Mobile Computing
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Popular Applications
IOS
RunKeeper
The prospect of Nike+ but better and for free might sound unlikely, but that's what RunKeeper provides. Previously split into 'pro' and 'free' versions, the developer now generously includes all the features in one free app.
That means you can spend no money, yet use your iPhone's GPS capabilities to track your jogging and cycling routes, and examine mapping and details of your pace and calories burned. Activities can be shared online, and treadmill runs and other exercise details can be entered manually.
PhotoSynth
We did a bit of a double-take on seeing Microsoft's name attached to this, not least given the lack of a price-tag. But PhotoSynth is a really great panorama app; it's user-friendly and fun to use, especially when watching your panoramas take shape while you capture them. (The iOS Camera app also has a panorama mode, but PhotoSynth's more flexible and works with older devices.)
Android
BBC Weather
Free from the BBC, which arrived late to the weather app party in 2013 and delivered a completely stonking, triple-A meteorological experience. A variety of stylish widgets, long-range forecasts, location-aware settings and support for multiple locations make finding out how much it's raining everywhere a joy.
HTC Zoe
HTC's camera application has plenty of interesting tricks inside it, and using it on phones with better cameras than the ones HTC's been putting in its own mobiles recently is an excellent idea.
The selling point of Zoe is that it creates short animated clips, which are shareable with friends – who then make edits too.
The results can then be shared to the big social networks like Instagram or Facebook, or kept within Zoe's own walled garden.
Windows Phone
WolframAlpha
The second iOS and Android stalwart to come over to Windows Phone this week is WolframAlpha. WolframAlpha is kinda like a Google for geeks. The software was designed by Stephen Wolfram over a period of 25 years and allows you to get in depth information about almost any topic. “How many people graduated from college in Hawaii in the 1990s?” WolframAlpha can tell you. “How many solar eclipses appeared in the 1500’s?” WolframAlpha knows. It’s a fascinating app for anyone interested in data and algorithms. It’s also an app that is used to partly power iOS’s Siri. Now on your Windows Phone. .
Chronos Calendar
Chronos Calendar has long been widely considered one of the best calendar apps for Windows Phone, which is why the release of Chronos Calendar + will be sure to make many existing users very happy. However, Chronos Calendar + isn’t an update to the existing app, it’s an all new app, so you’ll have to fork out cash if you want to use it. As for what’s new in Chronos Calendar +: it’s been optimized for Windows Phone 8.1 with full read/write sync with all your connectedaccounts; the app also sports increased customization, holiday calendars built-in, and support for all screen resolutions..
