ONE-STOP MAG

ALL ABOUT APPS...

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 05 | FEBRUARY 2015 | ` 60

g
a
M
LOLLIPOPS Arrived, So

WHY IS NO ONE USING IT?

LIGHTROOM Now

AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID

Sukhsagar Singh

Details What Makes uCiC Big

VALENTINES DAY

Special!

8 APPS TO
LIGHT A SPARK
IN YOUR LOVE LIFE

contents
FEBRUARY 2015 | Volume 01 | Issue 05

quick
view

14

APP-RAISE

18
20

PLAY ZONE

24

Reviews of new apps

Games and other fun apps

APP-LY

A feature about apps used

in daily life

SMARTPHONE
SHOPPING

News,reviews and more about

the latest smartphones

30 INSTALL
34 @EVENTS
5 must-have apps

10 TECH TALK
An exclusive interview with Mr. Sukhsagar Singh
of Snapwise

06
BUZZ

28 iGADGETS
4 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Latest news from the

world of mobile apps

Editorial
Chief Editor: Venkatesh C R
Senior Associate Editor: Padma Iyer
Design Consultant: Shakthi Girish
Design Head: Sankaran N
Senior Designer: Umashankar R
Writer: Deacon Joseph Suaiden
Contributing Writers: Dima Andrei,
Ivica Milaric, Caroline Prince.
Editorial Coordinators: Raja T M,
Madhuri A, Maureen Fernando
Content Coordinators: Ratheesh K, Suganya
Raj A, Bramakalai R, Vijay Prasanna R C,
Preethi. I
Advertising
VP Ad Sales: Jayshree G
Team Leader Sales: Stephen Andrews
Business Development Executive:
Vaishnavi Devi R
Manager Circulation: Vivek Anandan
Social Media Coordinator: Mercy
Livingstone
Website Coordinator: Mangalam Krishna
App Coordinator: Senthil Nayagam
Printing Press: Safire Offset Printers
Special Thanks to...
Mr. C. N. Ramdas IAS (R), Chairman,
GNG Group of Companies,
Mrs. Nirmala Ramdas, Director,
GNG Group of Companies
Mr. C. R. Rajendran & Mrs. Kamalam
Rajendran, Directors, Pandian Textiles
Mr. Girish Ramdas - CEO, Magzter Inc.
Mr. Vijayakumar Radhakrishnan - President,
Magzter Inc.
Mrs. Kalai Selvi - Consultant
Mrs. Poornima Venkatesh - Director,
Dot Com Infoway Limited
Entire team of DCI and Galatta for helping us
put this issue together
To advertise on Apps World Mag, contact
Stephen Andrews at +91-96009 71197
Jayshree G. at +91-95000 52772
Mail us at: editor@appsworldmag.com
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Hello
READERS!

Happy to meet you all in yet another fresh and happening issue of
Apps World Mag. February being the month of love we have put
together Valentines Day special features on fun and interesting
apps. In an exclusive conversation with Harleen & Sukhsagar we
bring to you a detailed feature on the award-winning startup uCiC.
Dont miss out to read about Red Stamps customised cards, Love
Messages heart-melting messages for your loved one and other
Valentines day special apps Afterlight, Lovebyte, Tinder & Couple.
Not just that we have other interesting features on the latest apps,
unlimited updates on the current and most sought-after gadgets,
games and smartphones. We are sure to make your reading a very
happy and an informative one.
Have a great month ahead will meet you with more stimulating
features in the March issue.

Chief Editor,
Venkatesh C R

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 5

BUZZ

LOLLIPOPS ARRIVED,
SO WHY IS NO ONE USING IT?

THE LATEST ANDROID OS IS SEEING LESS THAN A TENTH OF JELLYBEANS NUMBERS A

MONTH AFTER ITS RELEASE.

Android 5.0, codenamed Lollipop, promised a radical change in the Android ecosystem. However, a month into its
official release, the mobile OS has garnered less than 0.1% of the Android market. By way of comparison, Android 4.1,
Jellybean, had been adopted by 1.1% of the user base after its first month, and currently holds the largest share of
the Android user base, with Android 4.4 (named KitKat) holding a close second. Googles own statistics unfortunately
confirm this fact, with even Android 2.2 currently being four times more widely used than Android 5.0. So why is the
latest version of Android suffering from adoption problems?
Theres no shortage of reasons as to why this is occurring. The first potential culprit is Googles new Material
Design environment. Representing a radical departure which - in theory - will help unify and solidify a diverse Android
environment while providing for considerably more consistency between different apps in the Android ecosystem,
Material Design represents another hurdle app developers (and this includes phone manufacturers like Samsung, who
package their own proprietary apps with their devices) will have to jump in order to keep their apps current in the
Android environment.

6 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

An added complicating factor might be the volleys of complaints from Google Nexus 7 users after early releases of
Lollipop made their devices unusable. After installing Lollipop, the update has caused a wide variety of problems from
endless reboots to slowing down the device substantially. While Google has issued two service updates for Lollipop,
this has not fixed the problem for many users. Considering the fact that the OS hasnt been widely released, this
may represent significant issues with functionality on more devices than previously assumed. As the Google devices
are the only ones that get reliably upgraded through OTA updates, they represent an important community to be kept
happy for Android developers.
Finally, another factor to consider is the nature of Androids operating system versus the interest of manufacturers.
Android, as an operating system that has upgrades that can be upgraded by users for free, offers little incentive
for manufacturers to provide those upgrades unless they are bundled with newer devices that can be sold to users.
In short, phone makers are less interested in providing upgrades in software for free when their profit centres are
based around hardware. Until theres more hardware to show off what Android Lollipop can do, manufacturers will
probably be somewhat aloof in dealing with the upgrade.
One thing that the failed launch of Lollipop has clearly shown is that upgrading the OS in the Android ecosystem has
become too bureaucratic. It involves too many players with competing interests, making it difficult to provide needed
upgrades to users. By contrast, Apples iOS system had a near 50% adoption rate in 29 days after the release
of iOS 8. In the end, Google needs to accept the fact that Lollipop will see greater adoption with newer devices in
general. The alternative possibility is that Lollipop, like other products that were panned by users, will be skipped in
favour of the next release to come out of Mountain View.

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 7

BUZZ

SAMSUNGS ORBIS

LAUNCHING AT MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS

INDUSTRY REPORTS STATE THAT THE NEW WATCH WILL BE ROUND, USE TIZEN OS AND
CHARGE WIRELESSLY.

Samsung has been slowly leaking details about its new smart watch, nicknamed Orbis, for several weeks now.
Because of this, there are a number of details that can be shared about the device, although details are admittedly
still somewhat sketchy. What seems to be all but certain is that the SM-R720 will be round (the R presumably a
reference to the devices shape), a first for Samsung smart watches. The Orbis will first be showcased at this years
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this coming March.
While at least one source has noted that there is a possibility the Orbis will be Android-based, most reports have
listed the Linux-based (and Samsung sponsored) Tizen OS as the watchs operating system. Samsung is launching a
Tizen-based smartphone later this year that will be built in India. While the Orbis will be designed to be an independent
device, such a pairing would be unsurprising. Samsung has also announced that it will have Smart TVs using Tizen, so
it appears the company is moving towards putting out more devices on the platform.
The Orbis will have a crown bezel, as does the Apple Watch, but will not work in the same way that the Apple Watch
does-- it appears more likely that the Orbis will make use of the bezel to facilitate entering commands and deploying
functions. The crown will be used primarily as a navigation tool, as well as a way to activate S Voice for commands.
Its also been stated that the Orbis will make use of wireless charging, another first for Samsung.
While there are no details on the processor or how much memory the device will have - or even an official picture, for
that matter - reports indicate that more details will continue to leak out before the upcoming MWC in Barcelona.
What is certain is that the Orbis will make a mark in the wearables market and change how manufacturers approach
future-planned devices.

8 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

LIGHTROOM

NOW AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID

THE APP ALLOWS PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SEAMLESSLY WORK ON THEIR PHOTOS FROM
ANYWHERE.

Adobe has released Lightroom, an app designed to help photographers make needed changes to their photos in
real time, for the Android ecosystem. Lightroom is designed to work with DSR and high-definition cameras to make
changes to photos on the fly, as well as allow for seamless sharing to the desktop. The app makes it easier for
photographers to delete useless images, as well as provide immediate editing functions to maximise the value of the
photos that are retained. Most importantly, the app is focused on the cloud. Changes that are made on one app are
changed in the cloud, providing seamless integration with desktop-based systems for further editing.
The specs for Lightroom require a fairly up-to-date device: at least a dual-core phone running at 1.7 GHz, as well
as Android 4.1 (although both KitKat and Lollipop are recommended) with 1 GB RAM and at least 8 GB of internal
storage free. With those requirements met, Lightroom provides seamless integration for whatever workstation a
photographer feels most comfortable with. That said, the space needed isnt wasted: Lightroom can take 25-30 MB
raw pictures from a camera, for example, and shrink them down to a more usable size on the fly (1.7-2 MB, a 90%
reduction) through a Smart Preview feature.
Lightrooms desktop version is available for Windows and Mac systems, although there are no plans to port to Linux.
Adobe is more focused on the use of tablets than phones for development, as it sees tablets as a future vehicle for
photographers. With the Android release, Adobes plans to ensure their presence in the mobile sphere are largely
accomplished, whether through the use of the Creative Cloud and a single app ($9.99/month) or the entire Adobe
suite ($29.99 including Lightroom and other Adobe products).

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 9

TECH TALK
Having worked as a COO and CFO of a mobile app company (USV, Earlybird and Lakestar
portfolio) and helping the company attain 20 million downloads and 5 million users,
Snapwise Inc.s CEO Harleen understands how to grow the user base and how to grow
a startup into a strong business. With experience in strategy consulting and an awardwinning startup under his belt, CSO Sukhsagar knows what it takes to bring a vision to
life and how to successfully navigate in a competitive environment.

Why did you choose to build your business around

mobile apps?
We decided to build a mobile app, as we believe that the
strength of mobile is not its mobility but its ubiquity. As
website-based apps lose their dominance, new uses are
emerging that push the utility of a smartphone to its full
potential. And we believe we are right on time with uCiC
for this transition where we stop using smartphones
as portable PCs and start using them as extensions of
ourselves.

real life. So, if a stranger at the right place and the right
time can help you out, this app gives you the ability to
directly communicate with that person.

Everyone in the world is carrying around a GPS, a text

messaging system and a camera, all in a single device
- the smartphone. So why cant you reach out and ask
someone a quick question? And this simple question made
us develop uCiC.

Tell me about uCiCs best use cases.

Sure, uCiC is really a pen and paper app that each
user will use to their own liking. The spectrum of use
cases ranges from serious humanitarian uses such as
helping locate and identify victims of a flash flood or an
earthquake, to fun and convenient uses such as finding
out how the scene at the club is before you head there,
or checking out the lineup at the copy shop so you
dont end up going at a busy time. Outdoors, you can
find out how the powder is before you go to the ski
slopes or how the waves are before you go surf.

What was the idea behind uCiC? How did everything

start?
We wanted to develop an app with which we no longer
have to constrain ourselves to people, places, or
processes that we have acquainted ourselves with in our
10 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Why would people use it?

People would use this app as the questions you can ask
using uCiC cannot be answered in any other way, not on
the web or through social networks. This is real-time
information and these questions might have just become
relevant to you.

uCiC is the Online winner

and Live winner of the
Mobile App Showdown
Award at the CES 2015.
How do you feel about it?
We are delighted to win
this competition so early in
the process. We actually
launched the app at the
event. It is a coveted award
and past winners have
done extremely well. For
example, last years winner
PasswordBox recently got
acquired by Intel.
What is the biggest
challenge you face as an
indie app developer?
We think the biggest
challenge we have as an
indie developer is not the
development of the product
but the visibility of the
product once it is released.
There are over a million apps
on the Apple App store and
a similar amount on the
Google Play store. Even if

HOW DOES UCIC WORK?

Its quite simple. You open the app on your iPhone or Android phone and pick your
point of interest; you can either type in the name or the address of the location you
are interested in or simply find it on the map. You will be able to see all the active
users around there. You type in your question in the form of free text and simply send
it. On the other end, the users get a push notification and opening the notification
opens the camera directly. With a single click, a user can send you a picture back.
Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 11

you have a product that you believe in and you have spent
resources and time on perfecting it, it is very difficult to
get users to notice it without spending a huge amount
on advertising and promotions. However, our belief still
remains that with a unique product like uCiC, users will
notice it and it will spread organically.
How long did the development process take you? Were
there any issues presented on either iOS or Android?
We are launching on our 1-year anniversary as a startup!
So the whole process from concept to launch was a year.
Android and iOS were both great to work on. The main
difference with Android is that it is a very fragmented
market. There are thousands of Android devices in the
market and app behaviour could be different depending on
the device. For example, if the phone has a memory chip,
it makes a slight difference in the app performance. So
the biggest challenge for a small app developer like us is
to ensure that the app performs consistently well on all
devices.
What are the ideas you have for monetisation? Any
plans for a premium service or ads?
We are very early in the process and our current focus

is on community growth rather than monetisation. What

we can share at this point is our guiding principles for
monetisation: we will not mine users private data, and
we would like to stay away from advertising to avoid
hampering the experience of the app and the community.
We would consider working with brands. We can send
out a targeted request to anywhere in the world. For
example, take a picture of drinking Coke at the World Cup.
This would be a powerful tool for companies to get realtime images directly from consumers. We would also like
to monetise our location, time and keyword-tagged visual
content.
What are your plans for 2015 and beyond?
The plan is to concentrate on growth. As more users use
the product, its utility increases and thus more users will
be inclined to use it. We are rolling out the app on a cityby-city basis so the concentration of users in a certain
area increases. We are going to start on west coast US
but aim to grow it to every major city in the world.
What mobile apps do you use the most?
Facebook and WhatsApp. We still believe the last

WHAT KIND OF ANALYTICS DO YOU USE FOR YOUR APP? WHICH DO YOU
FEEL IS THE BEST OPTION FOR INDIE DEVELOPERS?
We are currently using Flurry with custom events. It is free and lets you
track and interpret most important events in the app. We would definitely
recommend using it.

12 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR UCIC?

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR APP A FEW
YEARS FROM NOW?
We envision uCiC becoming a central tool to
plan our day and find out real-time information.
We hope the app becomes so embedded in our
daily lives that everyone uses it to find out if
the gym is busy, if the club is worth going to,
if the waves are good for surfing, if Starbucks
has a long lineup etc., before heading out and
facing uncertainty.

generation of apps are still very effective

communication tools. The caveat is just that you
have to have met or known the person on the other
side of the message.
What devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop) do you
own or use?
Between the two of us we actually own 10
smartphones, 3 iPhones and 6 popular Android
devices. It is a perk of the job! Being app
developers, we have to use and test the app on
all the latest and most popular mobile devices, to
ensure its functionality.

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 13

APP-RAISE
Red Stamp
NEVER FORGET A CARD AGAIN
If you find yourself forgetting to
wish your significant other on
special occasions, fret not. Red
Stamp is an app from Red Stamp
Cards, Inc., a service which allows
you to create custom greeting
cards. The app gives users total
control over the types of cards
they want to create, offering
everything from hundreds of
templates to the ability to add
own photos. Users can then send
these cards through email or
social media.
The user interface is simple; it
uses a step-by-step process
from backgrounds and colours
to individual messages that the
user wishes to convey. When it
comes to crafting personalised
messages, Red Stamp will actually
help if the user isnt sure of what
to say.
Finally, once the card looks the
way the user wants it to, the
app will provide sending options.
While electronic options are free,
a unique feature of the Red Stamp
app is that the user can also pay
to have paper cards sent.
The user settings include
reminders to keep track of
greeting cards that havent been
sent and to track the delivery
status of cards.

WHEN IT COMES TO
CRAFTING PERSONALISED
MESSAGES, RED STAMP
WILL ACTUALLY HELP IF
THE USER ISNT SURE OF
WHAT TO SAY.

Free

14 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Free

Love Messages
WHEN YOU NEED THE RIGHT WORDS

Have you ever had the feeling that you wanted

to tell the person next to you how you felt, but
didnt have the right words? Love Messages is a
handy app for the person whos always at a loss
for romantic things to say to their significant
other. The app curates and collates romantic
messages for those who lack the talent to say
the right thing. Not only can the user choose
from a wide variety of romantic sayings, but the
app allows for automatic sending through text
messages!

DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE USER ALWAYS

HAS THE RIGHT THING TO SAY, THE APP HAS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROMANTIC MESSAGES,
RANGING FROM ROMANTIC DECLARATIONS TO
PROPOSALS.

One of the biggest advantages that Love

Messages has is that it not only keeps the
apps database updated while ones online,
but includes that database offline to facilitate
sending messages, regardless of whether there
is Internet access available. Designed to ensure
that the user always has the right thing to
say, the app has different types of romantic
messages, ranging from romantic declarations
to proposals. Finally, there are the alwaysneeded motivational messages, to keep love and
hope going throughout ones relationship.
There are a number of apps that can send
romantic messages, but Love Messages is
highly rated because of its choices of apt
messages and a regularly updated database.
For users who are constantly struggling with
the right words to say, the app makes it easy.

Free

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 15

APP-RAISE
Romantic Photo Frames
TURN ANY PHOTO INTO THE PERFECT
PICTURE

For those looking for a way to make beautiful, romantic frames for their online photos, the perfect solution has been
located. Romantic Photo Frames is one of the easiest and most comprehensive ways to turn a digital photo into a
stunning, romantic keepsake. Whether the user wants to update a photo with a frame or directly apply it to a photo
being taken, the app will do the job more than admirably.
After selecting the photo or taking one, the user can begin by making basic video editing adjustments. Most major
graphical adjustments such as zooming in or out, rotating, or scaling the photo are included in the app. Once the
adjustments are made, the user can then place that photo against a wide variety of romantic frames and turn the
photo into a framed image. After the framed image is complete, the app allows for direct posting to Facebook and
Twitter. One great plus of the app is that it is designed to work with both phones and tablets, and with all screen
resolutions.
Users who have been looking for a great way to turn their photos into beautiful framed images will not be disappointed
with Romantic Photo Frames. Designed for ease of use as well as limited photo modifications to ensure that users
get what they really want in the picture, Romantic Photo Frames makes it easy to turn a romantic picture into a way
to express ones love.

ONE GREAT PLUS OF ROMANTIC PHOTO FRAMES IS THAT IT IS

DESIGNED TO WORK WITH BOTH PHONES AND TABLETS, AND WITH
ALL SCREEN RESOLUTIONS.
Free

16 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Oilfield Calendar
A SOLUTION FOR WORKERS IN THE FIELD

For people who work in oilfields, scheduling can be difficult. A lot of tasks that are expected on the oilfield make for
an extremely daunting schedule, and Oilfield Calendar can make the difficulty of scheduling a lot easier. Designed
primarily as an online organiser thats specifically focused on the oilfield industry, oilfield workers will find that the
app has a very low learning curve as it was designed specifically for them.
Oilfield Calendar has a variety of features that make oilfield work easier. Everything from DSM contacts to a marked
calendar that can be printed in a .pdf format is included, as well as an advance scheduler which can let you know
well in advance if your days off match with major holidays, birthdays and more. With a customisable hitch editor, the
user can control all the information needed to ensure that work goes on smoothly and efficiently.
Oilfield Calendar is a perfect app for oilfield workers and their families. The ability to share a calendar is perfect for
oilfield workers who want to build their time around their families as well as their work. Highly rated on the App
Store, Oilfield Calendar does exactly what it says, and for that reason, people who work in the oil or gas industries
would be well-advised to give this app a try.

$0.99

THE ABILITY TO SHARE A CALENDAR IS PERFECT FOR OILFIELD

WORKERS WHO WANT TO BUILD THEIR TIME AROUND THEIR
FAMILIES AS WELL AS THEIR WORK.

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 17

PLAY ZONE

FINGLE
USE YOUR PHONE TO FLIRT
Fingle is not exactly what it seems when the user downloads it. Its a finger
game designed for two players, but more specifically, its a flirtation game, so
this isnt quite a game to play with ones children, or ones grandmother. ;)
The game describes itself as an icebreaker (which is, frankly, using the term
rather lightly). Two players use their fingers to move multiple squares across
the board, which create patterns that are used to successfully reach the next
level.
At first, this sounds simple enough to be a collaborative game. However, what
the game is really designed to do is create hand contact. The patterns are
designed to get hands rubbing against each other, in holding patterns, as
well as some patterns which contain implicit sexual innuendos, complete with
70s-style music to set the mood. In short, this is a game for flirting. For that
reason, its important to choose who youre playing with.
That said, the game is only a game for flirting at the first few levels, and there
are in fact 50. If users continue playing, the levels get progressively difficult,
which can easily kill the mood and eventually become quite challenging. The key
to remember is to know who you are asking to play with: if youre playing with a
platonic friend, the suggestive nature of Fingle can seriously come across the
wrong way. But if a user is interested in a way to flirt that doesnt involve too
much talking, this is a great way to do it.

iPad $1.99

LION
CHIEF
CLASSIC ARCADE ACTION
Lion Chief is a pleasant game which works with
Android 2.3.3 and above. Its a new game which
uses Disney-style graphics where the player, as
the Lion Chief (modelled on Simba from Disneys
The Lion King), has to avoid traps and fire, and
catch rabbits and meat. It is a side-scrolling game
influenced by various classic games of the past,
but is extremely straightforward.
As the Lion Chief, you are racing on the ground or
vertical platforms to which you can either jump or
run underneath. The game itself gets increasingly
difficult, and if the user lands on either a cage
or fire their game is finished. Grabbing food or
rabbits is the goal, with the final goal being to
earn the crown. Overall, Lion Chiefs a simple,
straightforward game which can remind users of
other difficult side-scrollers like Flappy Bird, but
with crisp graphics. While its difficulty may be
daunting, users who like a challenge will enjoy the
game.

18 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Free

LOVE
TEST
CALCULATOR
FIGURE OUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP
Of all the romantic apps to review today, Love Test Calculator
is easily the most comprehensive for those looking to ensure
they have the perfect relationship. After entering information
about both parties, the app checks to see how natural the
relationship is based on things like names and birth dates, and
assigns a percentage.
After getting past basic questions, the app gets down to
business. With over 60 questions, the app will begin to
calculate not simply how serious the relationship is as a whole,
but how well partners know each other. However, thats not
all. The app contains golden rules to ensure that partners
are keeping each other happy, as well as a test that will help
determine whether your significant other might leave you. And
to top it all off, it has Valentines Words, romantic sayings for
the right moment when the user might not have one.

Free

Love Test Calculator seems to have everything the user needs

to make sure their romance is going the way it should be.
Its not suggested for people you have a crush on, but actual
relationships, and has received thousands of five-star reviews
on Google Play.

THE
ROOM
AN IMMENSELY-CHALLENGING PUZZLE
Rated as one of the best games of 2012, The Room
continues to win accolades over each of its new versions,
the latest being The Room: Epilogue, before a new
standalone sequel is expected to come out later this year.
The game combines aspects of the trickiest puzzlers with
a near horror film-like ambience created by the games
fantastic soundtrack and increasingly creepy sound
effects.
The player is ultimately tasked with opening a safe to
discover secret scientific research about the fifth element,
called null, and notes are located throughout the hidden
room of the scientist who had solved the mystery of null
before eventually succumbing to complete madness. While
the plot is admittedly rather thin, the gameplay isnt. This
game is addictive, and allows the use of various complex
tools such as the Null lens, which can give the player
added details about items being looked at.
The game itself has a very straightforward premise: the
player is in a room with a well-locked safe and must find
their way into that safe. This is done through different
methods, including unlocking combination locks, searching

the room for hidden keys in places like table legs, and
more. There are a variety of walk-throughs that are
available online if a player gets stuck on a certain level. The
Room is difficult but not impossible to play, and is definitely
worth a download before the sequel is released.

$0.99

$0.99

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 19

APP-LY
AFTERLIGHT

For the truly mobile photographer

For amateur or professional
photographers on the go, Afterlight
is one of the most complete photo
development or darkroom apps
out there. With a wide variety of
features that can be used to get
the perfect photo as you take it,
Afterlight works even for novice
photographers: just activate the
app, tap the camera and shoot.
After taking a photo, the app takes
you right into photo editing, with
a dizzying array of options for the
user to choose from in an easy-touse menu.
Afterlight is designed to work
with a camera and edit in realtime, as well as traditional
graphic editing
Over 40 different filters can be
applied to the images
The Camera View window allows
photographers to grid their
work to get the ideal angle, a
feature of many high-end lenses
There are dozens of textures
available, as well as more
textures and frames that can be
unlocked
Afterlight uses an intuitive
user interface which works for
photographers at all levels.

Free

20 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Free

Afterlight is often thought of as a

great photo editor. While that may
be true, what is most impressive
about it is its ability to help the
user not only edit great pictures,
but actually take them. Afterlights
Camera View features make the
app great for those who are
serious about doing photographic
work with their smartphone.
Coupled with a straightforward
interface design and a wide range
of editing flexibility, Afterlight helps
photographers take advantage
of the strengths of modern
smartphone cameras.

LOVEBYTE

Stay connected to your special

someone
From first sight, to first date, to first anything, LoveByte is an amazing scrapbook app for couples to
connect with each other and mark milestones in each others lives. It also allows them to keep track
of personal events. Counting the days from when you first met, the app keeps track of everything that
matters between a couple, serves reminders, and even provides a unique scratch card feature that
helps with creative ideas to keep things interesting in a relationship.
LoveByte has a private messaging
notes feature which only you and
your partner can see.
The app is time-based, marking
off milestones like a private social
network where pictures can be
uploaded and experiences shared.
Has a scratch card feature,
which comes up with new and
different ideas for couples who
spend a lot of time together and
think theyve done everything
Has a chat feature which allows
you to chat privately with your
partner
Has a bubbly, friendly interface
designed to keep things romantic
Couples who love spending time
together and expressing their
feelings with each other have the
perfect way to do it in LoveByte.
Giving lovebirds a way to talk about
their favourite shared experiences,
and find new ways to express how
they feel is the purpose of this app.
LoveByte is designed to help couples
remind each other why they feel
the way they do in the first place,
and even find new ways to explore
the depths of their relationship. For
couples who are always expressing
their love for each other on social
networks, when all they really want
to do is remind their significant other
how special they are, LoveByte is the
perfect app.

Free

Free

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 21

TINDER

Romance for the rest of us

If the romantic holidays are leaving you feeling
a little blue, try Tinder. Tinder, while designed
as a hook-up app, has gained a reputation as
an easier way than a dating service to find
single people whove signed up and are in your
immediate area who might be interested in
meeting up. Tinder connects to your Facebook
profile - it doesnt post any information
to Facebook - to find local people who are
interested in the same things you are (in large
cities, this can produce a surprisingly high
number of results) who have also signed up
with the service. You can then look at their
available pics (and they can see yours) which
you can either left-swipe (not interested) or
right-swipe (if interested). If you right-swipe,
and the person you right-swiped has done the
same, you can chat!
Incredibly easy to use and secure, uses
Facebook data to find close interests
Unobtrusive app that finds matches
quickly and easily
Moments feature that allows for quick,
temporary pic uploads as well as easy
photo editing
Private messaging only between people
who demonstrate mutual interest
Allows users to make clear their
intentions at the outset, making it
easier for people to interact with each
other
With romance in the air, there is finally an
app for the single people in the world who
might not want to be alone. Tinder allows
people looking for a date, a relationship,
or even just some intimate affection the
ability to find people looking for the same
thing without going through a complicated
process like a dating service. While it may
strike some as crude, Tinders ability to
find people with similar interests locally
often leads to relationships as well as single
dates. In the end, Tinder may have finally
brought singles of the Internet age back to
just talking, and if you want to find someone
new, the app is worth a download.

Free

22 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Free

COUPLE

The ultimate couples

relationship app
When Pear launched in 2013, it was considered the premier dating app. After its acquisition of UK
Competitor Cupple, Pear was renamed Couple and remains the top download for dating couples who want
to get the most out of their relationships. One of Couples unique features is the fact that it acts virtually
like a social network for two. However, past the fun of keeping track of milestones and communicating,
Couple has a number of features for people who are already involved in a relationship, as well as ideas for
fun and keeping couples close.
Couple uses a private time line and
messaging feature for couples to keep in
touch
A unique ThumbKiss feature which
vibrates when couples touch the same
place on their phones
Location-based dating and event ideas,
finding the required info for couples
looking for new things to do
Shareable notepads for to-do lists,
games and even drawing apps for
collaborative experiences
Allows for phone calling within the app
Couple is one of the best apps on the market
for couples in any stage of the relationship.
It provides the messaging, social, and
scrap-booking features popular in romantic
relationships, and includes a variety of
incredible features which are even fun for
long-distance relationships and married
couples. Couple works on the principle that
no matter how far apart, its users are close
together, interacting, having fun and enjoying
each others company.

Free

Free

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 23

SMARTPHONE SHOPPING
WHILE TOMS GUIDE HAS DECLARED THE IPHONE 6 AS HAVING THE BEST SMARTPHONE CAMERA OF
2015 OVERALL, OTHER SOURCES HAVENT BEEN SO QUICK TO MAKE A DECLARATION. DEPENDING ON
YOUR PARTICULAR NEED, CAMERAS ON OTHER PHONES - SUCH AS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4,
WITH A WHOPPING 16-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA - MAY BE THE BEST PHONE FOR YOUR MONEY.

The Best Smartphone Camera of 2015?

s far as general features go, the iPhone

6 has an amazing advantage in highspeed auto-zooming on moving targets,
as well as a 1.5 micron pixel density
on its 8-megapixel camera for low-light
situations. This is frankly a feature that puts it above
its competitors, especially in action and sports
photography. However, competition exists in the HTC
Desire Eye, which has a massive 13-megapixel front
and back camera, making it the strongest selfie
phone yet. And the Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 has
a 1-inch, adjustable aperture which is more typical
of an actual camera than a smartphone, so it could

24 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

likely become the phone of choice for photographers

in 2015. While the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom also has
a zoom lens, its pictures are not of a higher-quality
than the Galaxy S5.
In short, the question of which is the best phone
of 2015 is far from settled. There are a number
of competitors in the field this year, and while the
iPhone 6 may have a great combination of these
features to appeal to the widest base of users,
smartphone users who make their cameras a priority
have a real question to ask in terms of why their
cameras mean something to them.

THE ASUS ZENPHONE ZOOM, BILLED AS THE THINNEST 3X OPTICAL SMARTPHONE OFFERING UP TO
12X ZOOM EFFECT, IS AN IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF HARDWARE. COMPARED TO LAST YEARS XIAOMI
REDMI NOTE, IT OFFERS A NUMBER OF DISTINCT ADVANTAGES OVER THE LATTER (WITH A DRAWBACK
OR TWO AS WELL). RECENTLY THE SPECS OF THE MOBILES WERE PUT UP, AND THEY STACK UP VERY
WELL AGAINST EACH OTHER. HOWEVER, IN SOME AREAS, THE ASUS PHONE HAS A SIGNIFICANT
EDGE.

The Asus ZenPhone Zoom vs the Xiaomi Redmi Note

hile the Zoom is lighter than the

Note (185g vs 199g), its also
slightly longer and wider. The
battery capacity on the Note is
slightly better than on the Zoom,
and the battery in the Zoom cant be removed.
After this, its a completely different world. The
Zooms 1080x1920px, 403 ppi resolution is a
substantial jump over the Notes 720x1280px,
267 ppi standard. The Zoom uses a 2.7 GHz,
quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor versus the
1.7 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processor
used by the Note. While the question of whether
octa-core is better than quad-core is still being
debated, most apps today dont make use of that
many cores, and when they do, they will probably

be faster than the Note.

One upside and downside of the Zoom is its
memory. While the Note has 8 GB, expandable to
32 GB, the Zoom has 128 GB which cannot be
expanded. Finally, the Zoom uses Android 5.0 as
opposed to the Notes Android 4.3. As there are
still many Android 4 fans out there, we leave that
to their judgement.

Verdict:

The Zoom is a great new phone, but hard to tell

if its a great upgrade.
The Zoom has a number of features that the Note
doesnt have, and for that reason alone, buyers
considering a Note should consider the Zoom.
Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 25

Motorola DROID Turbo: A Deeper Look

he Motorola DROID Turbo, an Android

4.4-based phone designed with high-end
features, is definitely worth a look. However,
while the phone is rich in features, some
users noted it could have done with Android 5.0.

The battery is 3900 mAh and the phone comes

with a turbo charger, allowing the user to charge
the phone with 8 hours of battery life in just 15
minutes. The phone has 675 hours of talktime, and
up to 48 hours of usage time.

With an AMOLED 5.2 in, 1440x2560 Quad HD

display at an astounding depth of 565 ppi, the
waterproof Turbo has a fantastic picture quality for
video, encased in a Gorilla Glass display. The Turbo
comes equipped with a 21-megapixel rear camera
with 4X digital zoom (the front camera, however, is
only 2-megapixel).

The phone comes in three colours and can be

used on 4G LTE, CDMA, UMTS/HSPA+, and GSM
networks. Weighing in at just 176g, the phone is
light and easy to carry. Overall, this is a solid phone
designed for heavy-duty usage, and it wont leave
you disappointed.

26 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

iGADGETS

CANVIO AEROMOBILE
WIRELESS SSD

Toshibas portable Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD offers

a smart way to store, stream and share files and media
between mobile devices. Combining the convenience and
capacity of portable wireless storage with the durability and
performance of solid state technology, this slim, lightweight
device frees you and your smartphone, tablet or camera to go
and take unlimited pictures or video. They can be uploaded
instantly to the Wireless SSD.

IDAPT I4 UNIVERSAL
CHARGER

The IDAPT i4 is an innovative universal charger designed

to charge up to four mobile devices simultaneously. This
docking station comes with three receptacles that accept
various charging tips ranging from mini USB, micro USB,
Lightning, the old Apple Universal Dock, and other tips
for various digital cameras and even rechargeable AA or
AAA batteries. A separate USB port offers the ability to
plug in a standard USB cable for charging tablets or other
devices that may be heavy or bulky.

DOXIE ONE

The Doxie One is a scanner designed to scan paper, photos

and receipts without the need for a computer. Its compact
form allows the scanner to be stowed away in a drawer,
and setup is quick: You just plug it into a wall socket. Unlike
a bulky traditional flatbed scanner, an automatic feeder
starts automatically and pulls the sheet through in seconds.
Captured images are saved on an included SD memory card,
much like in a digital camera. This can then be loaded onto
a Mac or PC through a standard flash memory card reader,
or to an iPad with Apples iPad SD Card Reader.

PRYNT

The Prynt case turns your smartphone into a Polaroid camera. Its a
case for Android and iPhones that will contain a tiny printer and up
to 30 sheets of paper. By docking your camera into the case (or via
Bluetooth connection) you can print any photo instantly. The current
prototype takes around 50 seconds to print a picture, but this figure
is expected to be cut down to about 30 seconds by the time all the
hardware elements are properly integrated. The Prynt case uses a
thermal printer, so you dont have to worry about buying ink.
28 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

WINDBLOCKER

The Windblocker is one of those products that is so

simple and practical. It is a simple clip with foam that
can be attached to your smartphone or tablet right
above the microphone. This is the same technology that
microphones used by field reporters have used for years
to filter out wind noise from their broadcasts.

Apps World Mag | February 2015 | 29

INSTALL

SNIFFER

If youre a couple - well, maybe not even a couple, but just an individual looking for fun and exciting things to do, Sniffer is a great app to try. Available in
Delhi NCR with more cities on the way, Sniffer has a simple, intuitive interface
that asks where you are and about your mood. Based upon both, the app
suggests activities nearby, including nightclubs, adventure sports, karaoke,
gaming activities and more.

After inputting your information, Sniffer will show you a street map of nearby
events, allowing the user to get to find the perfect activity on hand. Not only
will it find nearby activities, the app even allows you to book tickets, make
reservations, and more! If you or your significant other were wondering what
is there to do today?, wonder no further! Find out about everything happening
around you - that you want to do.
Free

CSCADE

cscade is a fun app that allows everyone to unleash their

inner photographer and win contests with their pictures.
For people who like sharing their pictures with the
world, this app allows users to do so, for fun and even a
little profit! Suppose you found your perfect event and
took what could be the greatest picture ever, Cscade
allows you to submit your photos to see if you can win
money and prizes in daily contests.

Cscade is great for people who love taking pictures of

things, as well as photographers who wish to show off
their portfolios. Cscade does this by allowing users to
create their own profiles on the app, showing off their
work and their winnings. It also allows users to network
with each other and comment on each others work. You
can even friend other photographers on Cscade and have
your own network of fellow photographers to share pics
with and comment on them.
Free

30 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

RUNTASTIC PRO

For smartphone users trying to keep their heart healthy by running, Runtastic PRO is
probably one of the best apps available to do it. The PRO series of apps are for a variety of
exercises, which vary based on the type of sport involved. Runtastic PRO can make use of
your Android or iOS device with a chest strap heart monitor, allowing the app to track your
heart rate and react accordingly. Past that, it has a huge array of features designed to get
you the most out of your workout run.
The app uses GPS to track both your distance and your speed in real time, and has the
ability to track everything, from your run to how many steps youve taken to how many
calories youve burnt. The app has an interval training mode as well as a calorie burning
mode to help with weight loss. Theres even a unique power song feature which acts as
a motivator when you begin to slow down, pushing you forward. Runtastic PRO also has
an earth mode and route tracking, which help you plan routes for your run, as well as
compare how quickly you ran most recently against previous runs.

For users who are looking to find a way to get the most out of their runs, Runtastic PRO
cannot be recommended enough. Crammed with a variety of features and capable of
helping users maximise their runs in terms of time, quality and calories, this app is easily
worth its price tag. For those looking to improve their fitness, its a small price to pay.
$ 4.99

$ 4.99

CHEAPCHARTS

Have you ever wanted to purchase that one song or movie from the App Store,
and it was too expensive that day? Have you ever noticed that some item prices
change over a very short period of time (and sometimes, only temporarily)?
CheapCharts is designed for the frustrated users who have found this very
problem annoying and look to buy their items at the best price.

How does this work? Simple. You search on CheapCharts incredibly intuitive
App Store search for what you want. You look at the price. If its full price,
no worries. CheapCharts will actually keep checking the App Store regularly
for you. Yes, it keeps checking for your favourite items (as well as items the
app suggests based on your preferences) and when the price drops, you are
immediately alerted with a message! CheapCharts makes sure that users get
the best price for the items they want.

Of course, for people who really like buying stuff without burning a hole in
their pocket, CheapCharts is a great app to have as well! The app not only
finds the discounted items as they appear, but has charts such as the Artist
Radar that will show you suggested artists and movies whose prices have
been reduced, so that you can always get the best deal of the day. If youre
someone who buys from the App Store even infrequently and like saving
money, CheapCharts is worth a download. It wont be long before its a
favourite media shopping app.
Free

Apps
AppsWorld
WorldMag
Mag| December
| February 2015
2014 | 31

INSTALL

FOODUCATE

Keeping track of calories is hard, and as medical science

progresses, there are a lot of consumers who are interested
not just in whats in their food, but the effects that food will
have on their bodies. Fooducate is an attempt to crowdsource education when it comes to food knowledge.

With a handy app that allows consumers to make informed

decisions when it comes to purchasing their food, Fooducate
works by scanning the bar codes of the foods youre
purchasing. The app will then compare the scanned bar code
to reviews and information about the food youre eating,
including calorie and other nutritional information, as well
as recommendations from users who are interested in their
health. It also allows you to connect directly with a health
professional if you want to get a more human opinion on a
specific product.

Fooducate has a number of advantages, the first being

its huge database of foods. The second is the curated
database of information from its users. The app even has an
entertaining live feed of information, which can often tell the
user a little about whos eating a product and how. The app
is a must-have for the health-conscious or just food-curious
user.

Free

32 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

Free

@EVENTS
MOBILE SUMMIT
February 23 - 24, 2015: Sausalito

The fifth-annual VentureBeat Mobile Summit brings together

top influencers from all segments of the mobile ecosystem to
develop a blueprint for the industrys growth in the coming
year. Leading brands will debate the strategies and technologies
theyre using to reach mobile audiences and accelerate their
business. Learn more about the event here:
http://events.venturebeat.com/event/mobilesummit2015/

GAME CONNECTION AMERICA 2015

March 2 - 5, 2015: San Francisco

Game Connection is an international event offering the

opportunity for professionals in the video game industry to
interact with other professionals and promote their products. The
conference will offer unique networking opportunities through
the gathering of top management from the entire industry: from
development, publishing, and funding, to production, middleware,
marketing, and distribution.
Get more details at http://www.game-connection.com/.

AD:TECH NEW DELHI

March 19 20, 2015: New Delhi

ad:tech New Delhi is a digital marketing & advertising conference

& exhibition in India. At ad:tech, you can experience actionpacked days with keynotes, education led by digital marketings
best and brightest, hundreds of leading-edge suppliers from
established players to the newest startups nonstop networking
and more. Get more details at http://india.ad-tech.com/.
34 | Apps World Mag | February 2015

WEARABLES TECHCON
March 9 - 11, 2015: Santa Clara

Wearables TechCon is exclusively for OEM builders, designers,

and developers of wearable computing technology. Special events
include women in wearables luncheon, technical classes, business
critical and ethics panels, lightning talks, and keynotes. Find out
more at http://www.wearablestechcon.com/.

MMA FORUM NEW YORK

March 17 - 18, 2015: New York City
The 2015 MMA NY Forum will focus on how brands can acquire
and reach new customers, such as millennials, women, gamers
and others, with the brimming options in the mobile toolbox
including programmatic, location, video, measurement and more.
Learn more about the event here: http://www.mmaglobal.com/
forumnewyork

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