03/2013 11:31
READING COMICS ON THE iPAD
ablets, led by the iPad, have the potential to shake up the comic
book industry even more than eBook readers have begun to change
the world of prose books. Large, mobile colour screens are perfect
for reading comics. Theyve got a portability that desktop and laptop PCs cant
match and, of course, they show off the source material in a way that small
black-and-white Kindle screens cant.
The original iPad started the revolution, and the Retina display on both the
third- and fourth-generation models provided dramatically improved image
quality. Larger Android tablets such as Googles Nexus 10 have joined the party.
And tablets running Windows 8 offer some distinct size advantages of their own.
T
The iPad has breathed new life into comics
BY JASON SNELL
A SUPERHEROIC
REVOLUTION
When the iPad was rst released, we found
it to be an excellent (albeit imperfect) comic
book reader. A few hardware and software
upgrades later, its a lot harder to spot
imperfections. The only problem we have is
that were now buying several comics a week,
with a growing credit card bill to prove it.
Single-issue comics
There are a few different options when it
comes to reading comics on your tablet, and
in some ways they parallel the choices and
the pros and cons that comic readers face
in the printed comic market.
Traditionally, comics were published
monthly in small, imsy issues: thats what
we remember purchasing from our local
newsagent as a kid. To this day, the major
comics publishers still produce these issues
but they cost 2 or 3 now instead of the
20 pence we (okay, our parents) paid
for our rst comics.
The best source for these single-issue
comics is a company called Comixology,
which makes an app called Comics for iOS
(free, bit.ly/YE4iZH), as well as Windows
8 and Android. (You can also buy and read
comics directly on its website.) Comixology
is also the company behind the ofcial
Marvel (free, bit.ly/13jnKzJ) and DC Comics
(free, bit.ly/13iNHAt) apps, which are just
relabelled versions of the Comics app.
The Comics app (in all its forms) provides
a storefront thats inspired by iTunes and the
App Store, with a showcase for featured
comics, as well as lists of new and popular
items. You can purchase a comic within the
app, or read comics youve purchased via
Comixologys website (comixology.com).
One of the best things about Comixologys
approach is that the company keeps track of
all your purchases, regardless of where you
made them. If you buy them on the web,
you can read them on an iPad. If you buy
them on a Nexus 10, you can read them on
the web. Just as your Amazon Kindle eBook
purchases are available across any device with
a Kindle app, all your Comixology purchases
are available for download and redownload
at any time from any device running the
Comics app and viewable on the web.
Reading comics using the Comics app is
pretty straightforward, as well. Once you
open an issue, you can spread your ngers
to zoom in and pinch to zoom out. Swiping to
the left brings up the next page, and swiping
right takes you back. In portrait orientation,
the iPads screen is just big enough to make
reading a pleasant experience. We equivocate
here because some comics seem a bit too
small when t to the iPads screen size, while
Comic book store
Comixologys comics look
great on the iPad 3
Now the comics
we buy dont
take up space
in a garage or
carry-on bag
others dont. Its not much of a hardship to
zoom in a little and pan around, but its nicer
when you dont have to.
Comixologys app also has a guided view,
which moves you through the comic panel
by panel as you tap. This view is necessary
on the iPhone as its screen is too small to
comfortably view a full comic page. On the
iPad, though, the feature is superuous.
While Comixology has risen to become
the industrys dominant provider of digital
comics, not everyones on board. If youre a
fan of Dark Horse Comics, youll need to use
the Dark Horse app (free, bit.ly/16GVj1e)
to buy and read comics. Weve used this
to buy several issues of the Buffy Season
9 comic, and have experienced numerous
download and purchase failures. The reading
experience also fails to match up with the
Comics app its just not as smooth. But for
now, that app is the only digital source for
Dark Horse comics.
Trade paperbacks
These days, lots of comic book readers arent
just readers of the imsy monthly instalments.
A long time ago, comics publishers realised
that many readers preferred to buy longer,
more expensive trade-paperback editions of
comics. (Some of these are self-contained
graphic novels, while others are collections
of several issues of a monthly comic.)
We now see that trend mirrored in the
world of digital comics. You can buy many
of these trade-paperback-style collections,
sometimes at a discount over buying the
individual issues, via Comixology. But theyre
also available where other books are sold:
on Apples iBookstore, Amazons Kindle
Store, the Google Play bookstore, and
Barnes & Nobles Nook Store.
Its nice to see publishers trying to reach
casual comics readers via mainstream
bookstores, but the reading experience is
better in Comixologys Comics app, which was
purpose-built for reading comics. Its easier
to pan, zoom, and navigate through a comic
using the Comics app than it is to use Kindle
or iBooks apps, but the gap is narrowing.
Netix for comics
Marvel Comics offers a unique approach to
reading digital comics: a subscription service
called Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
Originally launched in 2007 on the desktop
(and requiring Adobe Flash), its now
compatible with the iPad. Theres no app
everything works within a web browser
but there are still some bugs to work out.
For $10 (6.60) per month or $60 (39.70)
a year, Marvel DCU is like Netix for (Marvel)
comics. Like Netix streaming, you wont
nd hot new releases, but theres unlimited
access to more than 10,000 individual comics.
If you just want to read through back issues
of classic Marvel comics, and dont really
READING COMICS ON THE iPAD
Bigger and better
Comics look fantastic on
the iPads Retina display
PDF comics
GoodReader is a useful
option if you need to
read comics as PDFs.
Its zoom functions
mean it can even
cope with comics
annoyingly saved as
two-page spreads,
like this one. Whoever
made that decision
is a JERK!
care about whats happened in the past
couple of years, its an interesting option. The
subscription doesnt give you access to read
those issues in the iOS app, though.
Its about content
Even if the iPad is a nigh-perfect comic-
reading device, and its comics apps are all
perfectly good, the whole thing falls down
if there are no comics to read. In the early
days of digital comics, publishers were
reluctant to release their digital issues at the
same time they hit local comic book stores.
This articial scarcity was an attempt to prop
up the often-precarious businesses that still
form the bulk of comic sales.
However, in the past couple of years that
dam has burst. Almost every major comic
from Marvel, DC, and all the independents
is available digitally on the same day that
its paper equivalent appears in comic book
shops. On Wednesdays (the day new comics
are usually released), we often scan the
same day as print section of the Comics
app and buy far too many comics.
If youre a comics fan from the era
where Marvel and DC dominated so utterly
that the indie comic scene was more of a
curiosity, youll be delighted to discover there
are numerous independent comics that are
made by the best creators in the business,
and most of those comics are available in
one or more of these apps. Were big fans
of Robert Kirkmans teen-superhero series
Invincible, Brian Clevingers Atomic Robo,
and Joe Hills Locke & Key.
A quick mention of piracy
If youve heard about CBR and CBZ les, its
most likely been in the context of pirated
comics. Now, not all of the comics out there
in CBR and CBZ format are pirated, just most
of them. Still, if you happen to have some
les in those formats and well admit to
having loaded an iPad with some comics that
are stored in paper form at home theres
an answer for you, too. Were happy with
Comic Zeal (2.99, bit.ly/10Lhgbq), which
handles CBRs and CBZs with aplomb. There
are lots of other good ones, too.
There are a few comics we own that are in
PDF format. For these, were generally using
GoodReader. Its a ne comic reader, and even
Marvels unfortunate decision to save all of
the X-Men issues as two-page spreads rather
than single pages can be worked around with
a little bit of pinching, zooming and tapping.
Big tablets, small tablets
The original iPad debuted with a 9.7in screen,
which is close to an ideal size for comics
reading. (Its still a shade too small, but
its in the right sort of area.) However, the
intervening years have seen the release of
numerous smaller tablets such as the Kindle
Fire, Nexus 7 and iPad mini.
Everyone will have their own take on the
ideal device for reading comics. There are
also those who read comics on their iPhones,
a practice we dropped the day we bought
an iPad. Personally, we nd any device
smaller than this to be less than ideal for
reading comics.
We prefer to read comics page by page,
more or less replicating the printed page
of paper comics. (Maybe this makes us
old school, but as long as comics creators
are building pages in this shape, we think
its only right that we read them as the
creators intended.) Smaller screens require
a lot of pinching and zooming, or reliance
on Comixologys Guided View to pan and
zoom the panels.
It beats not reading comics at all, but we
wouldnt choose it. Even now, when were
using the iPad mini far more than the original
full-sized version, we nd ourselves digging
out the iPad to read comics. Throw in the
much higher resolution of the iPads Retina
display, and its clear that bigger is better
when it comes to reading digital comics.
Though we havent spent more than a
few minutes reading comics on a Windows
8 tablet, a colleague who has reports that its
an even better experience than reading on the
iPad. Bigger screens make a difference when
it comes to reading comics.
Subscription service
Marvels Digital Comics
Unlimited offers unlimited
access to more than
10,000 comics
1. TOP 10 by Alan Moore
Moores Watchmen and the earlier issues
of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are
fantastic, but Top 10 deserves a mention. The
main characters are charged with policing
a city in which absolutely everyone is a
superhero: vagrants, criminals, cats and mice.
2. THE ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY
by Chris Ware
Superb, Jazz-Age-tinged panel stories about
loneliness and sexual frustration, nostalgia
and social history. Also: good jokes. Really!
3. DIRTY PAIR by Adam Warren
The sci- adventures of two genetically
enhanced trouble consultants. Not quite
as mature as the previous entry, but packed
with violence and titillation, and (under
Warren) wittily, creatively written.
4. SUPERMAN: RED SON
by Mark Millar (pictured)
Short but sweet. A three-book series set in
an alternative universe where Superman
lands on a Ukrainian farm instead of
a Kansas corneld, and thus grows up
defending the ideals of the Soviet Union.
5. THE SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK
by John Byrne
Featuring the Incredible Hulks cousin and
lots of metatextuality laughs. Subplots sure
beat subways for getting round the trafc!
WHICH COMICS SHOULD I READ?
FIVE LESS WELL-KNOWN GRAPHIC NOVEL RUNS WORTH A LOOK
The future of digital comics
When we rst wrote about the state of
comics on the iPad in 2010, it was still early
days. Since then, the industry has really got
its act together and embraced the digital
version. Most comics are available online
the day theyre in shops, high-denition les
display beautifully on high-resolution tablet
displays, and even Marvels formerly Flash-only
subscription service works on iPads now.
What hasnt changed is that tablets like
the iPad are excellent comic reading devices.
Now the comics we buy dont take up space
in a garage. Were buying comics regularly for
the rst time since we were a teenager, and
the iPad is the reason why.
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Gear4 StreetParty 5
PORTABLE SPEAKER FOR LIGHTNING DEVICES
M
ost speaker manufacturers seem to have
simply ignored the Lightning connector
on the latest iOS devices, with many of them
deciding to ditch the dock altogether and go
with Bluetooth wireless connections instead.
Bluetooth is ne for streaming music, but
there are down sides to the wireless approach:
for one thing, you cant charge your iOS
devices without a dock. Gear4 has therefore
bitten the bullet and become one of the rst
manufacturers to produce a speaker dock
with a Lightning connector.
Other than this innovation, the StreetParty
5 is very similar to other models in Gear4s
StreetParty range, consisting of a at-panel
speaker that measures 241mm wide, 140mm
high and just 30mm thick. The dock with
the Lightning connector folds back into the
speaker when not in use, and the entire unit
only weighs about 580g, so you can easily
carry it from room to room at home, or slip
it into a backpack when youre travelling.
Sound quality is also similar to that of the
other StreetParty models. Higher frequencies
are clear and detailed, and work well with
the multi-layered
harmonies on some
old Queen tracks.
However, the thin
speaker panel
doesnt produce very
strong bass, and the
sound lacks weight.
To be fair, you
cant expect audiophile sound quality from
a speaker that costs just 50, and the
StreetParty will do the trick if you just want
to listen to some music over a barbecue or in
a holiday apartment. You can also run it off
the mains, or insert four AA batteries, which
should last for six to eight hours.
VERDICT
The sound quality of the StreetParty 5 is
relatively modest, and youre paying a little
extra for that Lightning connector. However,
its still a good choice if youre looking for a
compact speaker that you can quickly pick
up and carry around with you. Cliff Joseph
READ MORE: bit.ly/16Tt4ww
LIKES:
Slim, portable speaker
Lightning connector
DISLIKES:
Modest sound quality
No built-in battery
49.99
Gear4 www.gear4.com
Product page: bit.ly/YzNTcL
Lightning strikes
The StreetParty 5 uses
Apples new Lightning
connector
RATING
Orbitsound M9
COMPACT BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
WITH A MIGHTY SUBWOOFER
O
rbitsounds T9 and T12 speaker systems
have proved popular with both iOS
users and people who want to use them
as soundbars with their television sets.
The new M9 sticks with that winning
formula and looks very similar to its
predecessor. Like the T9, it consists of a
compact soundbar that measures just 300mm
wide, 90mm high and 100mm deep, and
which can sit comfortably on a shelf or be
tucked under your TV. Thats accompanied by
a larger subwoofer unit to go on the oor.
There are a few key differences, though.
The M9 abandons the old iPod dock and
opts for Bluetooth wireless instead. The
subwoofer is wireless too, and has been
designed to reduce latency and ensure that it
syncs properly with the main soundbar. And
in addition to Bluetooth, the M9 includes
three separate inputs for wired connections
3.5mm line-in, stereo RCA and optical so
you can connect it to a TV or other device.
The result is pretty impressive. The large
subwoofer provides really strong bass
output, and theres
a separate volume
control on the
subwoofer, so you
can adjust the bass
for different types
of music. Higher
frequencies are clear
and detailed, and the M9 boasts a thunderous
200W total output. We could barely push it to
80 percent of maximum volume in our ofces
before it became uncomfortably loud, so itll
certainly work well for parties or as part of a
home cinema system when watching movies.
VERDICT
The M9 is a full 100 more expensive than
the T9, and itll be complete overkill if you just
want a compact speaker for your bedroom.
However, its great value if youre looking for
a powerful, high-quality system that you can
use as part of the home-entertainment setup
in your living room. Cliff Joseph
READ MORE: bit.ly/YasuHE
Compact and mighty
The M9s separate
wireless subwoofer has
a thunderous bass kick
LIKES:
Powerful 2.1 speaker system
with Bluetooth wireless
DISLIKES:
Big price jump from the T9
No iPod dock
299.95
Orbitsound www.orbitsound.com
Product page: bit.ly/106oUe5
RATING
= STAR BUY: SUPERB = VERY GOOD = GOOD = POOR = UNACCEPTABLE
RATINGS EXPLAINED
WE TEST REVIEWED PRODUCTS FOR PERFORMANCE, USER-FRIENDLINESS, BUILD QUALITY (FOR HARDWARE)
AND VALUE FOR MONEY, THEN RATE THEM ON A 5-POINT SCALE. HERES WHAT THE SCORES MEAN.
Otone Varsa
NOVEL, TWO-IN-ONE MINI SOUNDBAR
T
he Varsa is one of a small but growing
number of speaker systems from the UK-
based company Otone Audio. Manufactured
in China and available for under 80, its an
affordable alternative to your computers
desktop speakers or a modest addition to
your TV set-up. Its unique selling point is its
versatility: both single horizontal soundbar
and 2.0 separate speakers in one neat and
fairly portable package.
The speakers clip together easily to form
the soundbar, or can be set on either side
of your desktop or laptop computer at a
variety of angles. Its a cool option, but one
that only makes sense if youre likely to
ddle with speakers regularly. After a little
experimentation we found both options to
be agreeable on the ears, with a sound that
copes particularly well with bass-heavy dance
music. The Varsa copes less well with more
complex music, where detail seems lost.
Sat in front of you, the combined 20W
output offers more than enough oomph;
turned up, its enough to ll a small room,
when in party mood, without distortion. For
gamers, the speaker
system adds a fair
bit of excitement,
especially if you
like to be immersed
in the action.
A solid if
unspectacular
design and build is
complemented by touch-sensitive power on/
standby, volume control and mute, which
proved responsive despite their diminutive
feel. The Varsa is available online via Otone
and Amazon, and instore at PC World.
VERDICT
While the Otone Varsa 2.0 speaker system
offers some exibility, were not sure how
often users will feel the need to switch from
soundbar to separate speakers and vice versa.
That said, its a decent-sounding and -looking
compact audio accessory that should improve
on your computers audio without breaking
either the bank or your desktop. Nick Spence
READ MORE: bit.ly/16TkMVw
LIKES:
Solid bass sound
Flexible modular design
Reasonably priced
DISLIKES:
Despite good bass, sound
lacks detail
RATING
79.99
Otone Audio otoneaudio.co.uk
Product page: bit.ly/14hHnex
Doing the splits
This quirky horizontal
soundbar can be transformed
into a 2.0 system simply by
pulling apart the speakers
Sonoro cuboDock
ONE-BOX STEREO LOUDSPEAKER, WITH
THE OPTION OF BLUETOOTH WIRELESS
I
t may have a Latin-sounding name, but
Sonoro is a German design rm. Among its
range of compact lifestyle radios and music
centres is the cuboDock, a straightforward
stereo speaker for the iPod and iPhone.
It doesnt break any new ground in its
electronic or acoustic design. Instead, it
appeals with its simple aesthetics and high-
quality construction: an all-plastic slope-
fronted cabinet with centrally placed dock
and iPod support, all in a range of colours
and nishes to suit just about any taste.
The cuboDock can play music in three
ways: directly from a docked iPhone or iPod,
through a line-in jack at the back from any
analogue source, or over Bluetooth wireless.
Bluetooth results were a little sketchy; the
heavy compression common to the low-band
wireless link was the principle problem here,
compounded by cascading from already
compressed AAC or MPEG tracks. This
produced a weary, grainy feel to the music.
Best sound quality was heard playing from
a docked iPhone 4S using ALAC lossless music
les. The cuboDock
could certainly
handle bass-rich
music without any
creaks or distress
from the cabinet:
an impressive feat
in itself. Treble was
a little pronounced,
just forward of the midband, but we were
impressed by the generally tight control.
There are no additional tone controls to
tweak the sound, but the palm-sized remote
control allows you to skip and pause tracks on
your docked iPhone, as well as jump straight
between the various music sources.
VERDICT
A neatly constructed, great-looking compact
one-box speaker for iPods and phones, with
a handy fallback to Bluetooth wireless for
convenience when sound quality is less of
a concern. Andrew Harrison
READ MORE: bit.ly/11BS8Eh
Back to the fuchsia
Other colours and nishes
(white, black, walnut wood
and lime green, for instance)
are also available
LIKES:
Sharp,clean design
Convenience of Bluetooth
Strong audio when docked
DISLIKES:
Audio noticeably weaker
over wireless connection
195
Sonoro de-en.sonoro-audio.com
Product page: bit.ly/11CuXxs
RATING
REVIEWS
Just Mobile Gum Plus
NEAT, SMART LITTLE BATTERY UNIT
T
he iPhones battery life continues to vex
and confound, and for all our optimism
in the cover feature on page 16, the chances
of Apple sacricing screen delity or chassis
slenderness to improve it are low. So if you
want your handset to last longer away from
the mains, youre probably on your own.
One option is this neat little battery unit by
Just Mobile, rendered in the rms trademark
Apple-imitating brushed aluminium. Its about
the size of a pack of cigarettes, if a little heavier
(78 x 57 x 21mm, and 138g) and comes with
a black bag with compartments to hold the
battery and your iPhone. Its a convenient and
portable device, in other words.
The Gum Plus is rated at 5,200mAh, which
translates, according to the makers, into
three full recharges for an iPhone. Just Mobile
also claims you can charge your iPhone from
empty up to 90 percent in an hour, but our
experience didnt match this: our handset
went from 4 to just 67 percent in that time.
An iPad will obviously get less satisfaction,
but we gave it a shot anyway. A fully charged
Gum Plus took our test iPad 3 from 27 to 56
percent before giving
up the ghost; not
bad as an emergency
backup, but dont
depend on this as a
tablet power source.
The Gum Plus
has a USB output
port at one end and
miniUSB input at the other for charging it
up. Youll need to supply your own USB-wall-
plug adaptor if you want to charge it from
the mains, but iPhone owners will have one
lying around somewhere. And it is compatible
with Lightning devices, provided once again
that you provide the relevant cable (USB to
Lightning, in this case) yourself.
VERDICT
Smart, robust and highly portable, the Gum
Plus is a convenient power backup unit for
iPhone users to tote around on trips. It can
even save your iPad in a power emergency,
but dont expect miracles. David Price
READ MORE: bit.ly/YasM17
Portable charging
The Gum Plus is small,
lightweight and robust
LIKES:
Attractive brushed-aluminium
look matches Apple products
Robust build quality
Handy backup power source
DISLIKES:
Test unit didnt charge as
fast as we had hoped
74.95
Just Mobile www.just-mobile.com
Product page: bit.ly/106qJI4
RATING
Wahoo RFLKT
iPHONE-CONNECTED BIKE COMPUTER
IS A BIG WIN FOR CYCLISTS
U
niquely, this bike computer relies on an
iPhone 4S or 5 for all of its data, pairing
via Bluetooth. As a result, it gives you access
to smartphone features that rival systems
dont offer, most notably the ability to switch
your iPhones music tracks wirelessly.
The RFLKT weighs about 60g, and the
back slides into a panel attached to an O-ring,
which ts around either the stem or the
handlebar mount on your bike. (You wont
want to leave it in the mount, though, as it
would make an attractive item for thieves
who could easily pry it out of the back panel.)
Wahoo Fitnesss compatible iOS app
tracks your workout time, distance travelled
and speed; it can also connect with other
sensors over Bluetooth to display your heart
rate, cadence, calories burned and more.
By displaying all your ride data on the app,
the RFLKT essentially turns your phone into
a powerful bike computer capable of giving
you a great deal of information.
Most the metrics were reliable, but we
found a few hiccups when relying on the
iPhones GPS to
measure speed.
While it was mostly
accurate, a few times
it reckoned we were
travelling at near-
motorway speeds,
and these blips threw
off the workouts top-speed measurement in
the app. To measure speed accurately, youll
need an additional peripheral device.
Handily, you can choose which of the
RFLKTs four buttons perform certain
functions, such as changing the music track
and switching between displays on the device.
VERDICT
The RFLKT is a convenient and customisable
way to access all of the iPhones features
(as well as the Wahoo Fitness app) during a
ride, and the relief from leaving the iPhone
untouched in a bag is a big plus. Well worth
a look for techie cyclists. Michael Homnick
READ MORE: bit.ly/XBsJIb
Biker groove
Switch between music tracks
(and keep an eye on your
progress) while riding
LIKES:
Highly customisable
Let you keep iPhone safe
DISLIKES:
Speed measurements can
be inaccurate if you dont buy
an extra peripheral
115
Wahoo Fitness wahooftness.com
Product page: bit.ly/ZmQeUp
RATING
Belkin Thunderstorm
UNUSUAL, AUDIO-BOOSTING iPAD CASE
I
f, like many others, you nd the iPads rear-
facing speaker less than satisfactory when
watching movies and playing games, this
could be just the solution youre looking for.
Belkin has combined a case, a stand and a
speaker system to create the Thunderstorm,
which aims to signicantly improve the sound
of Apples tablet, while also offering a better
viewing angle for video content, and offering
protection against bumps and scratches.
The iPad ts neatly into the tray-like
design, and sliding the dock connector
into place secures the tablet and provides
communication with the speakers. One thing
youll notice immediately is the bulkiness
of the Thunderstorm, which is heavier than
the iPad itself, at 665g. However, this allows
for a built-in battery that can power the
Thunderstorms speakers for up to 10 hours.
(The device comes with a bundled mains
adaptor that charges both the internal battery
and the iPads own battery.)
When it comes to sound quality, we were
impressed. The speakers offer clear and loud
dialogue, good bass and a vast improvement
over the iPads built-
in mono speaker.
Theres little
distortion at top
volume, which is
loud enough to
ll a whole room.
We found that the
speaker vibrated
quite a lot at higher
volumes, however.
A free app enables
you to adjust the
width of the sound
to whichever of
the three options you prefer for each mode:
music, video and gaming. A nice touch, that.
VERDICT
The Thunderstorm carries a hefty price tag,
but its difcult to fault the quality of the
speakers. If youve been looking for a multi-
functional iPad case to improve your video
experience, this is it. Ashleigh Allsopp
READ MORE: bit.ly/13q7Jfp
LIKES:
Signicantly improves audio
Provides all-round protection
Free app for customisation
DISLIKES:
Expensive
Rather bulky
RATING
180
Belkin belkin.com
Product page: bit.ly/YCDRo8

The designers at Dodocase pride themselves on the traditional
bookbinding techniques they use to manufacture their
gorgeous, authentic-looking iPad cases. The cloth that covers
the outside of the Classic feels just like what you might nd
on an old used book, and adds to the aesthetic appeal. The
material is smooth as well, making it easy to wipe off any spills
or debris that your case might come in contact with. The cover
is fairly rigid, as it aims to keep your screen safe from anything
that might scratch or crack the smooth Retina display. Inside,
a bamboo frame holds the iPad in place, with rubber nubs
in the corners maintaining a tight grip. The Dodocase Classic
is a good (and stylish) option for the price. However, if you
want more angle options, or a way to prop the iPad in portrait
orientation, there are more suitable alternatives. Albert Filice
Dodocase Classic iPad case
59.99
www.dodocase.com READ MORE: bit.ly/10cgKlK
The Retros design is intended to evoke the look of an old-
fashioned microphone, but we didnt realise this at rst; it
seemed more like some sort of skeletal ribcage, hugging the
iPhone with a dual layer of silicon and hard polycarbonate.
You put the silicone cover on rst, then place your now semi-
shielded iPhone inside the plastic outer shell to complete the
transformation. (The silicone has press-through button overlays
for the Sleep/Wake and volume buttons, but the inner case
is so squishy that we found them more difcult to press that
wed have liked.) It should certainly keep your phone protected
against minor bumps, but if youre looking for something more
minimal, you might want to look elsewhere. The case also
comes with an adjustable plastic stand, which offers a choice
of three angles for propping up your iPhone. Albert Filice
Musubo Retro iPhone 5 case
34.99
www.musubo.com.hk READ MORE: bit.ly/X7vbuS

EDIT YOUR FINAL CUT PRO X
VIDEO PROJECT FROM YOUR iPAD
T
he keyboard and mouse have dominated
the video-editing process for aeons,
but could there be a method thats more
convenient? There are a few options available,
and Pixel Films Studios has recently joined the
fray by releasing ProCutX for the iPad.
Rather than replacing it, in fact, ProCutX
is designed to complement the keyboard and
mouse on a Mac. Installation and setup is a
relatively simple process, thanks to the clear
instructions on the developers website. Once
this is done, you can edit with your iPad.
Having already received its rst major
update, ProCutX lets you select a clip, set in
and out points, and add it to your timeline
(you can even choose to add solely the visuals
or the audio). This is in addition to controlling
keywords, applying speed changes and
grading your clips, among other features.
Its not a perfect app by any means: the jog
wheel has no inertia, you cant tap and hold
a button to move through many frames
in quick succession, for instance and the
lack of tactile feedback can be a pain: you
often end up looking where your ngers are
tapping, instead of focusing on your video.
VERDICT
ProCutX shows a lot of promise, and the
recent version 1.1 upgrade makes it much
more useful: we look forward to future
updates. Its just a shame about the lack of
tactile feedback. Steve Paris
READ MORE: bit.ly/ZKpqOV
ProCutX for
Final Cut Pro X
LIKES:
2 Very responsive
2 Fast release of rst update
DISLIKES:
2 Jog wheel has no inertia
2 Cant customise interface
RATING
17.49
Version: 1.1
www.pixellmstudios.com
Download: itun.es/i6Jw3M9
VERSION 2: A WELCOME UPDATE
TO AN EXCELLENT ANIMATION APP
T
he rst version of iStopMotion was a
pretty spectacular animation app, allowing
you to take shots with ease thanks to a
camera overlay that showed the previous
shot through the current one, helping you
see what had been moved and what needed
further attention; it also included the ability to
use another iOS device as a remote camera.
Version 2 brings a few welcome additions.
Previously, photos displayed as thumbnails,
and swiping through could be tedious. Now,
a Navigator timeline represents your entire lm.
Tap anywhere to be taken to that section.
The other major addition is the ability to
add audio a welcome move, although the
options are fairly limited. You can import
audio from Dropbox, Soundcloud and, of
course, your iPads music library, but your
song is displayed in its entirety. If your movie
is shorter than the song, the Navigator will
be useless. When sharing your lm, that extra
audio will be trimmed, but its a shame youre
forced to see it in your workspace.
You can also record a voice-over, but youd
have to choose between that and the music:
only one layer of audio is allowed. And you
cant combine the best from multiple takes,
or create a dialogue for animated characters.
VERDICT
This is a fantastic stop-motion animation app:
its easy to use and the shooting and editing
tools are great. However, youd be advised to
work on sound in another app. Steve Paris
READ MORE: bit.ly/Wq7Py7
iStopMotion for iPad
LIKES:
2 Incredibly easy to use
2 Ability to use iPhone as
remote camera
DISLIKES:
2 Audio tools feel too basic
RATING
6.99
Version: 2.0.2
boinx.com/istopmotion
Download: itun.es/i6Jn4w7
RATINGS EXPLAINED

TEACH YOUR KIDS THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF CODING
S
urfScores premise for its Kodable app is
simple: a family of fuzzball aliens have
crash-landed and need your help to navigate
through a series of mazes. You do this by
using some of the simple commands and logic
concepts that underlie computer programming.
The commands are all drag-and-drop, so
a little trial and error will get you through,
earning rewards and getting to grips with
the fundamentals of coding. Our 12-year-old
assistant reviewer was initially scathing of
the simple, colourful interface, but half an
hour later had worked through the entire
rst world, completely engrossed.
The rst level teaches the basics: how to
go forwards, up and down, and conditional
statements: if this, then that. The difculty
then increases with a repeat button, coloured
squares as part of the instructions, and loops.
The second world (available via an in-app
purchase) adds more complexity and more
fuzzes. A third world, which will focus on
debugging techniques, is in development.
Kodable is fun to use, challenging and
educational, and we look forward to more.
VERDICT
Its been said that technology is anything
invented after one is born. Todays kids see
gadgets as just another part of life: and
coding will be a vitally useful skill when they
contemplate the job market. Our experience
suggests that kids will eat up Kodable, and
its programming lessons. Its not presented as
technology, but as mind-food. Angel Garden
READ MORE: bit.ly/131vzxO
Kodable
LIKES:
2 Easy to learn
2 A fun, educational challenge
DISLIKES:
2 Fuzzballs could move faster
2 Variable music would be good
RATING
FREE (1st world; 2nd 1.49)
Version: 1.1
www.surfscore.com
Download: itun.es/i6Jw3mB
Heres a different take on arty lters. Instead of simply
offering styles, Alt Photo seeks to give your iPhone photos
a variety of lm-like looks, emulating the effects of old lm
stocks and printing styles. You can shoot a photo for editing
from within the app, or pull one from your camera roll. It
doesnt overwhelm you with lter choices. There are only six
categories: Color Film, Vintage Color, Toy Camera, B&W Film,
B&W Print and B&W Vintage. Swipe down to move through
the categories, then swipe to the right to see each of the six
variations. Alt Photos lters serve up a light, subtle touch
with lters to give photos a distinctive and unique character
without piling it on too thick. And its free. Jackie Dove
Alt Photo
FREE
VERSION: 1.2.0 DOWNLOAD: itun.es/i6Jn8JZ READ MORE: bit.ly/Xl6SV0
Conceived by pro photographers John Barnett and Zach
Garrett, Wood Camera offers a useful mix of photo tweaks
and enhancements capable of turning the most casual of shots
into eye candy. Users can shoot directly from within the app
with live lenses or lters, rather and edit them on the y or
at a later date. The app currently offers 32 lenses, but theyre
not all as successful as the developers might hope. A minority
add little, and sometimes actually make things worse. Wood
Camera also offers 28 textures to add drama, contrast and
grunge to your images, along with 16 varied frames. These
too are a mixed bag, with the odd dud, but theres enough
good combinations to produce stylish results. Nick Spence
Wood Camera Vintage Photo Editor
69p
VERSION: 2.0 DOWNLOAD: itun.es/i6Jw9qh READ MORE: bit.ly/XUWQ2O
REVIEWS
+
For iPhone &
iPod touch
For iPad &
iPad mini
For all four devices (separate
iPhone & iPad versions)
+
Universal. A single version
works on all devices
W
eve been taking a look at
WeatherPro for iPad, the 2.99
app from MeteoGroup. Theres also an
iPhone version, which is 2.49, and for
an additional 3.99 you can upgrade to
a premium version for 12 months.
You get an eight-day forecast that
includes weather types: Cloudy, snow
shower, for example. Temperature
is shown on a graph its Celsius by
default but its not really clear what the
four lines represent. Is one the average
temperature for the time of year?
We like the fact that WeatherPro
made us feel like forecasters: we were
handed all the information, and from
that we were able to draw our own
forecast. Other apps simply tell you hour
by hour what the weather is expected
to be like, but WeatherPro makes you
feel like youre being given the raw data.
It can be confusing at rst, though.
Our main issue is the cost. There are
plenty of good, free weather apps out
there, and WeatherPro faces a lot of
competition. Karen Haslam
READ MORE: bit.ly/XikLDo
MeteoEarth
2.99 (Premium version 1.49 for
3 months, 3.99 for 12 months)
Version: 1.1
Download: itun.es/i6Jw9V4
EXPENSIVE, PROFESSIONAL-
LOOKING WEATHER APP
T
his calendar app offers something
extra, and its a beauty: the
weather. Enter the time and place of
an appointment, and the app shows
what the weather will be like, up to two
weeks from now. It makes Horizon very
helpful for parents wondering whether
to bring an umbrella for a school trip, or
business travellers unsure how to pack.
Horizon syncs with the iPhones
native Calendar app, and entering
appointment data is very similar, except
that a Google-powered search function
in Horizon tries to predict the precise
location and city youll be visiting, the
better to offer a precise forecast. This
doesnt always work perfectly, though.
Horizon Calendar isnt just useful;
its also lovely to look at. It adopts the
stripped-down aesthetic popular among
recent weather apps, and switches easily
between daily and monthly views, and
Celsius and Fahrenheit. Best of all, it
helps ensure you wont show up at your
next appointment soaking wet from an
unexpected rainstorm. Joel Mathis
READ MORE: bit.ly/11a8pE7
WeatherPro
LIKES:
2 Premium version offers 15-day forecasts
2 Lots of graphs and charts
DISLIKES:
2 Seems expensive, considering that
so many weather apps are free
RATING
2.49/2.99
Version: 2.8.1 (iPad version)
Download: itun.es/i6Jn4v2
DETAILED, DATA-RICH BUT
CONFUSING FORECASTER
LIKES:
2 Stunning visuals
2 Great for showing off
DISLIKES:
2 Overkill (and costly) for day-to-day use
RATING
Horizon Calendar
LIKES:
2 Useful, innovative concept
2 Attractive and simple interface
2 Easy for Calendar users to pick up
DISLIKES:
2 Suggested locations can be unreliable
RATING
1.49
Version: 1.0.3
Download: itun.es/i6Jn8Jq
ADDS A WEATHER FORECAST
TO YOUR CALENDAR
T
here are free apps out there that
are more suitable for checking
the forecast for your area, but this
professional-looking weather app beats
most for bigger-picture data, and for
sheer meteorological showing off.
Its very much a display app. Indeed,
the makers say it was adapted from a
broadcast tool used by TV presenters.
You can search for towns and cities
to view. Smaller conurbations may not
be listed; we couldnt nd Maidenhead,
for instance. But we were pleased to see
places that exist in both Britain and the
US came up in the morally correct order.
You can superimpose maps of
precipitation, wind, temperature and so
on over the geographical image, then
swipe to make everything move into the
future (up to ve days, if you upgrade to
the Premium edition). Alternatively, just
hit the play button and watch everything
animate, just like on the telly.
It all looks incredible, but the price
tag is likely to put off the casual will it
rain tomorrow crowd. David Price
READ MORE: bit.ly/X515qW
+

The Hare With Amber Eyes
W
hen the renowned ceramicist Edmund
de Waal inherits his great uncles
collection of 264 netsuke small Japanese
sculptures made of bone, ivory or wood he
is intrigued by their beauty and precision,
and resolves to trace their journey through
his familys history. Alongside a moving
recollection of the lives of family members,
this interactive eBook allows readers to delve
into the story more deeply, with embedded
videos, narration, music, a sumptuous gallery
of Secessionist watercolours and, of course,
images of the artefacts themselves.
The netsuke are rst bought in the 1870s
in Paris by Charles Ephrussi, the son of a
wealthy Jewish banking family, and a cousin
of Edmund de Waals great-grandfather.
They represent the fashion for japonisme at
that time; one of Charless many passions
in a swirling cultural life he also collected
Impressionist paintings, and was a partial
inspiration for Prousts character Charles
Swann. In 1899 he sends the netsuke to his
cousin Viktor and his wife Emmy in Vienna.
As the family scatter to escape Nazi
persecution, the netsuke are rescued by the
familys old servant. Passed to safety from
their hiding place inside her mattress, they
return home to Tokyo with Uncle Iggie,
before nding a new home in London.
Despite the violent historical upheavals
that fall within this narratives span, de Waal
tells his story sparingly, with an exactness that
seems inspired by the netsuke themselves. The
eBook is similarly elegant in its design, with
a minimalist scrapbook feel, lled with family
photos, maps and documents. Slideshow
images are very successful
at conveying the variety and
detail of the netsuke (a carved
monkey and its young, for
example, tumble over and over
in a ercely playful embrace),
but leave one wishing that
more could have been shown.
The nal audio le in the
eBook is a reading from the last chapter by
the author. A satisfying ending, but beware
if you sit back to listen: standby mode will
cut off the audio after a few minutes.
VERDICT
Successful and satisfying, this eBook makes
great use of the iPads pin-sharp screen to
show off illustrations and archive material to
best advantage. The audio and video add an
evocative element that enhances de Waals
beguiling prose and helps the reader to a
richer appreciation of the text. Victoria Regan
READ MORE: bit.ly/ZHfcAo
LIKES:
2 Slideshow images of
selected netsuke
2 The musical excerpts
2 Secessionist watercolours
album
DISLIKES:
2 Interruption of nal audio
le by standby mode
RATING
The Hare With Amber Eyes:
The Illustrated Edition
by Edmund De Waal
12.99
Random House
www.edmunddewaal.com
Download: itun.es/i6Jt7my
ELEGANT, EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY MEMOIR TOLD THROUGH
A COLLECTION OF MINIATURE JAPANESE CARVINGS

The eBook has an elegant,
minimalist scrapbook feel,
lled with family photos,
maps and documents

Real Racing 3
T
he latest instalment in this popular mobile
franchise serves up gorgeous visuals
and a fun, uid racing experience. Its also
free. Thats a rst for the series, and sounds
great; but the games in-app purchase system
has proved to be a bit contentious.
Real Racing 3 has two currencies: dollars,
earned by completing races and competitions,
and gold coins, which can be attained by
levelling up your driver or spending real-world
cash. This is where the trouble starts.
After a few races, youll notice that your
cars tyres are in need of a service, or that
your engine could use a few upgrades. These
modications take time, during which your
car will be unavailable; you can wait a few
minutes, or just fork over some coins to get
back in the action. And while you could
theoretically ignore calls to x the suspension
or headlights, your cars performance will
suffer, making it harder to stay competitive.
This is a tricky subject. Like any enjoyable
gaming experience, Real Racing 3 stimulates
the drive to keep going just one more
lap! and that impulse is curtailed by
these seemingly arbitrary limitations. Almost
paradoxically, the more you enjoy the game,
the more often youll run into these enforced
breaks, forcing you to choose between racing
conservatively, cracking open your wallet, or
simply nding something else to do.
And the chances are that youll enjoy the
game plenty. Its utterly beautiful to look at,
packed with licensed cars which can sustain
visible damage and carefully recreated tracks.
And the tilt-to-steer gameplay is almost as
realistic as the title promises (petrolheads may
notice that its rather forgiving on corners).
As for the all-important multiplayer
element, this is asynchronous; youre
competing against friends and other users
around the world, but not at the same
time. Youre only really taking on computer-
controlled doppelgnger drivers whose racing
prowess and decision-making is based on the
real-world players past performances.
VERDICT
Ultimately, you have to
decide how much your
time is worth. Were
not averse to spending
money, but weve had
no trouble setting our
iPad aside when the
old Nissan is in need
of an oil change. Since
the game is free to
download, take it for
a spin yourself and
see. Nate Ralph
READ MORE: bit.ly/XpwLDm
LIKES:
Beautiful graphics
Good selection of lovingly
recreated cars and tracks
A fun driving experience
DISLIKES:
Freemium model entails
either waiting around for
repairs, or potentially ruinous
real-world payments
Hardcore driving sim fans
may nd the handling
unrealistically forgiving
RATING
FREE (with in-app purchases)
Version: 1.0.2
Electronic Arts
www.ea.com/uk
Download: itun.es/i6Jt582
A FREE, FUN AND BEAUTIFUL DRIVING GAME. BUT ITS
HARD TO IGNORE THE CONTENTIOUS IN-APP PAYMENTS
Is a ten-minute break
really so bad?
If youre not willing to
cough up real-world cash
for repairs, youll have to
wait real-world minutes and
hours for them to nish.
Notications like this one
will quicken your heart
+
RATINGS EXPLAINED
+
IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU
SCREAM EVERYTHINGS ON FIRE
S
omewhere between turn-based strategy
and a solo board game, Shifts is basically
Star Trek if Kirk and co were doomed.
Youre in command of a spaceship and its
ve-person crew, trying to survive a nanobot
attack which has all but destroyed humanity,
and hoping to establish new colonies
before its too late. Every turn, the relentless
nanobots damage your hull, the colonists
you carry, and your repair capabilities. Every
turn, you need to make increasingly agonising
choices about which crew members to deploy
where, and whether youll spend your three
or four actions on ghting res or exploring
the galaxy in search of habitable planets.
Theres no way to beat the nanobots, so
its a race against time, striving to establish
enough colonies before you run out of fuel,
hull or colonists. Its hard and unforgiving, so
its more than likely that youll wind up as so
much sad space-junk, but it is possible and
thats why youll keep boldly going.
Sadly, Shifts presentation lags far behind
its strategy, with ugly art, a ddly interface
and a few grammatical errors giving it the
vague air of amateur hour. Its testament
to the tight, brutal ideas behind this that
it works so well regardless.
VERDICT
Shifts is in serious need of a makeover, not to
mention a fuller tutorial, but it does a ne job
of pulling off space exploration, panic and the
laser-focus of a good board game within its
stark, cramped connes. Alec Meer
READ MORE: bit.ly/YdCkXD
Shifts
LIKES:
The difculty sweet spot
between impossible and
theoretically possible
Blissful panic
DISLIKES:
Art, interface and writing
RATING
1.49
Version: 1.2
threadbaregames.com
Download: itun.es/i6Jt9RN
If you played the gem of interplanetary jetpack exploration
that was Waking Mars, but griped that there wasnt enough
action, Capsized+ might well do the trick. Set on a planet
full of spiky threats and blocked passageways, its pleasantly
large in scale, with a dreamlike feel, despite all the laserguns.
The on-demand jetpack means you can create your own path
through the hand-drawn-esque environments, while simple
physics puzzles abound. Souring things a touch, however, is
how hard it pushes a store full of real-money upgrades. The
controls make the relatively complicated possible on iPad, but
its denitely one of those pat-your-head-while-rubbing-your-
stomach affairs, so expect a few sudden deaths. Alec Meer
Capsized+
1.99
VERSION: 1.0.1 DOWNLOAD: itun.es/i6Jt7DZ READ MORE: bit.ly/XYGGU1
A difcult game to describe, this one: much of its power
comes from its twisting, sinister narrative, and its arguably
more about the experience and a slow, creepy assault on the
senses than it is about the puzzles. Essentially all you need
to do is control the movement of an unseen character through
a wintry, papercraft-styled forest, chaining together particular
sequences to progress. Some of this is perfectly intuitive, some
requires throwing conventional logic to the winds, but the
overall intent is to make you feel lost and confused, muddling
your way back to what may or may not be safety. This is a
multimedia experiment in the form of a game, but its effective
and affecting rather than arch. Alec Meer
Year Walk
2.49
VERSION: 1.0 DOWNLOAD: itun.es/i6Jt7Dz READ MORE: bit.ly/Zvf08i
Little Inferno
L
ittle Inferno is a satire: a satire of
consumerism, of games built around click-
frenzy compulsion, and of the human urge
to destroy things. And somehow its good-
natured, despite essentially existing to raise
an eyebrow at our most scabrous urges.
Theres very little to it, on the surface.
You drag objects into a replace and watch
them burn, via a rst-person perspective and
a one-nger interface. There are no points,
no objectives and no risk of failure. If the re
goes out, tap anywhere to start it again. If the
re wanes, drag on more objects to watch it
hungrily devour them and leap in size.
Immolating some objects will activate
animations, pleasures in themselves: corn on
the cob sprays into a fountain of blackened
popcorn, a wooden bicycle pedals itself across
the screen in something like panic. Darkly, a
family photo item asks you to select a picture
from your library: moments later, youll watch
your dog or grandparents go up in smoke.
As the game wears on, more elaborate,
bizarre and expensive items become available.
In another situation, you might love to own
a giant plushie dinosaur; in Little Inferno, all
you care about is how well it burns. Its an
extended exercise in futility, but between the
twisted, Tim Burtonesque presentation and
compulsive entertainment, its somehow joyful
futility. Its laughing with you, not at you.
Lest it all sound too vague, rest assured
there are optional goals, of a sort. Figuring
out certain combinations of items unlocks
achievements and bonus coins, while burning
everything in the item catalogue means you
can buy a new one, stuffed with extra weird,
wonderful and vaguely sinister purchases to
send to the great re gods. For a one-screen
game about turning things to ash, it never
feels short of things to do.
Whether theres any point
to its cheerful scolding of our
desire to shop and destroy
winds up all but moot: Little
Inferno turns these things, no
matter how unhealthy, into
entertainment and gorgeously
animated, upredictable
spectacle. You might end your
time with it feeling guilty and base, but youll
also nd its re has burned into your memory.
VERDICT
Little Inferno is a collection of things we
might recognise as gamey earning coins,
eradicating things, unlocking other things
but at the same time it wouldnt be unfair to
call it an interactive screensaver. A screensaver
ripe with the childish thrill of making things
burn for the hell of it, though. Alec Meer
READ MORE: bit.ly/WeLyTK
LIKES:
Dark, destructive humour
Something to say, without
being preachy
Burning things is fun
DISLIKES:
Is there any point to it?
RATING
2.99
Version: 1.0
Tomorrow Corporation
tomorrowcorporation.com
Download: itun.es/i6Jr3Wh
BUY LAVISH AND EXPENSIVE ITEMS, THEN BURN
THEM. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? BECAUSE
Its an extended exercise in
futility, but between the
twisted presentation and
compulsive entertainment,
its somehow joyful
REVIEWS
+
For iPhone &
iPod touch
For iPad &
iPad mini
For all four devices (separate
iPhone & iPad versions)
+
Universal. A single version
works on all devices

K
ey mislayers, own-head-forgetters
and the otherwise memory-
challenged can exercise their powers of
recall with this simple puzzler. Each of
the 105 levels displays an arrangement
of white and coloured tiles, then tasks
you with recreating it from memory.
Stylistically iCueda is a winner, with
clear, attractive patterns and nicely
tactile-looking tiles these pop out as
cubes. But the controls are less of a hit.
You swipe your chosen cube until the
right tile face comes up, but the problem
comes when trying to rotate the face
itself, which is ddly and a bit of a pain.
Youll often forget the pattern while
wrestling the rst cube into position.
The devs boast that playing this game
can improve your visual memory. We
cant conrm that one way or the other;
our scores certainly improved, but we
may have just got better at describing
shapes: Pac-Man, bow tie, bow tie,
squiggle. Which, while amusing,
is probably missing the point of an
overtly non-verbal game. David Price
READ MORE: bit.ly/YaND4x
SEQ
FREE (extra level packs 69p each)
Version: 1.4
Download: itun.es/i6Jc6xV
NINE EIGHT SEVEN WAIT
SIX FIVE AAAAARGGGGHH
T
here are plenty of reasons to start
running: to lose weight, build tness,
or simply evade that decomposing
gure grasping for your brains. Zombies,
Run! casts you in the trainers of Runner
5, a mysterious gure dropped into a
zombie-lled world, who has to help the
survivors by (literally) running errands.
But this isnt a game as such its more
an interactive radio drama. You really
will be running, and the app tracks you
on your GPS as you collect supplies, and
occasionally have to pick up the pace to
escape the undead chasing you.
Theres not much game here, but its
a nice distraction while running, and
the story is engaging, well acted and
occasionally quite funny. Its not as tness-
feature-oriented as Endomondo or the
like, but it can be used alongside more
dedicated apps for the best of both
worlds: the one thats full of exciting
zombies, and the one where you just
want to lose a stone. Doesnt hurt to be
prepared for when the undead walk (or
run) the earth, either. Alan Martin
READ MORE: bit.ly/15qkjq5
iCueda
LIKES:
2 Looks great
2 Challenges and stimulates the brain
DISLIKES:
2 Controls can be painful
2 Feels like work, not a game
RATING
1.49
Version: 1.1
Download: itun.es/i6Jc9KB
ATTRACTIVE IF LABORIOUS
MEMORY-TESTING PUZZLER
LIKES:
2 Simple, fun gameplay mechanic
2 Quite addictive
DISLIKES:
2 Sudden difculty spikes & cant skip levels
2 No single-touch restart
RATING
Zombies, Run!
LIKES:
2 Encourages getting t
2 Entertaining script
DISLIKES:
2 No real risk not gamey enough?
2 Zombies sometimes super-fast
RATING
2.49
Version: 1.5.1
Download: itun.es/i6J26JB
UNDEAD-THEMED FITNESS
APP: GET FIT OR DIE TRYIN
S
implicity can be a virtue, and this
economical puzzle game certainly
has accessibility in its favour. Its dimly
reminiscent of Sudoku, in that you have
to place numbers into a partially pre-
populated grid, but these must follow
sequential paths (hence the name) from
coloured high points down to grey
zeroes. Slide your nger along a path
and the game will input the gures
for you. Its fun, and rather moreish.
Things get satisfyingly complicated
as the grids enlarge, the number of
coloured paths multiply and everything
starts to overlap. But the difculty curve
is a bit bumpy a series of easy levels
is often followed by an absolute killer,
which you cant skip. And undoing your
work can be a pain: double-tapping
a number should unravel the path
back to that point, but its sometimes
unresponsive; and we wish there was
a single-touch restart, as seen on the
saintly Pangolin (reviewed last issue).
A conrmation box for level restarts?
Im not a baby. David Price
READ MORE: bit.ly/16xBrxE
+
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Ive got the power
Theres nothing worse than running out of juice, so get yourself covered
for any eventuality by calling on the convenience of a portable charger
BY ROB CLYMO
M
obile gadgets are all well and good,
but theres no escaping the fact that
were all at the mercy of battery
life. It doesnt matter if youve got an iPhone,
iPod, iPad or any other mobile gadget,
because without power youre pretty much
dead in the water.
Theres nothing more frustrating than
anticipating a lengthy music or games-playing
session, only to nd that your power bar is
dwindling away to nothing. More crucially, if
youve got a deadline looming or important
work to complete and youre relying on your
device to get it done, then having access to
an always on power supply is vital.
The good news is that there are plenty
of accessories that can keep you powered
up, both at home and while youre out and
about. Out of the box, iOS devices come
with the standard mains power source,
which you can of course use in other
locations and also overseas, with the
benet of a simple plug adaptor. Thats ne
if you have access to a mains electricity
supply. If not, the next best thing is a
standalone device thatll keep you topped
up until you nd a plug socket.
PORTABLE POWER OPTIONS
Buying a portable charging solution will set
you back a reasonable amount of money,
and its worth remembering that youll have
something extra to take with you on your
travels. Nevertheless, knowing that youve
got a constant supply of power can be
both stress-relieving and hugely convenient,
especially if you simply cannot be without
access to your iOS device.
Once such item is the Mophie Juice Pack
Powerstation Duo external battery (around
80, www.mophie.com), which isnt cheap,
but boasts high-output technology that can
recharge two iPhone, iPad or iPod devices at
a time. Not only is it wonderfully easy to use,
but the mophie features LED indicator lights,
allowing you to keep tabs on how much life is
left in the charger itself. Better still, it weighs
just 200g, and is designed to t easily into a
bag when youre going away.
An extra 20 or so will bag you the
Just Mobile Gum Max supercharged
rechargeable battery (www.just-mobile.com),
which sounds rather grander than it actually
is. Again, this offers up the capacity for
powering up your iPad, iPhone or iPod, but
can also be used with other USB devices. The
robust aluminium housing makes it durable,
but it weighs in at a little heavier 273g.
If youre looking for an altogether more
muscular power supply to take on your
travels, then the Veho Pebble Pro-XT (99.95,
www.veho-uk.com) warrants further
investigation. Not only can this bruiser power
your iOS gadgets, but it can also charge larger
mobile devices, such as notebooks. It comes
with an array of connector tips, but weighs
396g, so its one of the heavier options.
Those aiming for a rather more compact
power solution might want to look towards
the TeckNet iEP390 11000mAh external
battery pack (www.tecknetonline.co.uk).
This portable option comes in at just under
60 and is perfect for the Apple iPad 2, iPad,
iPhone 4G 4, iPhone 3G 3GS and iPod Touch
(1G, 2G, 3G). It weighs 270g and is pretty
small, and offers 50 hours standby time for
an iPhone 4 and 10 hours for a 3G iPad 2.
Slightly less effective, but just as
portable, is the Duracell 2-in-1 USB charger
(www.duracell.co.uk). From the same
people who brought you the batteries, this
little charging solution is handy for a quick
bit of juice when you need it most. There
are down sides it takes a while to fully
charge and its not compatible with tablets.
However, for anyone looking to bring life
Style on the move
The Just Mobile Highway Pro
dual charger offers a slick
and stylish way of recharging
your iOS gadgets in the car
Bijou solution
The TeckNet iEP390
11000mAh external battery
pack is good on the eye,
wont break the bank and
will keep you charged
back to their phone momentarily then this
small, lightweight option is worth a look.
The rather cheap-and-cheerful-looking
Momax iPower Pro 8000mAh universal
portable battery pack can be found online
for around 50 (at www.mobimega.com,
for example) and is compatible with the iPad
and iPad mini. Once out of the box, this little
gizmo is surprisingly durable and packs a
powerful punch. The design might not be up
to the same standard as its pricier rivals, but
this is still a reasonably eye-catching package
that also ts easily into your luggage.
Of course, chances are that you might
be out and about in a car. In that respect
youve got another angle for staying powered
up, thanks to a variety of in-car chargers
that work with a variety of iOS gadgets. For
example, at just under a tenner, you can get
Grifns PowerJolt Dual (store.apple.com/uk),
which works with the iPad, iPhone and iPod.
Its a nifty little thing that allows you to charge
two devices while youre on the move.
Slightly pricier, but a whole lot cooler
to look at, is the Just Mobile Highway Pro
dual charger, which costs around 35 and
enables you to also recharge two devices at
the same time. In addition, it sports a built-in
fused surge protection feature, meaning that
whatever youre charging will be safeguarded.
Whats more, the natty aluminium head on
this thing looks great once its plugged in and
is complemented by nifty green micro-LED
power indicators.
Rounding out the pick of the crop when
it comes to in-car recharging is the Belkin
Car Charger (www.belkin.com), complete
with the latest Lightning connector. This
device costs less than 20 and allows you to
power up your Lightning-enabled iOS device
while youre on your travels. Its got a funky
compact design, plugs into your cars power
socket and comes complete with a generous
4ft cable. Meanwhile, the Lightning connector
is also fully reversible.
ALWAYS ON
The great thing about this selection of
chargers is that theres something to suit just
about any kind of budget when it comes
to staying powered up on the go. Whats
more, with a wide variety of different devices
available weve only touched the top of
the pile theres no reason why you shouldnt
be able to stay fully charged, no matter
where youre heading.
For every device
The Veho Pebble Pro-XT
is a beefy portable power
solution that comes with
a variety of connectors
for mobile devices
Knowing that youve got
a constant supply of power
can be both stress-relieving
and hugely convenient,
especially if you simply
cannot be without access
to your iOS device
Double the fun
The Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation
Duo external battery features a cool
design, and is lightweight and portable.
Plus it allows you to charge two
devices simultaneously
T
here are plenty of apps that let you jot down notes on the iPad, but
we havent come across many that offer the range of CaptureNotes 2.
Designed with lectures and business meetings in mind, its a good-looking
app with some advanced features that make it easy to quickly capture all the
detail you need.
CaptureNotes allows you to type and sketch, but you can also take audio
recordings. By connecting the app to a Dropbox account, you can import PDFs,
meaning you can mark up a set of slides or a document at the same time as
capturing the audio from your meeting or lecture. You can even use themed,
customisable tags, called Flags, to link a particular section of the audio to the
relevant point in your notes, and sort through these easily afterwards.
Using your ngertip to write isnt quite as smooth or intuitive as you
might think, and it takes a little practice to combine a PDF, Flags and audio
efciently, but if youre after a powerful and highly versatile note-taking app,
CaptureNotes 2 is well worth a try.
Seize the moment
Jot it down quickly with CaptureNotes 2s range of advanced tools
BY A ROSS
DEVICE: iPhone/iPad
DIFFICULTY: Beginner
TIME REQUIRED: 5 mins
WHAT YOU NEED:
2 CaptureNotes
(1.99, itun.es/i6JN2TH)
2 iOS 5.0 or later
VITAL INFO
Get organised
Tap the arrow to see all
the Notebooks in the
Binder youre currently
in, or tap the grid to
see your full selection
of Binders.
Easy does it
Pull up a wrist guard
to enable you to rest
your hands on the iPads
screen as you work
without confusing the
touch sensors.
Fast forward
Tap this tab for full
access to the sidebar,
where you can
quickly scroll through
pages and add Flags.
Multiple options
Switch between
modes using the pen,
the eraser, and the
keyboard, or hit the
red button to start
an audio recording.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: DULY NOTED
1 Bound together In CaptureNotes, you work
in Notebooks, which are then grouped into Binders.
Tap New Binder, give it a name and add a subtitle.
You can then opt to change the colour all Notebooks
inside the Binder will be the same hue. Tap the cog in
the corner to alter your preferences.
2 Tweak the settings As well as all the defaults
youd expect, Settings is where you can link the app
to Dropbox it will create a dedicated folder in your
Dropbox, into which you put any documents youre
planning to annotate in CaptureNotes. Back up all
your work using Dropbox or iTunes in Data Backup.
3 A glowing report CaptureNotes 2 is the best
app weve come across for reading and annotating
documents: import a PDF or several from your
Dropbox by tapping the Paper icon. You can then
write, highlight and annotate to your hearts content.
Landscape orientation is best for big documents.
4 Flag it up Flags group key information: there
are ready-made sets or you can create your own. Drag
a Flag off the sidebar and position it in your text. If
youre recording, any Flag you post is linked to that
moment in the audio. To listen back or delete a Flag,
tap and hold it until the options appear.
5 All the highlights To sift through the
information youve marked up quickly, tap Filter Flags,
then tap on a particular category: you can then surf
through each point in the PDF that youve tagged with
a Flag. Tap on any of the text to go straight to that
point. This is brilliant for dealing with large documents.
6 Digital pencil case When drawing or writing,
press and hold the pen, eraser or keyboard icons
to change colour, line thickness, font and text size.
You can also choose highlighter for marking up key
points. However, with drawing, theres only one level
of undo older mistakes require the eraser.
T
hese days, people live so much of their lives online, cross-posting
between Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and Flickr, that its a wonder
anyone can keep up with everything. In addition, all that electronic
business has another interesting side-effect, making everything not just
instant, but also momentary: as if a post whether it be a photo, a link or
a comment only exists until its pushed off the screen by someone elses
noise and chatter. The free Timehop app gives iOS users a chance to remind
themselves of what they were up to in the dim and distant past by grabbing
their entries from popular social networking sites (along with photos from
the camera roll) and displaying them once a day. Previous posts are shared
with other Timehop users, while local photos are not. So its a good way to
reminisce, while keeping private moments to yourself. Heres how it works.
Living in the past
Find out what you were up to one year ago today with Timehop
BY ROB BEATTIE
DEVICE: iPhone/iPad
TIME REQUIRED: 5 mins
WHAT YOU NEED:
2 Timehop
(free, itun.es/i6Jn5nc)
2 iOS 5.0 or later
VITAL INFO
Settings to suit
Tap here to change
Timehops settings,
add or remove social
networks, change when
it sends new notications
and more.
Open the portal
Tap the personal or group
icons to see your own
Timehop feed or those of
your friends who are also
using the app.
Private stays that way
Timehop only shares
posts that youve
already made available
to online services and
networks. Photos like
this from the camera
roll are not shared
or uploaded.
Circle of life
Entries in the Timehop
timeline can be shared
with others via email or
reposted on Twitter or
Facebook, thus becoming
part of a never-ending
circle of social media.
1 Lets time travel Start by
downloading the app and installing it.
Tap the icon to launch the app and then
tap the Log In or Sign Up button at the
foot of the screen. Necessarily, Timehop
needs access to loads of social media
data, so tap OK to continue. Next,
choose which services Timehop can scan
for information and tap Continue again.
2 Add local photos Timehop can
tell if any of your friends are also using
the app and allow you to see the stories
they share at the same time as they
can see yours. Tap Got It to move on.
Next, theres the option to include all
the photos in the camera roll note that
these arent shared or uploaded tap
Authorize and then OK.
3 One year ago Nearly there.
At the next screen, tap Got It and OK
to conrm youre happy to receive daily
notications from Timehop. Choose
whether to share your new-found
Timehop love with Facebook and Twitter
or skip that step and then let the app
do its stuff. After a moment, the rst
entry appears.
4 Even further back Timehop
doesnt stop at one year, either. Scrolling
through the list of entries we found
photos from two years ago. All links are
live (assuming the source still exists) so
its easy to revisit something you may
have forgotten about. Here for example,
is a gig review of the Alter Eagles, an
Eagles tribute band.
5 Sharing again There are
annotations under each entry which tell
you where it was rst published (fb for
Facebook and tw for Twitter), together
with an email button which opens the
default mail app with the diary entry
already attached, along with a Share
button so you can post the entry again
on Facebook or Twitter.
6 Add/Remove services If you
change your mind and decide youd
rather not revisit your ancient tweets,
then tap the icon to the right of the
Timehop logo and at the next screen,
tap the Settings cog. From here, its easy
to add or remove services, change how
often Timehop sends you updates (the
default is daily) or edit your prole.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: NOBODYS PAST IS HISTORY
SYNCING WITH iCLOUD
Syncing with iCloud
Lets get down to business with iClouds main functions. This month: syncing
BY SERENITY CALDWELL
DEVICE: Mac, PC, iPad
and iPhone
TIME REQUIRED: Varies
WHAT YOU NEED:
iCloud account
VITAL INFO
i
iCloud is chock full of features for syncing,
sharing photos, listening to music, reading,
backing up your devices, hanging out with
friends, and more. In this article, well learn
how to master iClouds syncing components,
among its most valuable core offerings.
SYNC YOUR DATA AND
DOCUMENTS
Once you have iCloud set up on your devices,
you can take advantage of the services
syncing and storage capabilities. Whenever
you make a change within an iCloud-
supported application, your data is seamlessly
pushed across all of your devices; you wont
actively have to choose when you want to
sync your device or what you want to sync.
Instead, your data is automatically stored
in iCloud, and your iOS devices sync to and
pull information from this central server on a
regular basis, keeping everything up to date.
HOW DOES SYNCING WORK?
Dont panic: this article doesnt go into nitty-
gritty explanations about online storage and
push servers. Instead, well outline the basics
of how Apples iCloud sync process works. Its
a fairly simple and (usually) seamless process.
Step 1. You add or change a reminder on
your iPhone.
Step 2. If your iPhone has a network
connection, that change goes up to the
central iCloud server. (If, for whatever reason,
you dont have a network connection when
you rst make an edit, your iPhone stores
the change locally until it can sync with
iCloud again.)
Step 3. iCloud conrms that this is the
newest change or addition made to that
reminder list.
Step 4. The server makes the change to
iCloud.com, and then sends that change
down to all of your other iCloud-connected
devices.
This all takes place behind the scenes and
within seconds of your initial change.
But what if, you might ask, Im
changing the same reminder on both my
computer and my phone? While its not the
best idea to do that, iCloud tries to handle
near-simultaneous changes by syncing them
in the order in which it gets them, with the
most recent change synced last. For example,
if you add Milk to your shopping list on your
computer, and then immediately add Eggs
to your iPhone list before iCloud has had a
chance to sync, iCloud will add rst Milk and
then Eggs to your list on iCloud.com. Next,
it will add Milk to your iPhone list above the
Eggs item. Finally, it will add Eggs to your
Macs shopping list.
That said, any sync service iCloud
included can get tetchy if you try changing
multiple records or the same record in
multiple places. iCloud will try its best
to reconcile your wishes, but you might
occasionally end up with duplicate list entries,
events, or notes.
WHAT CAN I SYNC?
iClouds document and data sync makes up
a large portion of the service. You receive
full sync support across all devices (PC,
Mac and iOS) for your iCloud.com email,
contacts, calendars, reminders, and notes,
and that data also appears when you log in
to iCloud.com. Depending on your device,
you can also sync Safari bookmarks and open
tabs, Passbook passes, and app documents
and data.
Each feature your device supports is
listed in the iCloud preference screen; from
there, you get to choose what items you
want the service to store. For instance, if
you enable contacts sync for your iPhone,
whenever you enter a new contact there, it
automatically gets pushed to iCloud.com and
any other devices you have set up to allow
contact syncing.
MAIL, CALENDARS, CONTACTS,
REMINDERS AND NOTES These ve areas
are part of iClouds core sync program; they
are the only ones that can be synced across all
iCloud-supported platforms and thus the only
ones viewable on iCloud.com.
On the Mac and iOS, these areas sync to
the programs of the same name: your email
syncs to Mail, calendars to Calendar, contacts
to the Contacts app, and so on. On a PC,
iCloud syncs with Outlook 2007 or later.
When you rst set up your iCloud account,
these features are on by default; that means
when you check off a reminder on your
iPhone, that reminder will also show up as
completed on your Mac (assuming youve set
up the service on both Mac and iPhone).
If you dont want to sync certain data
your contacts, or your calendars you can turn
off syncing by going to System Preferences >
iCloud (on your Mac) or Settings > iCloud (on
iOS) and unticking the boxes or turning off the
toggles for the appropriate selections.
SAFARI BOOKMARKS, READING LIST,
AND iCLOUD TABS Available for iOS and
Mac users only, the Safari option lets you sync
bookmarks, your Reading List, and open tabs
and windows (which Apple refers to as iCloud
tabs). This data doesnt go to iCloud.com; it
gets synced directly between devices.
Bookmarks and Reading List are fairly
straightforward: add a new bookmark to your
browser, or an article to your Reading List,
and that change gets pushed to all your other
devices within moments.
If youve ever found yourself viewing a web
page in Safari on your iPhone and wanting
to instead view it on the larger screen of your
iPad or Mac or, conversely, reading an article
on your Mac and wanting to transfer it to
your iPhone as you walk out the door iCloud
Tabs is for you. Instead of emailing URLs to
yourself, you just tap the iCloud Tabs button
and grab the URL from your other device.
iCloud syncs any tabs or windows open
on any of your devices assuming they have
Cloud tabs
Easily view web pages you
found on your iPhone on
the iPads larger screen
internet access. On your iPhone or iPad,
you access synced tabs by tapping Safaris
Bookmarks button, and then tapping iCloud
Tabs. (If youre already in a sublist in the
Bookmarks list, tap the left-facing arrow until
you get to the top level, titled Bookmarks.)
Tabs are grouped by device, and each tabs
entry shows the name of the web page and
its URL; tap any item in the list to open that
webpage on your device.
On your Mac, you access synced tabs
by clicking the iCloud Tabs button which
looks like a cloud in Safaris toolbar. Tabs
are similarly grouped by device, although on
the Mac they only display the websites title
instead of both its title and its URL.
PASSBOOK Designed for the iPhone and
iPod touch, Apples mobile wallet app stores
boarding passes, event tickets, customer
loyalty cards, coupons, movie tickets and
other assorted passes and cards in one
location. Whenever you pick up a pass, ticket,
or coupon, your iCloud account automatically
uploads these to the services central server.
While you can technically sync Passbook
with other devices, the only ones available
Reminders (above left)
Weve ticked off the most
pressing task on this list
(Above right)
and it (fairly) promptly
appears under the
Completed list in Safari
on a desktop Mac
SYNCING WITH iCLOUD
are the iPhone and iPod touch which means
that as an iPhone owner, youd need to also
own an iPod touch (or two iPhones) to take
advantage of this. But if youre giving your
daughter movie tickets, for example, the sync
feature might be useful.
PHOTO STREAM With Photo Stream, you
can snap a picture from any iOS device or
upload a photo to your Mac or PC and
have it pushed to all your other devices and
computers. You can also create Shared Photo
Streams, which allow you to collect and send
albums of images to your friends and family.
On iOS devices, iCloud syncs your Photo
Stream to the Photos app, under the Photo
Stream tab; on a Mac, you use iPhoto or
Aperture; and on a PC, you must choose
a folder on your hard drive to use as your
Picture Library. The Apple TV can view your
Photo Stream, but you cant upload images to
it from the device (as theres no actual way to
add photos to the Apple TV).
Photo Stream keeps a copy of the last
1,000 photos snapped on your iOS device or
uploaded to your Mac or PC; these photos
are stored on iClouds central servers for 30
days. Your computer automatically downloads
any new synced photos to your chosen
photography program, or to your designated
photo library folder. In iPhoto, the photos
appear under Events, with a default name
that includes the month and year, along with
Photo Stream. You can, however, change the
event name, or reorganise those images and
put them elsewhere.
iOS devices, in contrast, wont
automatically download full-quality Photo
Stream images to your phone theyre only
available for viewing. If you want to edit an
image or save a hard copy of it, you must
rst download it by going to Photos > Photo
Stream, selecting the appropriate photo, and
then tapping Share > Save to Camera Roll.
You can delete individual Photo Stream
images from iCloud via your iOS device: Just
go to Photos > Photo Stream, tap the image
in question, and tap the Trash button. You
can also delete multiple images by going
to Photos > Photo Stream, tapping the Edit
button, and then selecting the images you
wish to delete. You can delete Photo Stream
images from iCloud via your Mac by opening
iPhoto and selecting Photo Stream, and then
iCLOUD SYNC TROUBLESHOOTING
Heres a couple of common issues
with iCloud syncing, and how we
would advise tackling them.
Diagnosis: merger
Content merges when you try to
sync an active iCloud account with a
device that has calendars and contacts
on it can be a source of trouble.
iCloud always attempts to merge
things seamlessly: if its merging
calendars, and you have two events
with the same name, it automatically
tries to accept the one you created
most recently. Most of the time, data
merges should work, but there can
be mistakes. If youre worried about
overwriting data, back up your
device before you turn on iCloud.
Duplicates, duplicates, duplicates
If youre using iTunes 10 or earlier,
and youve switched on calendar
syncing with both iCloud and iTunes,
you could be in for some serious
duplication. Connect your iOS device
to your PC or Mac, select it in iTunes
Source list, choose the Info tab, and
peer at the Sync Calendars entry.
Look for these words: Your
calendars are being synced with iCloud
over the air. Your calendars will also
sync directly with this computer.
This may result in duplicated data
showing on your device.
This is a strong hint that youre
doing A Bad Thing and that you need
to make a choice between syncing
with your computer and syncing with
iCloud. You can disable calendar
syncing within iTunes by unticking
the Sync Calendars option. When you
do, iTunes will offer to remove its
calendar entries from your iPhone.
But suppose you have different
events in the calendars synced
from your Mac and those
synced via iCloud, and youd
like to have all of your events
on the iPhone. Try this: attach
your iPhone to your Mac
and, in the Info tab, disable
Calendar syncing. When
you see the offer to keep or
remove the calendars currently
on the iPhone, keep them,
then click the Apply button
at the bottom of the window.
Now, move to your iPhone, choose
Settings > iCloud, and ick the toggle
next to Calendars to Off. Again, youll
be offered the choice to keep or
delete your calendars. In this instance,
delete them (dont worry, theyre
stored in the cloud). Now switch the
Calendars toggle back to On. In the
sheet that appears, tap Merge.
What happens? The duplicate
events currently stored on your
iPhone (the ones synced from your
Mac) and on iCloud are merged into
a single event. Any additional events
not found in your iCloud calendar
get added to iCloud.
choosing the photo(s) you wish to delete.
You cant delete individual Photo Stream
images from a PC, though you can clear
your entire Photo Stream online by logging
in to iCloud.com, clicking your name in the
top right corner to bring up your Account
preferences, selecting Advanced, and then
clicking Reset Photo Stream.
If you want to share images in your library
with friends whether youve added them to
Photo Stream or not you can create a Shared
Photo Stream on your Mac or iOS device (from
iPhoto or the Photos app, respectively).
On your Mac, select the images you want
to share, click the Share button, and then
click Photo Stream. From here, you can create
a new Shared Photo Stream, or add it to a
Shared Photo Stream youve already created.
Create a new stream, and youll need to
choose whom to send it to and whether you
want to make the images available on the
web. Friends who have iCloud will see the
shared stream pop up in the Photo Stream
section of iPhoto or the Photos app on iOS;
those without an iCloud account can view the
images on the web.
You can also easily create a Shared Photo
Stream on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad
by selecting the images you want, and then
tapping Share > Photo Stream.
After you make a Shared Photo Stream,
your recipients can comment on or like
your photo, and even save it to their own
computer or iOS device.
DOCUMENTS & DATA This toggle controls
the wireless sync and storage of all iCloud-
enabled apps. Sometimes referred to by Apple
as Documents in the Cloud, Documents &
Data keeps your app information ubiquitous
across all your iOS devices and computers,
allowing you to create a document on one
device, save it, and pick up where you left off
somewhere else.
Accessing documents between iOS devices
is seamless. Say you started a Numbers
spreadsheet on your iPad; you could save it
Which documents are
hogging iClouds storage?
As you can see, Pages is
taking up about 100 times as
much space as Innity Blade
II, which makes us rather sad
and open it up later on your iPhone to do
some tweaking. You can access your projects
across all your iOS devices (and, if the app
in question supports OS X, the Mac), so its
not necessary to le share or email copies to
yourself. Documents & Data will automatically
sync your documents through iCloud, so you
can access them on all of your iOS devices.
Apples own App Store apps (such as Pages,
Keynote, Numbers and iPhoto, among others)
use this functionality, as do third-party apps
like AgileBits 1Password, Tapbots Tweetbot
and Autodesks SketchBook Pro. Using iCloud
in apps that support it is simple as can be:
Just ip the Documents & Data switch on in
iCloud settings. Then, when you download
an iCloud-enabled app, it should prompt
you to use the service to store documents or
data. (If the app doesnt ask you about iCloud
functionality automatically, you may need to
turn on a setting in its preferences.)
If you ever want to delete an apps iCloud
information, on an iOS device, select Settings
> iCloud > Storage & Backup > Manage
Storage > Documents & Data; on a Mac or
PC, go to the iCloud preference pane or
control panel and click the Manage button.
Photo stream (above left)
iCloud (and Photo Streams)
allows you to view your
iPhone photos on your iPad.
But it doesnt download
them at full quality unless
prompted
(Above right)
To do this youll need to
select the option Save to
Camera Roll rst
Four productivity-boosting
replacements for stock iOS apps
Awesome alternatives to Calendar, Mail, Notes and Reminders
BY RICK BROIDA
The replacements
From left to right:
Fantastical, Mailbox,
SpringPad and Astrid
I
f youre an iPhone user, youre no doubt
familiar with the pre-installed apps, such
as Calendar, Mail, Notes and Reminders.
Indeed, these are key tools in any mobile
workers arsenal and yet all four have room
for improvement. Some would say a lot.
Below, weve rounded up four great
alternatives to the aforementioned apps,
all of which will boost your productivity.
REPLACE CALENDAR
WITH FANTASTICAL
If you live and die by the calendar, as so
many business people do, youve no doubt
had some complaints with Calendar for iOS.
Instead, try Fantastical, which provides a fresh,
attractive interface for your appointments,
and also simplies adding new ones.
Specically, you can create an entry just by
typing a simple sentence: Lunch with Thomas
on Friday at Always Be Chewing. Even better,
you can dictate that same sentence and
Fantastical will turn it into an appointment,
with all the critical details lled in.
There are a few iOS-imposed limitations,
but we nd Fanastical to be exactly that, and
well worth the 2.49 price of admission.
itun.es/i6Jt5Hv
REPLACE MAIL WITH MAILBOX
The stock Mail app isnt bad, but Mailbox
makes inbox management a breeze.
Its all about how you swipe. While viewing
your message list, you can swipe right to
archive an individual message, or a little
further right to delete. Swipe left and you
get built-in snooze options, an ideal way
to make mail resurface at the top of your
inbox at a later time and/or date.
Mailbox is free, but for the moment youll
have to join a fairly lengthy waiting list to
get it. Trust us: its worth waiting for.
itun.es/i6Jr9vq
REPLACE NOTES WITH SPRINGPAD
Bet you thought we were going to say
Evernote. Anything is better than Apples
anaemic Notes app, which cant even sort your
entries, but we nd SpringPad to be the better
information-management tool. For starters, its
much easier to learn, with an interface thats
as straightforward as Evernotes is confusing.
Whats more, it offers handy extras like
task lists, reminders and contacts, and you can
collaborate with co-workers on selected items.
itun.es/i6Jc6Bf
REPLACE REMINDERS WITH ASTRID
We cant survive without a to-do list, and
while Apples Reminders gets the job done,
its a pretty bare-bones task manager. Astrid
is just the opposite, offering a wealth of
task-management tools and an attractive,
straightforward interface.
You can add tasks using your voice, copy
tasks to your calendar, and, perhaps best of
all, assign tasks to people in your contact
list. Itll even import your existing tasks from
Reminders. Not bad for a freebie.
itun.es/i6Jt8Zj
Clean your lawn in Plants vs Zombies
Got zombies on your grass? Here are some tips for playing PopCaps tower
defence gem, designed to keep even the most persistent corpse off your plot
BY ALAN MARTIN
THE BASICS
Sunshine is everything, so dont be afraid
to plant a lot of Sunowers/Sunshrooms.
Two rows should do it.
While harvesting sunshine early on, one
neat tip is to put down Potato Mines to hold
off the early zombies without having to spend
all your sunshine on more expensive plants.
Sure, theyre one use only, but at 25 sunshine
each, they wont break the solar bank. Plant
them some way in front of the oncoming
zombie, though, so they have time to activate.
Keep your defenceless plants at the back.
It may sound obvious, but plants with no
means to defend themselves should be as far
away from the zombies as possible.
Remember, if the worst comes to the
worst, you have one free kill per row with
the lawnmowers. If reached, they will kill
everything in their path. A helpful safety net.
GARDENERS TIPS
The Wallnut (and its cousin, the Tallnut) can
be a lifesaver. If some zombies are getting
uncomfortably close to your house, you can
put one down to stall them (35 seconds for
the Wallnut, 70 for the Tallnut) while you
gather up sun-power, dig up defenceless
plants and put down a pea-shooter or two.
The Gravebuster may seem a luxury item,
but its worth using when you have excess
sun for two reasons: 1) it gives you extra cash
to spend on stuff from Crazy Dave, and 2)
zombies pop up from the graves in the nal
waves if theyre removed, they cant.
Speaking of Crazy Dave, save up money
and visit him often. Top items include an extra
seed slot, and the Sunower upgrade for
double the sunshine per harvest.
You can also use the Wallnut to bottleneck
a bunch of zombies at once. Plant a Wallnut,
let them gather around it, drop a Cherry
Bomb and worry about cleaning up the
bits of corpse later.
Another way to bottleneck zombies is
using the underrated Garlic, which will send
zombies into an adjacent row after a single
bite. Putting these on the top and bottom
columns can funnel the undead into your
four main rows, where you can concentrate
all your repower.
Jalapeos burn not only the Zomboni, but
also the icy path it leaves behind.
SPECIFIC LEVEL TIPS
Rooftop levels are angled, so anything on
the back ve columns will need to either
be a catapult, or a non-offensive item like a
Sunower. But once the roof is at, the trusty
Threepeater is just as effective here as ever.
On conveyor belt levels, whack down
unwanted plants, then immediately dig them
up to clear space on the belt for prize items.
The bowling levels arent too taxing, but as
each Wallnut bounces off at an angle from the
zombie it hits, you can control which direction
it heads by using the bottom or top lanes,
where it can only ping off in one direction.
Fog level
Foggy levels are tricky, but
clever use of Planterns and
Torchwood will help if you
can keep them protected
Standard level
Joke for you: What does a vegan
zombie eat? Graaaaaaaains
EXPERT TIP
Need more tips? This is only
scratching the surface of the
game, but PopCap have a
very neat guide in-game.
The Suburban Almanac tells
you about all the plants and
zombies encountered so far.
Its selectable from the main
menu. The Help button,
however (hilarious as it is),
is best ignored, unless
youre secretly rooting for
the undead.
HIT LIST
INSIDE HIT LIST
I
n Hit List youll nd our picks of the best gadgets, updated
each month with the most favourably reviewed kit.
Hit List starts with Apples devices themselves: on this page
we look at the current iPad and iPhone line-ups, and the iPods
are rated overleaf. Later youll nd the accessories most worth
your hard-earned cash, from audio gear to cases, chargers
and stands. And nally we round up the best apps and games
from the iTunes Store. Only the best kit makes it into Hit List:
look out for the golden 5-star logos, which indicate a product
that has earned our coveted Star Buy award for excellence.
58 iPODS HEADPHONES
59 SPEAKERS
60 iPHONE 4/4S/5 CASES
iPAD CASES
61 iPAD STANDS STYLUSES
BATTERIES & CHARGERS
62 APPS
64 GAMES
N
otable new technology in the iPhone 5 includes a larger,
4in display, 4G LTE connectivity, a new A6 processor,
a better camera and an HD front-facing iSight camera. Theres
also a new dock connector called Lightning, which replaces
the 30-pin Dock connector thats been present on every
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and most iPods.
The amazing thing about the iPhone 5 is that the device
itself manages to feel smaller, while the screen is bigger: up
to 4in. Partly this is down to the lighter weight, slimmer
design and smaller bezel. Depth is down to 7.6mm.
The taller (but not wider) 4in displays 16:9 ratio
is better for watching lms and TV shows. In portrait
mode you get an extra row of apps on the Home
screen, and many list-based apps can pack in an extra
story or two. Once theyve been optimised for the
additional space, games will look pretty special.
The A6 processor makes the iPhone 5 around two
and a half times as quick as the 4S, and also speeds up
its camera; this component is again rated at 8Mp but
has improved low-light capabilities and a tougher lens.
While slimmer and reversible, the Lightning
connector has its down sides those old cables
and wired accessories wont work without an
adaptor. But overall the iPhone 5 is marginally
better in just about every area than the 4S.
READ MORE: bit.ly/PsYqTf
iPhone 5
Price depends on mobile contract. SIM-free:
529 (16GB), 599 (32GB), 699 (64GB)
www.apple.com/uk/iphone
LIKES:
Thin, light, beautiful design
Faster graphics and all-round
processing than 4S
Better low-light photography
Taller screen
4G compatibility
DISLIKES:
Lightning connector
4G limitations
Long-screened, beautiful upgrade to an already brilliant smartphone
RATING
C
an a 50 price cut tempt buyers to consider last years
model? Perhaps. The 4S hasnt turned into a bad phone
overnight, and at 449 it represents sound value for money,
if lacking in the excitement of the more recent release.
The 4S earned record-breaking sales by taking the
successful look of the iPhone 4 and tossing in a dual-
core processor for dramatically improved speed, a heavily
upgraded camera and some brand-new voice-command
technologies with tremendous potential. Siri, indeed,
is now a stronger proposition than ever thanks to the
free software update iOS 6, whose features the 4S can
enjoy in full. (See bit.ly/KywxnP.)
The dual-core A5 processor is one generation more
advanced than the A4 processor that powered the
iPhone 4 and the original iPad, and you can expect
better performance when handling demanding apps
and games. The iPhone 5, however, sees a yet more
signicant speed bump thanks to its A6 chip.
The 4Ss camera saw a jump in spec from 5Mp
to 8Mp and offers fast response shooting. It also
shoots video at 1080p, which is quite a bit higher
resolution than the iPhone 4s 720p. (This means
all your video les will be larger.)
The iPhone 4S is worth considering for its decent speed,
great camera, extensive iOS 6 compatibility and smart design.
READ MORE: bit.ly/JPUuJW
Price depends on mobile contract; SIM-free: 449 (16GB only)
www.apple.com/uk/iphone
LIKES:
Faster than 4S
Terric camera
Full iOS 6 compatibility
Same smart design as iPhone 4
DISLIKES:
Easily outpaced on most
demanding apps by iPhone 5
Lack of noticeable changes
may put buyers off
iPhone 4S
Fast, great at photos and gaming, and 50 cheaper than a few months ago
RATING
T
he mini is just 46 percent of the volume of the iPad 4 and
47 percent of the weight. Yet it has a 7.9in display thats
a full 66 percent of the screen area of a full-size iPad.
In terms of internal components, the iPad mini is
somewhere between the second- and fourth-gen tablets. It
uses the same dual-core A5 processor and 512MB of RAM as
the iPad 2, but it has the 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD front
camera and 5Mp back camera of the iPad 4. Of course,
the mini also uses Apples new Lightning connector.
Contrary to Apples recent trend towards high-
res screens, the mini doesnt have a Retina display.
Instead, it offers the same screen resolution as the
iPad 2: 1,024 x 768 pixels, considerably lower than
the 2,048 x 1,536 of the iPad 3 and 4. If youre
accustomed to one of those, the lower pixel
density is immediately noticeable, especially on
text. Its worth pointing out, however, that after
three days of only using the mini, the difference
while still noticeable wasnt nearly as glaring.
With the exception of a Retina display, the iPad
mini gives you the full iPad experience, in a device
about half the size and weight of the standard iPad.
READ MORE: bit.ly/RzhRII
Wi-Fi only: 269 (16GB); 349 (32GB); 429 (64GB)
Wi-Fi + Cellular: 369 (16GB); 449 (32GB); 529 (64GB)
www.apple.com/uk/ipad
LIKES:
Most of the iPad experience
in a smaller, lighter package
Existing iPad apps run natively
DISLIKES:
No Retina display
Some apps and websites feel
cramped on smaller screen
iPad mini
Most of an iPad at half the size but no Retina display
RATING
iPad 2
Reduced in price and a decent alternative to the iPad 4
E
ven fewer Apple fans are going to spare a thought for the
humble old iPad 2 now that the iPad 4 has hit the shops.
But this is the same sparkling, all-conquering tablet we loved
just a few months ago, and its had 70 slashed off its price.
A quick go on the iPad 2 and youll understand just why
it proved so popular. Instantly switching on, it enables you
Wi-Fi: 329 (16GB) Wi-Fi + 3G: 429 (16GB)
LIKES:
70 cheaper than iPad 4
User-friendly and enjoyable
Wide range of apps available
DISLIKES:
No Retina display
Only available with 16GB
Camera is poor, especially
compared to the new iPad
Will start to feel sluggish
as rms create apps with the
super-fast iPad 4 in mind
RATING
G
ood luck telling the iPad 3 and 4 apart. In fact, the only
outward difference is the cable you plug in: the iPad 4
which entirely replaces the 3, leaving the iPad 2 as the budget
alternative features the smaller Lightning connector.
Otherwise, though, externally this is the same iPad you
know and love: the same controls, support for the same
Smart Cover and the same 2,048 x 1,536-pixel Retina display.
So what are the real differences? First,
the iPad 4s A6X processor, which is roughly
twice as fast as the iPad 3. Still, its going
to be a little while before companies start
shipping apps that can take advantage of all
the horsepower the iPad 4 brings to bear.
The rear-facing camera is now a 5Mp
model providing a much crisper image than
its predecessor and the front-facing camera
gets a bump to 720p for video conferencing.
The iPad 4 also extends 4G functionality, which means
the iPad now works with the UKs version of 4G. And
a huge 128GB of storage has just become available.
This is a modest improvement on the iPad 3, but thats
no reason to look down your nose at it. This is the most
powerful iPad yet, with by far the most storage capacity.
READ MORE: bit.ly/RaffSm
iPad with Retina display (4th gen)
Wi-Fi only: 399 (16GB); 479 (32GB); 559 (64GB); 639 (128GB)
Wi-Fi+Cellular: 499 (16GB); 579 (32GB); 659 (64GB); 739 (128GB)
LIKES:
Incredibly fast performance
Lightning connector offers
an improvement over
the dock-connector
Better camera performance
DISLIKES:
Slightly decreased battery life
Lightning accessories are
still in short supply
Looks the same, but its faster than any previous iPad
to access the internet and all your favourite
apps with the kind of nger interaction
that made the iPhone popular. The large
screen also makes it ideal for reading books,
watching video, and playing games.
The display here looks sharp, bright and
clear right up until the second you read
some text on the iPad 4s Retina display. The
difference in non-text environments is less
marked, but is likely to increase as developers
take advantage of the extra detail.
The price is 70 below the equivalent iPad 4, but all but
the lowest storage versions (of both Wi-Fi and 3G models)
have been discontinued: its 16GB or nothing. This is likely
to ll up quickly if you watch lms and play lots of games.
READ MORE: bit.ly/OUaNGA
RATING
RATINGS EXPLAINED

These EarPods provide
a signicantly improved
listening experience
compared to Apples
previous bundled
headphones. And
if youre looking to
upgrade from existing
Apple earbuds, or to replace a broken set, the
EarPods are easily worth 25, especially considering
that they include an inline remote/mic module.
READ MORE: bit.ly/T2W2iV
Apple EarPods
25 Apple www.apple.com/uk
RATING
Denon is known
for its high-quality
audio systems, but its
earphones can be quite
pricey. However, the AH-
C560R costs 70, and
still provides excellent
quality. A high frequency
range results in a very clean, clear sound with rich
echoing bass and detailed higher frequencies.
Includes a mic for making and taking calls.
READ MORE: bit.ly/JRSOKZ
Denon AH-C560R
70 Denon www.denon.co.uk
RATING
iPod classic
199 (160GB)
Apple
apple.com/uk
RATING
The classic is a tried and
tested way to carry media;
its brilliant if you want to
take a large collection of
music and video with you.
The latest version is
160GB, which represents
excellent value for money,
and if capacity is your prime
concern, the classic is the iPod
to own. It also offers superb
battery life: itll play tunes for
almost two days before the
battery dies. And the click-
wheel is still a design classic.
However, it isnt really
made for the kind of ne
touch you need to precisely
move from cover to cover.
And its hardly a quick way
to nd one out of several
hundred albums and then
play a
particular
song. There
are easier
ways to
explore
and play
your music.
iPODS
Parrots new Zik
headphones boast a
stylish design by Philippe
Starck, sound great and
cost a small fortune,
though they work hard
to justify the price. The
comfortable earpieces
are packed with techno-goodies, including a
rechargeable battery, Bluetooth wireless streaming,
touch-sensitive controls and noise cancellation.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Vyhu2K
Parrot Zik
349.99 Parrot www.parrot.com/uk
RATING
At this time of year,
our thoughts turn to
physical comforts, and
these headphones will
certainly keep your ears
nice and toasty. They
are comfortable to
wear too, and theres
an easy-to-use volume control on the cable. The
audio quality is strong for the price: warm and rich,
although theres not much punch to the bass.
READ MORE: bit.ly/13ewB6R
Audio Earmuffs
19.99 KitSound kitsound.co.uk
RATING
For a set of Bluetooth
wireless headphones
in this price range,
the Air-Fi AF32 on-ear
stereo headphones are
extremely comfortable
and offer good sound
quality. And you cant
beat the feature set or the 12-hour battery life.
Leaving aside minor quibbles about hot ears and
not-quite-perfect audio, we really like them.
READ MORE: bit.ly/IEBITW
There are less expensive
wireless headphones
that provide comparable
quality the RS 160s
(bit.ly/Ji9UXX), for
example, are half the
price but the extra
input and output
features built into the transmitter unit will appeal to
audiophiles and home cinema buffs who want to
integrate these into their entertainment system.
READ MORE: bit.ly/M85cNI
Sennheiser RS 220
349 Sennheiser www.sennheiser.co.uk
RATING
A phenomenal set of
earphones the HF2s
might be at the top end
of most budgets, but
they deliver the kind of
sound that can cost a lot
more. Etymotic has also
teamed up with hearing
experts ACS to offer a custom eartip service, which
makes for a comfortable t. This costs an extra 90.
Moulds can be done at your local Boots.
READ MORE: bit.ly/KoA9Ly
Sennheisers new noise-
isolating headphones are
a stylish and sturdy set.
Theyre designed with
a small arm thats tilted
forward to help the cable
stay in place and the
headphones comfortably
in the ear. Sound-wise, the CX 550 Style IIs are a
strong choice balanced and detailed. Pricey, but
worth it for the quality and comfort.
READ MORE: bit.ly/KSNyXr
Sennheiser CX 550 Style II
80 Sennheiser www.sennheiser.co.uk
RATING
Air-Fi AF32
70 MEElectronics www.meelec.com
RATING
Etymotic HF2
99 Etymotic www.etymotic.com
RATING
iPod touch
249 (32GB), 329 (64GB)
Apple
apple.com/uk
RATING
The new touch is slimmer,
lighter and taller than its
predecessor. The extra screen
space allows for another row
of icons, and many apps will
be built (or redesigned) to
take advantage of the taller
display. The touch has the
A5 chip found in last years
iPhone, and youll nd this
model noticeably quicker at
starting up from shutdown
and ring up apps.
As well as a 1.2Mp front-
facing camera, it now packs
a 5Mp rear-facing iSight
camera that reveals far more
details, is better in low light
and has superior colour
accuracy. The old touchs
camera tends to drench
images with a blue hue and
produces grainy results in low
light. Indoor skin tones are
warmer with the new iPod.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES IN-EAR HEADPHONES
iPODS
The Xorbs 30W output
is fairly loud, but its
compact design means it
doesnt produce the most
expansive sound. Its
probably not quite beefy
enough to be used as the
main speaker system in
your front room, but its a good, affordable choice
if you need a compact speaker for your bedroom,
or for a small studio apartment.
READ MORE: bit.ly/YG7r15
A novel iPad speaker
and stand that embraces
Apples tablet snugly,
the BeoPlay A3 is clearly
a quality product from
a quality brand, and its
especially suited to those
who keep their iPad at
home and close to hand. Great for desktops and
bedside tables, the A3 offers a rich, detailed sound.
The price, however, makes it a serious investment.
READ MORE: bit.ly/N1z2DT
BeoPlay A3
449 Bang & Olufsen www.beoplay.com
RATING
Compact one-piece
speaker docks are a
popular and convenient
option, but often suffer
from poor bass output.
To counteract this, the T9
comes with a separate
subwoofer. The speaker
dock itself has a similar soundbar, with an iPod dock
on the top. Its also equipped with digital audio and
video output connectors to hook up to a TV.
READ MORE: bit.ly/OLLhmh
Orbitsound T9
199 Orbitsound www.orbitsound.com
RATING
It may be bigger and
heavier than most
portable models, but the
S715i is still practical as a
travel speaker and should
t into a backpack or
bag fairly easily. Its
eight-hour rechargeable
battery is great for listening to music on the go,
and the chunky design allows it to generate enough
power and bass to really get things swinging.
READ MORE: bit.ly/MyYk6Q
Rechargeable Speaker S715i
129 Logitech www.logitech.co.uk
RATING
As its name suggests,
the Boombox is designed
with portability in mind.
Its well built, with a
metal grille covering the
speaker drivers and a
rubber coating on the
base. The speaker can
pair with three Bluetooth devices at once, so you
and your friends can use it together. Sound quality
is good too: nice and detailed, with a rm bass.
READ MORE: bit.ly/15lcmV7
The price tag isnt one
to be taken lightly a
quick search online will
demonstrate that good-
quality wireless audio can
be had for 20 less but
the look, portability,
convenience of use and
audio output of the SuperTooth Disco 2 all tell in
its favour. The wireless speaker market is thick with
contenders, but this is one of our favourites.
READ MORE: bit.ly/11dajEi
SuperTooth Disco 2
79.95 SuperTooth www.supertooth.net
RATING
The Braven 650 is worth
looking at if you need
a sturdy and compact
travel speaker. Measuring
6 x 2.5 x 2in, it will easily
slip into a backpack. Its
also light, at just under
400g, but its aluminium
casing is a lot more sturdy and durable than many
plastic portable speakers. It sounds good too, as the
aluminium seems to add weight to the audio.
READ MORE: bit.ly/10bhLzl
Braven 650
159.99 Braven www.braven.eu
RATING
One side effect of Apples
new Lightning connector
table is a boost to
the appeal of wireless
accessories. And with
its clever AirPlay and
PlayDirect, simple setup
and attractive design, the
Zipp is easy to recommend. If you want a portable
AirPlay speaker, its an excellent option as long
as the 329.99 price tag isnt too steep for you.
READ MORE: bit.ly/SuM6TQ
Libratone Zipp
329.99 Libratone libratone.com
RATING
Gear4 Xorb
69.99 (89.99 for Bluetooth) Gear4 gear4.com
RATING
iPod nano
129 (16GB)
Apple
apple.com/uk
RATING
The latest version of the
iPod nano reverts to a more
traditional tall-and-thin
design that provides room
for a decent-size display
once more. It measures a
still-modest 76.5 x 39.6mm,
but increases the size
of the screen to a more
practical 2.5in. The nano
also regains its ability to
play video.
The screen is touch-
sensitive as before, but the
increased size makes it a lot
easier to browse and ick
through your music and
video collection. Battery life
is rated at a maximum of 30
hours for audio, although
video playback is a more
modest 3.5 hours. The nano
looks good, too, with an
aluminium exterior thats
available in more than half
a dozen colours.
iPod shufe
40 (2GB)
Apple
apple.com/uk
RATING
With the redesign of the
fourth-generation iPod
shufe, Apple has brought
back a classic design that
works well with any set of
headphones. At 40 for
2GB, its not only the perfect
entry-level iPod, its also a
solid second device for iPhone
users who want to keep it
simple while exercising.
While the reduced size
makes it a bit harder to clip
on clothing than the second-
generation model, its hard
to quibble about small details
without focusing on the
big one: Apple has backed
off its misguided design of
a buttonless iPod shufe and
returned to the right path.
Throw in the VoiceOver
features and the longer
battery life, and its easy
to say this is the best iPod
shufe Apple has ever made.
WIRELESS SPEAKERS SPEAKERS
UE Boombox
199 Logitech ue.logitech.com
RATING
iPAD CASES iPHONE 5 CASES iPAD MINI CASES
QDOS Libris
Red for iPad mini
34.99
QDOS
qdossound.com
RATING
Fashioned from red imitation
leather, the Libris covers the
iPad minis display with a
front ap that can be held
in place with an elasticated
band. Within the ap are
two pull-out leather stands
that prop your iPad mini in
either vertical or horizontal
orientation. The Libris adds a
fair amount
of bulk, but
offers decent
protection
and is
stylish, too.
Powis iCase mini
60.45
Powis
powiscase.com
RATING
This book-style iPad mini
case is available in a slew of
patterns, from tartan to fake
animal skin. Alternatively,
you can customise the
design with an image of
your own. The well-made
case offer protection from
drops; but at 19mm deep it
adds a noticeable degree of
thickness.
Magnets
hold the
mini in place
and trigger
sleep and
wake, and
theres a
kickstand.
This elephantine
iPhone 5 case is very
comfortable to hold in
one hand. Its fashioned
from soft silicone with
a pleasing matt nish.
The visuals are a treat.
That nice, vibrant colour
makes it stand out so much that its easy to nd at
the bottom of a bag, and we love the attention to
detail: the Home button is covered by a paw print.
READ MORE: bit.ly/TvON4Y
Grifn KaZoo
19.99 Grifn www.grifntechnology.com
RATING
Available in a variety
of colours, the
Survivor is designed
to meet UK and US
military standards.
The case consists of
a shatter-resistant
polycarbonate frame
with silicon padding to cushion your iPhone from
drops, and a screen protector. The port covers are
sealed to keep out dirt or rain.
READ MORE: bit.ly/XnZBVX
Grifn Survivor
35.99 Grifn www.grifntechnology.com
RATING
Cygnetts Urban Shield
is a smart-looking
case thats also tough
enough to provide good
protection. The sturdy
polycarbonate frame
has a rigid plate of
aluminium mounted on
the back panel to deal with knocks and scratches,
but also has a smart brushed-metal nish to give
it a touch of Apple-esque style.
READ MORE: bit.ly/TWrILf
Proporta has one of the
largest collections of
iPhone cases available,
but the ones we like best
are these Ted Baker print
models. You can choose
from a basic protective
case with smart prints
such as bicycles, bugs and a good old-fashioned
paisley pattern, but theres also a ip case made out
of faux leather with a geometric pattern print.
READ MORE: bit.ly/SjZett
Proporta Ted Baker
29.95 to 39.95 Proporta www.proporta.com
RATING
Cygnett Urban Shield
19.95 Cygnett uk.cygnett.com
RATING
The makers of this case
claim you can submerge
your Nd-clad iPad to
a depth of 2m, drop it
from 1.2m and expose
it to dust, ice and snow.
Getting the iPad in isnt
hard, but requires some
patience. Once its inside, you have access to all the
ports and buttons. Youre compromising on weight
and bulk, but this is some serious protection.
READ MORE: bit.ly/ShLAL9
LifeProof Nd
84.49 LifeProof lifeproof.com
RATING
This partially stiffened
sleeve is also a stand. A
stitched groove on each
side lets you fold it into
two neat tetrahedral
structures: a shallow one
for typing and a nearer-
vertical one for viewing
video. Magnets are sewn into the mouth of the
sleeve so it clamps shut when the iPad is inside and
holds itself together when folded into a stand.
READ MORE: bit.ly/LzIrmC
Taylor Smart Stand Sleeve
49.95 Case Addict www.caseaddict.com
RATING
This is a great case and
stand for the iPad 2 or 4.
Its a tight t, but thats
not a bad thing. The
folding stand idea (the
covering ap can be bent
into various supportive
shapes) is a clever and
effective concept. Its not super-cheap, but Apples
Smart Covers set you back just as much without
offering any protection for the iPads back.
READ MORE: bit.ly/NhGVSG
The BookBook is a
striking iPad case that
comes in black, brown
or red. A zip runs around
three edges, where the
pages would be visible if
this were an actual book.
A leather frame on the
right-hand panel supports the iPad 2 or later. When
its all zipped up, the BookBook does a good job of
protecting your iPad, and gives a distinctive look.
READ MORE: bit.ly/TxX4I6
South BookBook Vol 2
69.99 Twelve South www.twelvesouth.com
RATING
Flexi-Fold Smart Case
35 GGMM thepadzone.co.uk
RATING
Sena Florence
for iPad mini
79.99
Sena Cases
www.senacases.com
RATING
Leather iPad cases seem to
be todays go-to accessory
for travelling business execs,
and Senas Florence is a
beautifully crafted example.
A magnetic clasp reproduces
the Apple Smart Covers on/
off functionality, and the front
cover folds
to form a
triangular
stand. The
t and nish
are nice,
and this is a
stylish piece
of work.

2 in 1 Stylus & Pen
9.99
The Snugg
www.thesnugg.com
RATING
For professional artists looking
for an advanced tool, this may
not be the best choice. But
at 9.99 its perfect for the
average touchscreen device
owner who wants to use it
for drawing, painting, taking
notes, and more. With the
added ink pen and headphone
jack attachment features, you
cant go wrong.
The UpStand is a real
looker, with a solid
circular base and arrow-
shaped supporting
bracket, all made of
gleaming aluminium that
complements the iPad
beautifully. The stand
is a bit on bulky side, but the aluminium design is
surprisingly lightweight, so you can easily move it
from room to room. Smart and convenient.
READ MORE: bit.ly/KDRZst
The Solar 15 is a sturdy,
well-made rucksack
with plenty of pockets
and a solar panel on the
front. The slim battery
can charge an iPhone
4S twice over. Filling
the battery requires at
least eight hours of solid sunshine; shady periods
mean the reality is likely to be more. But as a
backup power supply, the Solar 15 is a nice option.
READ MORE: bit.ly/OL5JUm
UpStand
41 Just Mobile www.just-mobile.com
RATING
The HoverBar is a
malleable metal arm
with a clamp at one
end and an iPad mount
at the other. Attaching
the clamp to an object,
such as an iMac, lets you
position your device at
any angle or height you nd convenient. A ball joint
behind the iPad enhances exibility, allowing the
user to rotate and tilt the device with ease.
READ MORE: bit.ly/z8GU8I
At just 80g, the
Powerstation Mini
packs a 2,500mAh
battery into a case
about the size of a
credit card, and a few
mm thicker than the
iPhone 4 or 4S. The top
and bottom are made of a rubberised (and fairly
scratch-resistant) material, and the Minis small
size means itll easily slip into a pocket or bag.
READ MORE: bit.ly/QaTqkU
Juice Pack Powerstation Mini
50 Mophie www.mophie.com
RATING
HoverBar
75 Twelve South www.twelvesouth.com
RATING
Slate iPad Stand
71.99 Ergonomic Cafe ergonomiccafe.com
RATING
XtremeMac InCharge X5
129.99 XtremeMac www.xtrememac.com
RATING
BioLite CampStove
149.95 BioLite www.biolitestove.com
RATING
Gogo Stump Portable Stand
19.95 Stump www.stumpstand.com
RATING
The Slate lacks the
nesse of other iPad
stands and feels the work
of a smaller company;
and it took a little getting
used to. But we found
the benets became
clearer over time. Some
ne-tuning would be welcome, but for now this
is a worthy option for anyone concerned about
improving posture while working with an iPad.
READ MORE: bit.ly/QS6VaJ
If you own a whole range
of iOS devices, the appeal
of XtremeMacs InCharge
X5 will be clear: its a
compact, no-clutter way
to stash up to ve such
devices for charging and
storage. Each (30-pin)
dock cradle provides a full 10W of power, letting
you simultaneously charge any combination of ve
iPads, iPhones or iPods. Deservedly popular.
READ MORE: bit.ly/11bmeBi
The CampStove is an
ingenious portable
charging device that
uses a fan to oxygenate
and help maintain
a re inside a small,
stainless-steel chamber.
The fan is powered by a
rechargeable battery, but in a convenient twist, that
battery is itself recharged using the heat of the re,
and can then be used to charge your other gear.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Vd5Z48
This cylindrical rubber
stand has a deep slit
that can hold your iPad
or iPhone in portrait
or landscape position;
a round cut-out lets
you easily press the
Home button. It offers
three viewing angles and is weighted for stability.
Available in black, red, green, yellow or pink, this
combines utility with simplicity at a reasonable price.
READ MORE: bit.ly/RadkyB
BATTERIES AND CHARGERS iPAD STANDS STYLUSES
Scribbly
9.99
Scribbly
scribbly.eu
RATING
The Scribbly stylus resembles a
permanent marker pen, but its
chunky looks are misleading
the soft, seemingly durable
nib is precise and responsive,
offering good control. Its
build quality is good, and has
so far survived numerous trips
in pockets and bags without
signs of wear and tear.
Crosskase Solar 15
139.99 Crosskase crosskase.com
RATING
Sensu Portable Artist
Brush/Stylus
$39.99 (around 25.60)
Sensu
sensubrush.com
RATING
The Sunsu Brush offers
something special its a
paintbrush. You can use it
on a touchscreen thanks to
metallic particles embedded
into the bristles, which make it
conductive. It also comes with
a handy stylus at the other
end. Its expensive, but then
it is a high-quality item. If you
create images on an iPad, you
should consider one of these.
APPS
iBooks 3 is a free
update, and offers a
few improved features
without changing any
of the basic functionality
of the app. Getting it
is a no-brainer. Theres
still a lot wed like to
see from iBooks (not least of which is a Mac OS X
version) and Kindle fans may remain unconvinced.
But its still a terric e-book reading experience.
READ MORE: bit.ly/TAcLk0
We found it hard
to imagine how
GarageBand could work
on any iOS device except
the iPad, and while it
works best on the larger
device, the designers
have generally done a
good job of transferring it to the iPhone. There
are also enough improvements to ensure that this
remains a must-have app for musicians everywhere.
READ MORE: bit.ly/vva1UV
iBooks 3
Free Apple itun.es/i6Jk62Q
RATING
GarageBand
2.99 Apple itun.es/iPL6n7
RATING
Popsicolor offers a
way for iOS users to
create watercolour-style
paintings with minimal
fuss: simply select a
photo from your library
and wait for the app to
make a mess. Despite a
few shortcomings the tools and colour palette are
both limited it offers attractive, painterly results
way above the standard set by most other art apps.
READ MORE: bit.ly/LobhQn
Popsicolor
69p Tinrocket itun.es/ibD3xP
RATING
FileMaker should be
congratulated: Bento 4
for iPad boasts a look
and feel that are both
intuitive and pleasing
to the eye, and there
are 40 new themes and
25 templates; more are
available for free via a built-in link. A major update
which, despite some quirks, should make life easier
for anyone needing to pull data together.
READ MORE: bit.ly/MshhO6
Bento 4 for iPad
6.99 FileMaker itun.es/ibf9Gq
RATING
Touted as a
personalisable and
beautiful magazine,
Feedly is a joy to use,
thanks to a simple,
intuitive design that
makes browsing more
considered. It isnt for
news junkies seeking an instant x, but for anyone
who wants to explore and share the wider world
online, its well nigh essential.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Vk13pe
Given its popularity, its
bafing that Tumblr
doesnt have an ofcial
iPad app. Postr is a
decent substitute,
allowing you to post
photos, quotes, links,
video, audio whatever
takes your fancy from within the app. You can
even shoot video on your iPad and share it at once.
Its the best Tumblr app weve come across.
READ MORE: bit.ly/NjoXB2
Feedly
Free DevHD itun.es/i6Ds5jk
RATING
Postr for Tumblr
1.99 Tomaz Nedeljko itun.es/i6jt3Qh
RATING
Google Maps is a very
solid mapping and
navigation app. It looks
remarkably similar to
Apples own Maps app,
right down to the blue
dot that highlights your
current location. Features
include public transport information, the ability to
bookmark frequently visited locations, Street View,
and turn-by-turn directions. Welcome back, Google.
READ MORE: bit.ly/UqEEH9
Google Maps
Free Google itun.es/i6Jf2V7
RATING
Twitteric 5
1.99 Twitterric itun.es/i6Jd4yg
RATING
The Iconfactorys
willingness to completely
redesign Twitteric every
few years is part of the
reason for its continuing
success. Version 5 is
more competitive than
ever. The new version
features a more seamless design. But above all,
even though there are plenty of customisation
options, the apps simple, not overwrought.
READ MORE: bit.ly/10RDpI5
Afterglow
69p
Simon Filip
itun.es/i6Dn9vt
RATING
Afterglow has many of the
tools found in other photo
editors, but combines them
in such a clean, intuitive
interface that its a joy to
use. It currently offers a
fairly modest range of lters,
but these are all of a high
quality and
include a
selection
of worthy
guest
lters
created by
Instagram
users.
PHOTO APPS
Photosynth
1.99
Microsoft
itun.es/i6DB5j7
RATING
Photosynth lets you take
panoramic photos. It uses a
rectangle with a centred dot
to indicate the area being
captured. It paints edges
using dotted lines to show
whats missing, and as you
move the camera around, it
tries to capture new portions
automatically.
Tap nish,
and the app
shows a
preview of all
the frames
captured,
then stitched
together.
iPhoto
2.99
Apple
itun.es/iPL6n6
RATING
Drop-dead gorgeous with
swift animated operation,
iPhoto for iOS is also deep,
complete, equipped with a
huge number of functions
and easy to use putting
photo viewing, editing and
sharing at your ngertips.
We expect most people who
try it will end up turning to
iPhoto for iOS as their default
mobile photo editor.

If your red badge count
of unnished tasks never
seems to go down, try
this superb to-do list
app. Although it takes
some effort to learn, its
well worth it. Eventually,
OmniFocus changes you.
You stop being tied to just getting that wretched list
of tasks down, and instead look to see what you can
do now. A terric, mindset-changing app.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Mri2q9
OmniFocus
13.99 Omni Group itun.es/i6jt88c
RATING
The BBC has set out to
revamp its online audio
content in style, and the
dedicated BBC iPlayer
Radio app for iPhone,
iPod touch and iPad
is an impressive start.
While it lacks some of
the features found in the excellent and exhaustive
TuneIn Radio Pro, the BBCs involvement should
ensure further enhancements and features.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Tjug82
iPlayer Radio
Free BBC itun.es/i6DM7Tr
RATING
1Password
5.49 AgileBits itun.es/i6J34kV
RATING
Passwords act as
gatekeepers to our email,
banking and just about
everything else we do.
Unfortunately, most of us
arent very good at either
creating or remembering
them. 1Password works
by creating a virtual vault in which you can store
your passwords, and if youre having trouble
coming up with one, it will generate it for you.
READ MORE: bit.ly/12twKD9
This app will let you
create virtual photo
books. You start by
importing some photos
into Pholiums Gallery,
which provides some
modest editing tools.
Your book can feature as
many pages and place as many photos as you like;
you can also add captions. Once youre nished,
you can publish your book to your Pholium Library.
READ MORE: bit.ly/U2l2XU
Pholium
Free 58 North itun.es/i6DN8GH
RATING
One of the challenges
of writing on an iPad
is trying to gure out
where to rest your hands.
Note Taker HD resolves
this problem with a
simple zoom feature that
allows you to write at the
bottom of the screen, while the actual text appears
wherever you want it. A simple yet powerful tool
to help you capture notes no matter what they are.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Wdpeu8
Sound Uncovered
is designed like an
interactive magazine. It
features articles, videos,
sounds and interactive
experiments to help users
engage with sound,
science and the ways
the two intersect. Even though its a sound app,
its very visually interesting, with lots of high-res
photography and interactive images.
READ MORE: bit.ly/XlCoFO
Mailbox feels beautifully
polished, but it has
depth. You can mark
a message as unread
again by tapping on
its timestamp, and
conversation threads
with earlier messages
collapse, then expand if you tap them. Composing
messages is easy and you tap the camera icon
as you write your email to add a photo.
READ MORE: bit.ly/YaaA31
Note Taker HD
2.99 Software Garden itun.es/i6Jd6YL
RATING
Sound Uncovered
Free Exploratorium itun.es/i6Jr4wH
RATING
Apples app lets you
use an iOS device as
a remote control for a
Mac or Apple TV to
control playback, adjust
the volume and pick
songs or movies to play.
Its also had a makeover
to support the new features in iTunes 11 and
complement its visual style. To switch between
devices, press the large button in the bottom left.
READ MORE: bit.ly/11cASs0
Remote
Free Apple itun.es/i6J83Fn
RATING
Mailbox
Free Orchestra Inc itun.es/i6JR3Q2
RATING
RT Player
Free
RT
itun.es/i6Jk6pq
RATING
Content from Irelands
National Public Service
Broadcaster is available for up
to 21 days after transmission.
Playback is generally
excellent, free of the video
loading and audio sync issues
and sudden crashes we found
with some iOS TV apps.
TV APPS
BBC iPlayer
Free
BBC
itun.es/i6Jk5Ry
RATING
The BBCs iPlayer now lets
you download TV and store
shows for 30 days for ofine
viewing in a choice of le
sizes. A good selection from
all BBC channels includes
some feature lms. BBC
iPlayer also benets from an
attractive user interface and
good navigation.
TVCatchup
Free
GZero
itun.es/i6Jk6pf
RATING
This app offers around
50 live or almost live
TV channels. A simple
interface shows channel
listings and now and next
EPG information down one
side of the screen. Picture
quality, over Wi-Fi at least, is
excellent, with clear pictures.
With its distinctive,
calligraphic art style
and gesture controls,
Autumn Dynasty is a
thoughtful, distinctive
and pleasingly non-
boring take on historical
strategy gaming, entirely
built with touchscreen controls in mind. It needs
a little ne-tuning in the interface and difculty
departments, but its fresh and attractive.
READ MORE: bit.ly/RQeLkO
The Room is a
thoughtful, attractive
puzzle game, set on
and within one intricate
safe, whose surfaces
are adorned by strange
mechanisms and logic
puzzles behind which
smaller, more challenging boxes lurk. Some of the
puzzles are bit obtuse, but the carefully contained
focus means you can never go off course.
READ MORE: bit.ly/TincnJ
Subatomic has taken an
addictive little iPhone
game and sharpened
everything up. Its about
as polished, well-crafted
and enjoyable to play
as the humble tower
defence genre gets. The
graphics are vastly improved zooming in reveals
beautifully rendered towers and vehicles and
theres a wide arsenal of weapons to choose from.
READ MORE: bit.ly/NPVzTj
Wonderful, charming,
inventive, simple,
beautiful, fun: pick an
adjective. We were
happy enough to see
Tiny Wings clever
side-scrolling action
transferred to the iPads
larger screen, but the new head-to-head two-player
mode is a massive bonus. This is the nest party
multiplayer weve seen on the device.
READ MORE: bit.ly/MDWQYR
Tiny Wings HD
1.99 Andreas Illiger itun.es/ibF6mT
RATING
Fieldrunners 2
1.99/5.49 Subatomic Studios itun.es/i6jt9gB
RATING
The Room
2.99 Fireproof Games itun.es/i6Dw7Yv
RATING
Autumn Dynasty
4.99 BulkyPix itun.es/i6jt9By
RATING
You play a tiny arrow on
the edge of the hexagon,
and its your role to
rotate around the centre
and ensure youre not
crushed by incoming
shapes. It sounds a little
thin when we point out
that you only need to stay alive for a minute to
unlock the three extra levels. However, staying alive
for those 60 seconds is incredibly tricky.
READ MORE: bit.ly/To2OSn
Super Hexagon
4.99 Terry Cavanagh itun.es/i6Dw7hQ
RATING
Bad Hotel is a remix
of the tower defence
game. You manage a
series of hotels, but the
buildings psychpathic
Texan owner wants to
trash it in order get his
hands on the insurance
pay-out. You counter his bird-bombers and death
balloons by building the hotel ever higher, adding
guns and healing blocks.
READ MORE: bit.ly/UOYPBk
Bad Hotel
69p Lucky Frame itun.es/i6J38f2
RATING
Beautifully designed,
with a sparse, minimalist
appearance, Letterpress is
for two players; you can
play random opponents
or Game Center friends.
Each turn, you can use
any of the letters on the
board to build a word. The tiles you use turn blue,
while your opponents turn pink. The aim is to have
more tiles in your colour when the game ends.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Tg2s2s
Letterpress
Free Atebits itun.es/i6J38f4
RATING
Granny Smith likes
her apples, and in this
wonderfully whimsical
app, shell outrun a
robber with some
surprisingly spritely
parkour moves to get
her ll of vitamins. Each
level is a compulsive side-scrolling race between
the player and an AI player. Make sure you collect
every apple to get a three-fruit rating.
READ MORE: bit.ly/UU39ix
Granny Smith
1.49 Mediocre AB itun.es/i6Dc5rY
RATING
GAMES
Bit Dungeon
69p
Tom Heinecke
itun.es/i6JS5Sw
RATING
A no-frills, high-action take
on the roleplaying dungeon-
runner concept. The only time
youre not cheerfully hitting a
cartoon monster with a sword
is when youre rummaging
through its corpse to see if
theres a better sword inside.
Baldurs Gate:
Enhanced Edition
6.99
IdeaSpark Labs
itun.es/i6Jq3zG
RATING
This remastering of one of
the most revered roleplaying
games of all time shows its
age, but that doesnt stop
it feeling like a true iPad
essential. Its pricey, but
it offers weeks of tactical
combat and goblin-bashing.
Bastion
2.99
Supergiant Games
itun.es/i6Dq9nx
RATING
Beautiful both visually and
atmospherically, Bastion is
not so bogged down in its
own grandeur it forgets
to be a reliably compulsive
stream of action, too. The
controls feel a little on the
awkward side, but not to the
extent that this stops being
a memorable few hours of
monster-bashing.
ROLEPLAYING GAMES

Beat Sneak Bandit puts
the emphasis on music
and rhythm. Everything
in the house follows
a set rhythmic pattern,
from trapdoors to
security guards. Tap to
the beat on the screen
and the cat burglar will step forward. Hit a wall
and hell turn around. Its harder than it sounds,
but Beat Sneak Bandit will charm everyone.
READ MORE: bit.ly/Ozplh7
An effortless blend
of match-3 puzzles
like Bejeweled Blitz
and dungeon-running
roleplaying games such
as Diablo, this is two
of the most notoriously
time-devouring gaming
genres combined into one frightening whole.
Fortunately, 10000000 is also both innovative
and brilliant. Highly recommended.
READ MORE: bit.ly/SoW4qz
As with all great party
games, King of Operas
concept is simple: there
are four operatic tenors,
and only one spotlight
for them to hog. When
someone else has the
spotlight, everyone else
tries to shove them off the stage to take it for
themselves. The action gets a bit samey, but within
its short lifespan this is a joyfully pure experience.
READ MORE: bit.ly/RhFSUd
Super Crate Box is a
slapdash port of a PC
game the controls are
infuriatingly awkward
but its still as compulsive
as a sack full of Pringles.
That it can succeed in
spite of such a aw says
a lot about just how splendid this really is. Death
is so regular the control problems dont wind up
being quite the problem they rst appear to be.
READ MORE: bit.ly/UZfKx6
Beat Sneak Bandit
1.99 Simogo itun.es/i6jv249
RATING
10000000
1.49 EightyEight Games itun.es/i6Dg3mb
RATING
King of Opera
69p Tuotantoyhtio Tuokio itun.es/i6Ds58Q
RATING
Super Crate Box
1.49 Vlambeer itun.es/i6Dn7MZ
RATING
Hundreds premise so
simple, yet open to so
many permutations
is this: make the big
number reach 100 by
tapping bubbles to grow
the smaller numbers
inside. Starkly beautiful,
clever and able to pull surprise after miraculous
surprise from that simple concept, Hundreds is
an early contender for game of the year.
READ MORE: bit.ly/1112I66
Hundreds
2.99 Semi Secret Software itun.es/i6JL5xw
RATING
Angry Birds Star Wars
69p/1.99 Rovio itun.es/i6Dc2JQ
RATING
Star Wars fans will love
the mix of characters,
and Rovio deserves a
lot of credit for thinking
of ways to include new
effects into the games
core mechanics. The
characters are dressed up
in Star Wars garb the birds as Jedi and the pigs
playing the Empire and theres load of powers.
This is a great way to while away a few hours.
READ MORE: bit.ly/UYWC2s
Joe Danger was originally
a downloadable gem
for PlayStation 3, but
a lot of thought has
been put into making
the transition to the
small screen as smooth
as possible. Youre a
daredevil motorcycle ace pulling stunts and grabbing
coins. The courses are nicely short, but theres plenty
of unlockables to keep you coming back.
READ MORE: bit.ly/XARSEx
Joe Danger
1.99 Hello Games itun.es/i6JG7vK
RATING
The premise of this
game is that you, and
between one and three
of your friends, are
manning the bridge
of a spaceship trying
to outrun impending
doom. You do this by
following a series of increasingly bizarre instructions
(Set Moonsock to 3) on each others screens.
Co-operation and laughter are the main ingredients.
READ MORE: bit.ly/WsQh71
SPORTS GAMES
Wonderputt
69p
Damp Gnat
itun.es/i6Dc2JN
RATING
Theres crazy golf, and then
theres Wonderputt: one
connected course of 18 holes,
and a series of beautifully
animated, wildly imaginative
sporting puzzles. Its a bit of
a one-trick pony, perhaps,
but what a trick. It takes the
tedium and the posturing out
of golf, turning it into a thing
of delight and surprise.
NBA 2K13
5.49
G2k Sports
itun.es/i6DN8mt
RATING
Keeping the spirit of its
console version, NBA 2K13
raises the bar for basketball
games on iOS. Its one of
the more realistic mobile
sports simulators youll nd.
The courts are crisp, clean
representations of their
real-life versions, and the
players are recognisable and
believable in their movements.
New Star Soccer
Free
New Star Games
itun.es/isz74V
RATING
While others try to cram full
games console experiences
on to a touchscreen interface,
New Star has simplied
things. And its a testament
to the gameplay that even
football haters will get
something out of this. Indeed,
it offers the perfect mobile
footballing experience.
Spaceteam
Free Sleeping Beast Games itun.es/i6JG7nh
RATING
K
eyboard shortcuts have two advantages:
theyre convenient to perform, and
(often) easy to remember. But whats
the equivalent on an iOS device? Gestures,
from swipe and ick to pinch-to-zoom. And
Im not sure they offer the same benets.
Gestures, on iOS and elsewhere, are
getting out of hand. So to speak. Its too hard
to nd out which ones do what, and to even
pull off the more complex ones. A friend
recently showed me the ve-nger-claw to
go back to the iPad home screen (difculty
rating 7/10), and I was amazed. Rather than
simplifying my use of phones and tablets,
gestures are making it more complicated.
Okay, some gestures are simple and logical:
the two-nger downward slide on a trackpad,
for example, which you can use to scroll
through long documents or web pages. But
deeper in the jungle of gesture controls, you
get the two-nger-double-tap, the ve-nger-
reverse claw, and the six-nger-tap-drag-
wiggle. They sound more like gure skating
moves than computing controls. And theyre
too complicated for me to remember.
GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS
The proliferation of gestures invites confusion,
as does the fact that not all applications
support them. It goes beyond apps, though.
Suppose Im looking at a gesture-related web
page on Apples site, aimed at developers. If
I try to do the Smart Zoom (difculty rating
6/10) by double-tapping with two ngers,
nothing happens. I assume this is because the
content is in a frame, and Safari cant zoom
just the content of the frame. Other gestures
fail in other apps for similar reasons: logically
they should work, but a glitch prevents this.
GESTURE POLITICS
Instead of making life easier, iOSs many complex
hand gestures are a nightmare, sighs Kirk McElhearn
They sound
more like
gure skating
moves than
computing
controls
Kirk McElhearn
is a senior
contributor
to Macworld
magazine and
author of the
regular column
Ask The iTunes
Guy. Follow him
at twitter.com/
mcelhearn
OPINION
RELATED LINKS
GESTURE-BASED INTERFACES
ARE OUT OF CONTROL
bit.ly/13TgWM4
MACWORLD HELP: CURE
FOR UNINTENDED GESTURES
bit.ly/Ys0tXy
INTEL PLANS TO CONTROL
PCs WITH A DIRTY LOOK
bit.ly/14X94Fv
With iOS, this gets even more complicated.
In addition to various standard gestures such
as swiping an item to bring up a delete button
each app can introduce its own. A recent
email app that I tried incorporates both long
swipes and short swipes; but apparently, the
developers and I dont agree about what long
and short mean, as I found myself making too
many mistakes. As for Twitter clients, some
show a conversation if you swipe left; others
show it if you swipe right; and still others do
nothing. Granted, most people use only one
Twitter app, but its a pain to adapt to a new
one because gestures arent standardised.
ONE HAND DOESNT KNOW
WHAT THE iPAD IS DOING
On the Mac, OS X gives you good ways to
learn how to use trackpad gestures. Open
System Preferences, click the Trackpad pane
and then click one of the three different tabs.
Apple realises that gestures are complicated,
so it includes brief videos showing you how.
Apple doesnt provide a cheat sheet for iOS
gestures, and since iOS apps generally dont
have Help, learning the correct gesture for
each action depends on trial and error. (Some
developers have websites that provide good
help, but many dont.) It took me a long time
to gure out how to untilt a map in Apples
Maps app; other apps have had me scratching
my head (with three ngers) for far too long.
To make things easier, Apple needs to
provide more information about gestures,
developers need to stop trying to invent cute
new gestures, and perhaps an Apple app
demonstrating gestures would make them
easier to learn. But no more gestures, please,
unless you want to see one of my own.
ILLUSTRATION: LOUIS ROSKOSCH (LOUISROSKOSCH.COM)
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