5 Apps You Don't Want To Miss

With so many apps around these days it can be hard to keep up with all of the new releases each week, so we have compiled a list of top 5 apps you don't want to miss!

1. Evernote

The Evernote's iOS 7 app has a new home screen, which now brings all your personal and business notes, tags, shortcuts, announcements and notebook onto the same page. It also includes a new Quicknote feature and the ability to markup images and PDFs. Notes can also be shared with others through the app using iOS 7’s new AirDrop feature.

2. Quickoffice

This week Google made Quickoffice free for both iOS and Android.

The app lets you create and edit Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets and presentations on your mobile device, and work can also be saved in Google Drive.

3. The Netbook

This week, luxury retailer Net-a-Porter introduced a new way to discover and shop for products in its online catalog with the launch of The Netbook app for the iPhone and iPad. The app displays a real-time feed of products other users are buying and favoriting. You can click to follow those whose style you admire. The app has not quite been released yet, however you can be put on the waiting list for access as soon as it made available.

4.  Pandora for iPad

Pandora recently launched a new version of its iPhone app optimized for iOS 7 and totally redesigned for the iPad. “We’ve taken all of the things that we’ve learned about the lean-in experience about Pandora on the Web and our phone applications, and brought that to the tablet with a new user experience built from the ground up around the larger screen environment of the tablet,” Pandora CTO Tom Conrad told Mashable. Optimized for larger screens, the app makes it easy to add variety to a station with artist suggestions, helps you learn more about an artist or album on screen while you listen, and provides a detailed timeline customized for each individual listener.

5. Chrome for iOS

Google updated Chrome for the iPhone and iPad, adding a new design for iOS 7, as well as improving the fullscreen experience on the iPad. The newest version of the app ties together the browser and other Google apps on your device. So if you’re signed into Chrome, you can sign into other Google apps simply by specifying which Google account you'd like to sign in with — rather than entering your username and password information again. Also, links in Chrome now open directly in Google Maps, Gmail, Drive and YouTube.

iOS 7 vs Android 4.3

Apple has been making small, step by step improvements to iOS over the years, but the latest iOS 7 update comes with a whole new look and feel. With the latest version Apple have had a rethink in terms of  the way its mobile OS both looks and behaves. Android has traditionally metamorphosed quickly, however, this trend now appears to be reversing. Android hasn't changed much in the last year.

So is this Apple’s chance to level the playing field? Let’s take a look at how the varying features of Android 4.3 and iOS 7 stack up.

1. Sharing

Apple added AirDrop file sharing to OS X a while back, but is now available with iOS 7. AirDrop is a way to easily send files between iOS devices over Wi-Fi. Two devices negotiate the file transfer over Bluetooth, then push files across Wi-Fi, which is much faster.

Android’s sharing features are generally more robust than iOS, but also less consistent.

So what’s the parallel to AirDrop on iOS for Android? It’s called Beam which allows users to push files between devices by negotiating a connection via NFC. Simply tap two phones together to share.

So which is better? Well unlike AirDrop, Beam doesn’t require Wi-Fi as  files are pushed directly from one device to the other with Bluetooth. It can be a bit slower however.

2. Multitasking

This has long been a sore spot for iOS users. Now however the user is able to simply  swipe up to close apps, which is a much more time saving process.

Android has always taken a laissez faire approach to multitasking. You want to run that app in the background? Cool, it’s done. Hit the home button? No problem, the app is still there. This has led to some battery life concerns in the past, but more recent versions of Android have improved matters. You definitely have more power with the Android system, but there is potential for apps to abuse this system.

3. Notifications and control centre

Android has excellent notifications, and goes a bit further than iOS 7. Android notifications are dynamic and can update live to display new information. Apps can produce expanded notifications with graphs, images, and other bits of data. There are also buttons that act as action triggers in notifications. However, notifications are just in one long list on Android. Clearing notifications is done with a swipe, which is easier than Apple’s two-tap solution. Lastly, Android will add important Google Now items to the notification bar, which is very handy. The notification situation is essentially universal on Android.

4. Camera and Photos

Apple has been consistently in the lead when it comes to taking pictures, and iOS 7 has simply built on that. The camera app now has a lot more options like square format ready for Instagram, and slow motion capture. You can also apply live filters while taking pictures.

Android’s camera app is different on every phone. The stock 4.3 version is light on features, but it does have a vastly improved settings UI. Stock Android does have Photospheres, though, which are awesome. OEMs like Samsung and HTC have more modes and come closer to replicating Apple’s experience. While live filters aren't on most Android devices, the Gallery app usually has the necessary editing features.

The Evolution of Text - How SMS changed the world!

The first SMS message was sent by engineer Neil Papworth to Vodafones Richard Jarvis on

December 3rd 1992. Jarvis could had no means of replying and it simply said “Merry Christmas”.

Although the first commercial SMS service launched in 1993 in Sweden, it was several years until the idea became the focus for telephone companies in the UK.

If like this blogger you grew up in the 90’s, you may well remember the buzz surrounding the now pre-historic pager. A lot of money was wastefully invested in them by technology companies, yet it became increasingly apparent consumers didn't’ like the middle man and had an insatiable appetite for texting.

Starting out completely free and limited to people on the same network, 1994 saw the launch of text messaging in the UK. Utilising the number pads with letters on, which were already on handsets for phone book entry. In the early days texts were limited to 160 characters, couldn't carry over to a second and any predictive texting was a while off yet. This made texting very slow initially.

The medium gained instant popularity among students, ever the early adopters, who began shortening words into "text speak." and finding ways to make texting speedier.

Cross-network compatibility for SMS became a reality by 1999, which is also when charging for sending across networks was introduced. It was this need to squeeze as much of a conversation into 160 characters, that resulted in even further truncation of language to save space. By January 2001 One billion texts were sent, with monthly numbers rising exponentially from there.

In the years since, texting has become the norm for staying in touch with friends and family. Texts have now been used for much more - anything from breaking hearts, to saving lives and quickly spreading news. Text messages are now used by schools to inform parents about their child, the NHS to confirm test results and appointments. Not forgetting text use in charitable appeals like Comic Relief and in 2008, they were used to guide a British surgeon with instructions on how to amputate a boy’s arm in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saving his life. However the developments are not all good, as they can be used maliciously in cases of cyber bullying and have even used by bosses to fire their employees!

According to Ofcom, 90% of 16-24 year old now say they communicate with friends and family daily via SMS. Compared to only 15 percent of over 65’s. By 2011 the amount of text and picture messages sent continued to grow, with UK inhabitants sending 200 per month on average.

As we move into 2014 for the first time in over ten years text messaging appears on the decline, apps such as WhatsApp and BBM provide the same function over the internet. With the ability to email, make video and audio calls over the internet as well - It appears the age of SMS could be coming to an end.

James Thickett, Ofcom’s Director of Research, said: “When texting was first conceived many saw it as nothing more than a niche service.

"But texts have now surpassed traditional phone calls and meeting face to face as the most frequent way of keeping in touch for UK adults, revolutionising the way we socialise, work and network.

“For the first time in the history of mobile phones, SMS volumes are showing signs of decline. However the availability of a wider range of communications tools like instant messaging and social networking sites, mean that people might be sending fewer SMS messages, but they are ‘texting’ more than ever before.”

10 things you didn't know about iOS 7

After much rumour and speculation iOS 7 has finally landed. As with any big software update there have been mixed reviews, however there are some great changes to the platform.

Here is a rundown of the 16 things you didn't know iOS 7 could do.

1. Regular time stamps

One of the most frustrating features from the previous operating system was the irregular time stamps which featured in your messaging app. Now with iOS 7 every text is delivered with a time stamp next to it.

2. Toggles

Now instead of having to go into settings to change basic functions such as bluetooth, or tap into music to change your playlist, you are able to just swipe up to access a new control panel.

3. Someone annoying you? Block them

With iOS 7 Apple has finally introduced a way to block calls, texts and FaceTime-ing.

To block calls go to settings > phone > blocked.

To block text messages go to settings > messages > blocked.

To block FaceTime calls go to settings > FaceTime > blocked.

4. Siri searches for tweets

On top of your usual web searches, movie times and restaurant reviews, Siri now searches tweets and displays them within the Siri interface. Siri can now also display images from Google and Bing within its new interface.

5. Teach Siri to speak properly

Siri can be a  little know-it-all, but her ability to pronounce basic words is sometimes a little lacking. Now you can call Siri out on her elocution issues and train her to pronounce her words correctly.

6. Tweets you may have missed

Within the Safari bookmark menu is a little @ symbol which, if you click on it, will display tweets from your Twitter feed that contain links. It's a great way to catch up on tweets you may have missed while you were busy having a life.

7. Bubble compass

If you find yourself lost, be it in the Rain Forest or the city, your saviour is Apple's Compass app. And now you'll be happy to know you can now also work out if you are on level ground. Swipe to the second page and the app contains a "bubble interface" which lets you measure whether a surface is level or not.

8. The Camera app

You can now take rapid shot photos by tapping the shutter button. The camera app also features a 'square' option which comes with built-in features so you can take photos designed for Instagram. You can also take photos while you're recording video, a feature which is very similar to a feature on HTC's Android phone.

9. New and improved photo gallery

Moving away from the previous ‘grid’ view, the photo app organises your photos into 'Moments' and 'Collections' which show images by day and location. The photo app also contains a 'Years' view which, as the name implies, shows you every picture you took over an entire year. If you hold your thumb over the collection of images you can preview individual photos and then jump right to them.

10. Wish yourself happy birthday

Tell your iPhone your birthday and it will send you a lovely message on the day, congratulating you on surviving another year of being alive, isn't that lovely.

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for iPhone/Android Roll Out Delayed

It has been rumoured for months and highly anticipated by users, however just as BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was due to launch on the iPhone and Android platforms it has been pulled by creator BlackBerry. The last minute postponement was prompted by an unofficial version of the program being released onto the the Google Play store over the weekend.

BlackBerry have stated that this will hold up the official release for at least a week, Andrew Bocking, head of BBM at BlackBerry, said in a blogpost. He explained that the release of an "older, unreleased version" of BBM for Android which was posted on file-sharing sites and then onto Google Play interfered with the company's plans for launch of its official, finished app.

The early version "resulted in volumes of data traffic orders of magnitude higher than normal for each active user and impacted the system in abnormal ways", Bocking wrote. But if the company had gone ahead and released the official version, "we could not block users of the unreleased version".

The rogue version has now had more than a million downloads. A quick search of the Google Play store reveals a number of fake versions of the app, which should be ignored as they are likely to be unstable and insecure.

Fake apps are often deleted within hours of being published on the Play Store. However, they can often make money by offering adverts. Some of the apps garner five-star ratings by forcing users to give them one before the app will start working - thus pushing them up the rankings.

This is yet another setback for the beleaguered company, which is struggling to create new sources of income following the decline in its handset business - leading to a write off of $1bn - the launch of BBM on other platforms is seen as a key repositioning by the company. Many commentators view BlackBerrys future as a software and services company, as they struggle to compete in the mobile market.

BlackBerry’s BBM was the first messaging program to gain wide traction with users, a space that has been moved into recently by the likes of Whatsapp and iMessage. BBM is one of BlackBerry's most popular products, and remains for many the main attraction of its phones, which it was exclusive to. This new cross-platform approach has led many to wonder if this could pose a further risk to their declining handset sales.

The BlackBerry team is now trying to adjust the system to block the fake app so that the launch goes smoothly when the official one goes live, said Bocking.

Google’s Spokesman said: "we remove infringing apps as soon as we become aware of them." Google's Developer Program Policies tells developers not to use "impersonation or deceptive behaviour" - although looking at the Play Store it would suggest this is repeatedly flouted.