Are you into playing Oscars pool or racking up on your Oscars trivia or watching the red carpet? Here are some apps you will find handy!
1. Award Hero: Oscars Edition (Free) (iTunes) – Check out this free App to create your own Oscars pool and compete against friends. The only part that I don’t like is that you can only do it via your Facebook account. This App also has historical information on previous Oscar awards and winners.
2. Oscars App (Free) (iTunes) – is the official App brought to you by ABC. It has a number of backstage streams and you can choose one of the 6 cameras and zoom in. The Oscars App has more cameras than any other media outlet. You can also view movie trailers and list of nominated movies.
3. E! Live from the Red Carpet (Free) (iTunes, Android) – E! will bring you all the red carpet scoop to your phone. Get insider info on awards, celebrity interviews, complete video coverage of the event and most importantly all the fashion buzz!
An interesting App called Codify has made its arrival to the App Store. The App brings you touch based programming and let’s you create your own Apps on your iPad. If you are a geek like me, you will be super excited about it 😛
Codify lets you create your own programs using the Lua programming language by writing code directly into your iPad. But there is a catch! Apple recently eased restrictions on Apps which run interpreted languages such as Lua. Although Apple now allows to run the interpreted language in-app, it does not allow the download of such Apps. In other words, if you create an App using Codify, you might not really be able to sell it or share it at the App Store (The developer has submitted the code for sharing your Apps but is not sure if Apple will allow it). However, I think Codify is a neat tool to make prototypes and test out your idea before you actually jump knee-deep into making a full-fledged iOS app. Codify is now available at the App Store for $7.99. Check it out!
Augmented Reality is one of the exciting technologies around and has already made its way to apps on iPhone and Android.
Layar, a free App has got a great concept and a lot of potential, although I think it has some issues with the implementation. It allows you to progressively ad new layers like games, hotel, coupons, concierge etc. WordLens, another free augmented reality app, that we featured recently, translates between languages when you focus your camera lens on the text. Some paid Apps include Golfscape GPS rangefinder,Cyclopedia,SpotCrime (this one is freaky – it shows you what crimes have happened around you recently)
Qualcomm recently released Augmented Reality Software Development Kit (SDK) which will make it easier for developers to use virtual content with real content. Qualcomm also held a Developer (geek) challenge. Check out the winning entries in the video below.
Apple is hopefully not far behind intergrating augmented reality features into the iPad or the iPhone. A recently filed patent indicates augmented reality integration into the iPad where the top half of the screen shows a live video of whatever the camera is pointing at and the bottom half shows the augmented version such as pointing out building names etc. It probably doesn’t sound useful to you right now, but its only a patent.
If you haven’t yet checked out the Microsoft Kinect, you should. It’s basically a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360. I have to give it to Microsoft for this one. Well done Microsoft 😛 Since the Kinect has been out there have been several hacks. One of the hack turns the 3D data which has been recorded using Kinect into augmented reality video and audio for the iPad. Isn’t that cool?
Qualcomm Augmented Reality Developer Challenge
Augmented Reality with Microsoft Kinect and iPad
Apple Patent Application
BY THE GOOGLE CHIC
Here are couple of kool augmented reality apps which I like.
Google Goggles allows you to use a picture to search the web. Simply take a snap of what you’re interested in searching whether it’s a book, picture etc. It can even solve Sudoku puzzles. Check out the video below, it’s pretty awesome!
Another really neat app is the Wikitude augmented reality navigation reality app. It overlays the directions over a live view of the road which allows for you to always have visibility to the road even when you’re looking at the map! Unfortunately, it’s not available in the US. Hopefully, it’ll be available in the near future.
There are also some funny AR games. SpecTrek is an AR ghost hunting game LOL. The goal is to run around hunting for ghosts. I bet it’s a pretty funny sight running around the neighborhood with your phone 🙂 If someone is playing this, please upload a video of it to YouTube. I’m dying to see it!
Google is soon going to release a new version of the Market for phones running Android 2.2 and above. I have to say that I’m rather shocked that it has the tile look and feel, similar to the Windows 7 phone. I’m sure AppleGirl is having a good laugh at my expense right now since she knows how much I HATE the Windows look and feel.
The new Market will allow for users to rent movies and download them to view later if a data connection is not available. In addition, you can buy books directly from the Market instead of using a separate app for that. Overall, there are some good new features, but I just don’t like the tile look! Who knows, maybe I’ll get used to i?
Check it out for yourselves.
BY THE APPLE GIRL
If you have ever seen the Android Market interface, you know the convoluted look and feel of Android. So Google decides to revamp it. And what do they make it look like? Windows Phone 7. ROFL. GoogleChic, you were right about me having a good laugh 🙂
Market comes with a lot of top Apps – Top free, Top paid, Trending, Staff picks, Top grossing, Top new paid, Top new free, Editor’s choice – now we know what convoluted means.
GoogleChic can’t you customize Market like everything else on Android? Such a bummer 😛
Do you dream of iTunes and AirPlay on Android? doubleTwist has just made your life easier by offering support for iTunes sync and AirPlay streaming on Android.doubleTwist App lets you sync your iTunes to your Android phone and stream photos, music and videos to Apple TV and music and videos to DLNA devices.
The doubleTwist Player itself is free, but if you want to use AirPlay there is a price of $4.99 for it, which I’m sure you will gladly pay up after having fought with your DLNA device for months 😉
Albeit, the thing to keep in mind before you jump the gun is that doubleTwist does not support streaming to AirPort Express! doubleTwist brands its Apps as “The Cure for iPhone envy” and “Life without wires”. Aptly so!
The other options are the Twonky Mobile which offers AirPlay and DLNA streaming but no iTunes sync and MediaSync which offers iTunes sync but no AirPlay.
BY THE GOOGLE CHIC
Is doubleTwist really the cure for the iPhone envy? Or rather the solution for people that are trading in their iPhones for an Android? 🙂
I have to say I came across two iPhone fan boys this week that are ready to throw in the towel and move on over to Android. doubleTwist will sure make their transition easier. I’m sure they’ll be happy to know that for $4.99 they can still stream to their Apple TV from their new phones.
doubleTwist also offers NFC MP3 sharing. Just double tap your phones together and your music can be shared either via Bluetooth or WiFi. Hmm, I wonder when the iPhone will be able to do that!
If you are a runner like GoogleChic here, you will love this deal. But of course, GoogleChic can’t get this deal on Android! Nike+ GPS is free on iOS (normally priced at $1.99) for a limited time. The App lets you record your pace, distance and run route along with feedback and motivation (yes, we all need it!). Steve Jobs, once told Nike CEO, Mark Parker to get rid of all the crappy stuff and focus on the good stuff. Looks like, Mark heeded Steve Jobs’ advice
BY THE GOOGLE CHIC
This started as a one sided post from AppleGirl, but if you know me, all I talk about is running and Android. So how can I pass this one up?!
While I’m happy that they’re offering the Nike + GPS for free (hopefully this will motivate some of y’all to get off that couch!). I have to say there’s a comparable app that is ALWAYS free on Android. The Cardio Trainer app will track your distance and pace using GPS. What’s really nice is if you’re listening to music on your run, it’ll pause your music and read out the distance at an interval of your choice. Of course, hopefully you’re not road running with those headphones on!
It also supports a treadmill mode to track your walking/running while indoors.
Sale stalkers, Electronic Arts has posted many of its iOS premium, top-rated Apps for $0.99. Scrabble, Madden NFL, NBA Jam, Sims, Tetris, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Battlefield, Need For Speed, Monopoly and many more top grossing Apps are on sale. If you are one of those gaming addicts, its time to stock up! Android lovers, don’t get too excited with EA’s misleading promotional banners like the one below. You can save money too, just not as much as iPhone/iPad users. 🙂 Check out the sale at EA.
So, I was just browsing for new apps on the Market and I came across Androidfy. For all you Fandroids out there, you can make an Andorid avatar of yourself. You can stretch or shrink the little green robot, accessorize it with an outfit and even put a hairdo of your choice!Here’s the masterpiece I put together depicting myself and AppleGirl 😉
BY THE APPLE GIRL
Now Google is making you into a cartoon robot. Would you want to use it as your Facebook or Twitter profile picture! I don’t think so. Wonder why I’m wearing that pink flower?? 🙂
