Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Apps expand Caller ID for user-hacked mobiles

It wasn't long after I got my first mobile phone that the mystery calls started coming. Private Caller. Unknown Caller. Blocked Number. Sometimes I got more blind sales calls on my cellphone than I got on the house land line.

Eventually, I heard about apps that would provide enhanced Caller ID and give me more control over which calls I answered. The apps could identify calls from unknown numbers and give me the tools to block spammers. Some of those apps, including one called Best Caller ID, offer reverse number lookup and access white pages, yellow pages and other phone directories.

Best Caller ID is a free app that targeted at devices that have been user hacked or "jailbroken." Like similar apps found in the Apple Store or Google Play, it's available in versions for the iPhone and Android phones. But it goes beyond those popular platforms with additional versions the Windows Phone, Blackberry, Windows PCs and Bada, an operating system for mobile phones and tablets that was developed by Samsung.

For more details on Best Caller ID, check out the developer's website or the Cydia Store.

Monday, September 29, 2014

MobileMunky powers gadgets on the go

I never travel without a portable charger. With a phone, Bluetooth headphones and at least one tablet, I never know when I'll need a boost, or when I might be stuck in an airport lounge that's short on power outlets. Trouble is, many chargers and large and heavier to be welcome in my pocket.

But the MobileMunky  looks like just the right blend of power and convenience. The MobileMunky's makers say it's the smallest and lightest of the higher-powered chargers. It's rated at 10,400mAH, which unlike many portable chargers, is strong enough to refuel a full-sized iPad.

The device has a protective chip that prevents overloading or overcharging and it turns off automatically when a gadget is fully charged. It has two full-sized USB outlets, so you can charge two devices at once.

There's an LED indicator that shows how much juice is left inside and there's a tiny built-in flashlight to help you find your way in the dark.

You can get more details about the MobileMunky, read user reviews and place an order at amazon.com were the MobileMunky goes for $24.99.

Watch the MobileMunky video.





India gets the first of Google's low-cost phones

When Google announced its plans to bring a low-cost mobile phone to residents of developing countries, it said it's first target nation would be India, where some 800 million people don't have cellphones.

That phone arrived this month with the appearance of the Android One, a locally-built that will sell for around $100.

The Micromax Canvas A1, one of three Android One models, comes with a 4.5-inch display, a 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor, 1GB of RAM and a battery designed to last all day.

The A1 also has a 5MP camera and support for a MicroSD of up to 32GB. The phone runs Android KitKat v4.4.4 and can be upgraded to new versions when they are released.

Shoppers can buy the Micromax Canvas A1 for 5849 Rs. at Couponpyk, a website based in India that offers Amazon coupons and other discount offers. Get more information at Couponpyk's special page devoted to the Micromax Canvas A1.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Spy app monitors cheaters' smartphone

A person's cellphone has become the digital record of their life. Look inside and you'll see who they talk to, what they talk about, when and where they meet and what pictures they exchange.

It's no surprise that when police make an arrest or start an investigation, their first target is often a person's phone. And for the same reasons, a suspicious spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend would would dearly love to explore the data tucked away on their lover's phone.

That's the audience now being targeted by Mspy, a new program that can give one person nearly unlimited access to the information on another person's mobile phone. Once the untraceable program is installed on the target handset, the installer can log in with a password to read data on the target phone.

Accessible data includes text messages, call data, web browsing, app use, photos and the phone's location. All of that can be accessed from a computer anywhere in the world.

The software and monitoring access is sold on a subscription basis with plans starting at around $35 a month. For more details, check the Mspy website or this background article.

Create an avatar for free


As if I don't look pretty goofy already, along comes a website that offers to create an avater of my face for free. Create My Avatar walks you through a simple process of selection your skin color, chin type, hair color and so on. No artistic skill required.

If you enter your email address, your freshly-minted image arrives in your inbox. The 230-by-200-pixel jpeg is just the right size to use on Facebook, Twitter or other other places where you might want to display something a little different from the usual selfie photo.

You can build your own face or make ones for friends to show them what they really look like to the rest of the world. Just enter their address and name, if you want. Face-building can also be creative entertainment for kids.

Click to the website to check out the avatar generator of drop in on their Facebook page.


Saturday, September 27, 2014

jamstik is a guitar on the go

 The guitar is such a versatile instrument. Anyone who knows a few chords can start a party. But guitars don't travel well, in cars, on planes, bikes or on foot.

Enter the jamstik. It's a compact electronic guitar that pairs with an iPad, iPhone or Mac, making it a great travelling companion and learning tool.

The jamstik connects wirelessly to a mobile device or you can plug in a USB cable. It has real strings and frets on a 15-inch body, it's powered by a USB-rechargeable battery and - get this - no tuning is required.

The guitar works with three jamstik apps. One lets you choose choose sound styles, like Fender electric or folkie acoustic, another acts as a tutor with games, lessons and how-to videos; and a third lets you create jams and mixes.

The jamstik costs $299 and is available on the jamstik website, at Amazon.com and in many Apple retail stores. Check it out in the video below and keep up with other pickers on jamstick's Twitter feed and Facebook page.


jamstik - The Guitar Designed For Your iPad from Jamstik on Vimeo.


Group plans app for filing sweatshop complaints

We've all heard stories about poor working conditions in the Southeast Asia factories that produce our clothing and footwear. Reports of low wages, abusive treatment, unreasonable hours and even child labor have become disturbingly all too frequent.

Here's a way that you can help that doesn't require you to give up low-priced clothes and smart shoes. A team of people from New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia plan to develop a mobile application for factory workers and managers that will let them file grievances directly to the brands who are buying the good from the factories.

How will that happen? With an app on their mobile phones. The developers say "Brands such as adidas have already used an SMS system we deployed with them in Vietnam and Indonesia, now we want to improve this technology into an application."

The group currently has a fund-raising campaign under way on Kickstarter where it hopes to raise $60,000 NZD over the next two months. Supporters will get updates from the group and those who contribute larger amounts will get a personalized video. Find out more about the project at this Kictstarter page.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Zmartframe takes touchscreens to the max

After I saw Tom Cruise use a giant touchscreen computer in the the sci-fi movie Minority Report, I wanted one for my own. Fortunately, the technology that will someday produce a screen like Tom's is advancing rapidly.

One of the more promising projects is the Zmartframe Projection Touch Panel which will soon be available in four sizes: 63-, 70-, 73- and 86-inches.

The Zmartframe supports two-touch optical sensing with an engine that allows users to quickly slide, rotate or enlarge images. Remember when Cruise flipped through a stack of digital photos? It's like that.

The ZmartframeMax uses light-weight aluminum sensing strips that can be mounted on any flat surface where an image is projected. The frame is connected to a computer running Windows XP, Vista or version 7 or 8 and requires no specific driver installation.

The developers of the ZmartframeMax have a fun drive underway at Indiegogo where they hope to raise $50,000 by the end of October. Contributors can make a deposit on a frame and choose a size when the product is available later this year or get a discount deal on one of the first units.





Looking for a tech job? Check out Hired

If you're looking for work in the tech industry, you've probably already tried the usual places, like Monster and CareerBuilder. I found another service that looks like it has a sharper focus.

Hired has developed a job search process that was built specifically for software engineers, data scientists, UI/UX designers, and product managers. It works primarily with applicants in the tech-centric areas - New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area - but it welcomes job-seekers from anywhere.

There's no charge for applicants to post their resumes and work histories. Once they are in the system, they get interview requests and offers directly from companies that have openings to fill. If you currently have a job, the service will hide your profile from your current employer. Hired says it has placed more than 1,300 job-seekers at companies that include CrunchBase, Klout, Zillow, Lyft, Evernote and Groupon and that 81 percent of participants have received offers.

For more details, visit the Hired.com website.


Sunday, September 21, 2014

Don't just text it, say it with Oii

Check your outbox of instant messages and see how many are repeats. If you're like me, you've been sending the same message over and over:

On my way
Bringing dinner
Where R U? 

And, of course, texting is really kind of impersonal. When you want to say "I love you" to someone special, wouldn't it be nice if they could hear your voice?

Oii is a new instant messaging app that tackles both of those issues. Instead of a text message, Oii sends a short voice recording. And, it lets you store and reuse recordings that you send frequently.

To see Oii at work, check out the video below. Downloads are available for free in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. And Oii is working on versions for the Apple Watch, Google Wear, Auto Android and Auto iOS.




Emojo has the key to a global language: emoji

The ancient Egyptians didn't need a million-word vocabulary to tell a story or communicate an emotion. Pictures and symbols served them quite well for many centuries and allowed them to communicate with cultures that had their own spoken languages.

Now you, too, can return to those thrilling days of cuneiform and pictograms with Emojo, a mobile app that lets people communicate entirely without words using emoji, those tiny symbols that you can use to express happiness, affection and lot more. With Emojo, you can construct a full sentence using just pictures.

Here's a sample:



I'm pretty sure that means "Let's go dance our pants off at a club that has a DJ and a lot of really flexible people." That translation may be a little off, but what the heck, Emojo is for fun, not for contract law.

Check out the fee no advertising app in the iTunes App Store or Google Play store. And see what the Emojo folks are up to on Twitter.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Find cool stuff nearby with Fotozino

Even with a host of shopping apps at your fingertips, the search for that special vintage item can be a frustrating series of dead ends. Fotozino is another tool to aid you in your quest.

Think of Fotozino as a searchable collection of geo-localized classified ads. The free mobile app is designed to help people sell items from their home or store using pictures, descriptions and locations.

Sure, you can post items for sale on eBay. Buy you have to pay a commission and in most cases, your auction will expire in a few days. With Fotozino, there's no fee and no time limit. Think of it as a digital yard sale that reaches a lot more people and doesn't clutter up your yard.

For someone seeking a vintage Martin guitar, a first-edition book or a set of high-end golf clubs, Fotozino points them find it on their favorite shopping street or maybe in someone basement just down the street.

Get a closer look at Fotozino in the video below or download the free app in the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store. Fotozino is also on Twitter.

FOTOZINO share and help others from Olivier le quellec on Vimeo.




Stickman Ninja Master is simple fun


We've all heard the axiom that sometimes less is more. Less calories leads to more fitness. A less cluttered home is a more inviting home. And, sometimes, less elaborate graphics in a video game can increase it's fun factor.

One of my favorite classic games was Lode Runner. It was just a simple stick figure character making his way from one level to another. Stickman Ninja Master, a new mobile game for the iPhone and iPad, captures much of that simple appear.

The game follows a ninja warrior through eight levels of boards to break. The rules are also simple: jump, kick, jab and throw stars to break the boards and advance. Players earn coins by breaking boards and finishing levels and the coins can be used to more stars, extra spear durability, and even golden weapons. The better you play, the more powerful you become. Break every board and you will be the master.

To check out the free game by David Weiskittel, watch the video below, then click to the iTunes App Store.



Wednesday, September 17, 2014

New mobile app helps Juan lose pounds


I've encountered dozens of apps and games that help people lose weight, but this is the first one that doesn't require you to break a sweat. Run Juan Run can be played in a comfortable easy chair or even flat on your back.

The game follows pot-bellied Juan on his quest to slim down. Like most middle-aged and overweight guys, Juan has a wife who thinks he should be working harder to drop those extra pounds. She gets him started by calling in a crane to lift him out of their house.

Juan's road to fitness takes him through a number different levels. You follow him jogging through snowflakes and past icebergs, doing push-ups in the gym and driving past the pyramids. Is that drive part of his diet, or  is he on his way to his favorite taqueria?

The game requires iOS 4.3 or later and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and it's optimized for the iPhone 5. You can check it out in the iTunes app store.



SendPals add social to private file sharing

Having recently returned from an out-of-town party weekend, I had several photos I wanted to share with the group. I didn't want to share them with the world on Facebook and some of the files would be too big for email. I could put them in a Dropbox folder, but then the group would miss the opportunity to make and share snarky comments.

It's that kind of situation that SendPals was made for. SendPals combines private file sharing with cloud storage and social networking. SendPals supports a variety of file sizes, including high-rez images and video files.

It keeps access private and it works across all types of devices. Groups that could benefit from using SendPals classmates, band members, project managers, event planners, team coaches and just a group of friends who want to keep things between friends.

A free version of SendPals provides 25GB of storage with access by up to 10 groups. A professional plan for $9 a month includes 256GB of storage an unlimited groups. An enterprise plan offers unlimited storage and monster file sizes.

Get more details and check out the SendPals blog at the SendPals website. And click here to watch the SendPals video.

SendPals video


Snappdemo videos bring apps to life

So you had the idea for the next great mobile game or app and maybe it's already built and ready to launch on the app stores. Now you need a marketing plan with screen shots and a video - or, better yet - a walk-through demo.

That's where the folks at Snappdemo are ready to step in. Snappdemo, a team of video wizards and caffeine junkies, specializes in producing 30-second and one-minute videos for mobile games and apps.

The videos are tailored specifically for marketing mobile products on websites and in online app stores with footage taken straight from an iOS or Android device in full frame high definition.

A one-minute video for posting on a website or app store video in MP4 high-def format includes a script and voice-over and music. A 30-second gameplay demo without a script costs $80.

You can see a sample of Snappdemo's work in the video below and get more details at the Snappdemo website where they have dozens more. Check out the blog and the Snappdemo Twitter feed for the latest news.




Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Print custom business cards with SpringPublisher

These days anyone trying to earn a dollar may be wearing a number of different hats and juggling more than one job. And that means they probably have use for several different business cards. The last time I went to a business networking event, I brought along four different cards to swap.

To get custom cards, you can design an order them online or at a copy shop. But you'll likely have to pay more than you'd like and order more cards than you might need. Or you can design your own and print limited runs using SpringPublisher, a free and easy to use desktop publishing program. SpringPublisher gives you access to dozens of different templates to produce both business cards and letterhead stationery.

It has a multi-layer editor, detailed help-files, and it supports popular Avery paper stock for cards and labels. Users can add custom artwork, including QR codes, maps or barcodes and image effects.

The current version 4.1 works with just about any Windows OS, from Windows 2000 to Windows 8. There's a free version for non-commercial use and an upgraded Pro version at the company's website.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

SMPK is a calling card for the Digital Age

I get emails every day from marketing and PR types who have a new product or service they want me to write about. They sign their letters with a phone number and their company's website, but I often would like to know more about them. What do they look like? What's their background and interests? What do they do on their social media channels?

The Social Media Press Kit is an idea created for a situation just like that. It can deliver a meaty profile of someone in a compact and attractive package. The SMPK includes a photo, a video, a short statement about their business, contact information and links to their home base on Twitter, Google+, Facebook and other platforms.

The SMPK is created and is hosted at MySocialFusion.com. For $9.95 a month, users get access to the tools needed to build their profile and a unique URL to share with friends and current or prospective clients. Will I be meeting you at a trade show, like International CES in January? send me your SMPK in advance.

Makerpost aims to connect the DIY community

Someone in East Texas who makes robots for kids might want to know about the person in Oakland, Cal., who makes monster toys. How do they find each other? At Makerpost.com, a new meeting place for the DIY community.

The directory website brings together makers and make spaces. Registration is free and users can post photos and video of their products and projects as well as their work spaces, websites and contact information.

Once the information is entered, each listing gets an icon on Makerpost's world map. Visitors to the site can search by keyword, category or location.

The makers behind Makerpost hope the site will help builders and inventors locate others who might be ideal partners or have ideas to share.

Momensity will let you share your awesomeness

Back in the early days of the Internet, Bill Gates predicted that some day we would all have a digitally-documented life. Facebook took a shot at that target with its Timeline but a Kickstarter project called Momensity might be closer to the mark.

Momensity is an app that ties together all the loose ends of your digital life. You can use it to blog, to create to-do lists, follow your career and your interests and sync your social media channels. When you meet someone new, Momensity will generate a custom QR code to give them access to your Momensity profile.

When two people each have Momensity, the app will find common connections. You both follow the Lakers or the Steelers? There's your conversation starter. And, of course, in this age of instant metrics, you'll get a rating, a calculation of "how much of a deeper connection and impact two people can have on one another's lives."

Sound intriguing? Momensity developer Jermon Green can you your help to get the app built and launched. Check out his Kickstarter campaign where a contribution will get you some cool logo swag. Green's target is $10,000 raised by early October.




Wednesday, September 10, 2014

P2P Wallet moves crypto currency

As the popularity of Bitcoin and other digital currency continues to grow, one of the challenges of using cryptobucks is figuring out how to spend or transfer that digital money.

P2P Wallet helps answer that need by providing an online personal banking application that can execute transactions using multiple types of digital currency.

Developed by P2P Bank, the P2P Wallet works with a variety of currencies including Bitcoin, Blackcoin, Darkcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Namecoin and Peercoin. With the Android app, users can see all the currencies they are holding and their total available balance.

Options let you send and receive payments, acquire a loan and pay on the loan. To send money, just enter the amount, a PIN code and the currency address or QR code.

For more information, check the free Android app in the Google Play store or the P2P Wallet website.

Web magazine has its eye on apps

How important are mobile apps? A recent ComScore report said the average smartphone user downloads three apps per month and spands more than half of their smartphone time using apps.

But how do smartphone and tablet users learn about new apps or decide which ones to download? That's the job of The App Magazine, a website that spotlights and reviews the latest additions to the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

The App Magazine includes reviews of games, utilities and productivity apps plaus apps news and lists of the top free apps and the most popular paid apps. It also contains news an information regarding Facebook apps, game apps and apps for the iPad. Feed your app-etite at The AppMagazine.com.

Kdan's app brings PDF access to mobiles

If you think you can only read PDF files on your computer, you need to check out PDF Reader, a slick utility that belongs in the toolbox of any mobile device. The app lets you open, read, annotate and share PDF documents using mobile phones or tablets.

Advanced features include the ability to search text, view if horizontal or vertical modes, jump to pages and set bookmarks. For annotations, you can choose a highlight color or add underlines or strike-through text. Files can be stored and shared using iCloud, Dropbox or other cloud services.

PDF Reader is available for iOS and Android mobile devices with a premium version available for the Mac. Get download links and more details at the Kdan Mobile website and follow Kdan on Twitter.

Ractiv brings touch control to any computer

It happens to me all the time. I reach toward the screen of my laptop computer, thinking I'll touch a link or pinch a photo. Touch computing has become so commonplace, our brains think it's available everywhere. And now it can be available anywhere you want it.

Touch+ is a second-generation device that brings multi-touch control to almost any surface. Touch+ was developed by Ractiv, a company that created used Kickstarter last year to finance Haptix, the predecessor of Touch+.

Touch+ uses a small sensor containing two cameras and an IR LED. It mounts on the lip of an LCD monitor where it watches your fingers as they rest on your keyboard. It can also be mounted next to your computer to make the surface of your desk the touch-sensitive area.

Ractiv began shipping the first Touch+ units just this week. You can order one for $74.99 at the Ractiv website. Check out the video below to see Touch+ in action and keep up with Ractiv news with their Twitter feed.




Monday, September 8, 2014

Moni knows a lot more than you

You may think you've met a few know-it-all types, but you probably haven't met Moni. She's the voice and brain behind askMoni, a website and mobile app that draws on collective intelligence to answer questions.

You can ask her the square root of Pi, the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons or just about anything else you were wondering about. She will deliver an instant answer on almost any topic.

You can help Moni get smarter by opening an account on the askMoni website and answering some of the questions that users have posted. The answers become part of Moni's collection intelligence.

With the mobile version, Moni can also be trained to perform tasks, like launch an application or open a web page. She's kind of like Apple's Siri, but with less of an attitude.

You can find out more about Moni at the website or download the free mobile app at the Apple iTunes App Store or at Google Play.

mSpy lets you monitor and track a target mobile phone

If you provide a mobile phone to your children or employees, you might natually wonder who they are calling and, perhaps more important, what photos are they sending?

The makers of mSpy understand your curiosity and anxiety. The program lets you monitor the phone's usage almost as if you were holding it in your hand. It logs incoming and outgoing calls, tracks text messages, gives you access to emails, monitors Internet use, read instant messages and even uses GPS to track the user's location.

The monitoring software runs in an invisible mode, letting you remotely track all activity that takes place on the monitored phone. Everything from calls to calendar updates is sent from the tracked phone to a secure online account. This is just whet we needed when our teenage daughter talked us into dropping her off at the mall, leaving her mother and I to wonder if she actually stayed there.

The version for mobile phones works with iOS, Android and Blackberry handsets. Pricing starts at $39.99 for one month. To see all of the available features and pricing, visit the mSpy website and check out this site for customer reviews and discussion.

Find words in the weeds with Wozzle

Can you see the forest from the trees? In a nutshell, that's the challenge posed by Wozzle Word Search, a fast-moving new puzzle game.

Wozzle presents a screen of apparently jumbled letters. Your task is to pick out the and swipe the nine words  hidden amid the chaos. The words come from categories that you choose. It could be Food, Animals, Countries, Brands, People, and so on. And the words appear in all directions: horizontal, vertical and even diagonal.  

The game helps improve your physical dexterity while adding to your vocabulary. Wozzle scores your performance and awards prize tokens as you improve. Start by completing five different games in less than 2:30 minutes.

Download Wozzle Word Search for free in the Apple iTunes app store.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

LEDified wants to put life in a new light

You probably know that the home is the next frontier for digital control and communication, but you probably didn't think that light bulbs would be one of the first targets. But the people at LEDified did.

They are raising money at Fundable.com to support EVA, a product they call "the world’s friendliest recessed light." What they have in mind is an efficient LED bulb that will let homeowners can easily adjust the brightness and even the color of their lighting with just the click of a button. And, this isn't some crazy idea sketched out on a napkin. LEDified has already sold 50,000 units in Australia. The new funding will help bring the unique lights to the U.S.

The EVA bulbs are designed to slip into the standard recessed lighting "cans" used in American homes. They can be controlled by wall switches and and dimmers as well as by the iDim remote control. LEDified says EVA bulbs are both brighter and more energ-efficient than comparable conventional bulbs.

LEDified's campaign is offering a range of rewards for contributors. A $50 pledge gets one light and a remote control. To get the specs on EVA and check out all the rewards, go to the LEDified page at Fundable.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Osnova modules enhance SugerCRM

A large company I once worked for spent several million dollars on a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that it installed across more than 100 sites. The system was a total bomb, widely ignored and despised by the the sales staffs that were supposed to use it.

If they had asked me, which they didn't, I would have told them to investigate SugerCRM, a cloud-based platform that can be thoroughly customized using extensions and plug-ins. This year SugarCRM was recognized as an industry leader by CRM Magazine. It named in three categories and called "one to watch" in the Sales Force Automation category.

Some of the best modules for SugerCRM installations come from Osnova Solutions, a London-based company that offers products starting at £19.99. One module enhances search capabilities using Elastic Search and anotheer integrates with social media platforms.

For more information, check out the Osnova website.  

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

BatchPatch takes the pain out of Windows updates

Of course it falls to me to be our home tech support person and network administrator. That's one reason why I checked out BatchPatch, a tool that installs Windows updates remotely across a business or home network.

BatchPatch eliminates the chore of logging into each PC to initiate Windows updates, which these days seem to arrive every week. Instead, you create a list of computers, then kick off the installation and reboot process. The administrator then gets a cup of coffee and watches the progress on on an overview screen. That's the part I like.

Admins can choose which types of updates to install - critical updates, security updates, service packs, feature packs, drivers, etc. - or follow Microsoft's update system and install only Important and/or Recommended updates. BatchPatch also works with third-party patches such as Adobe or Java updates, as well as registry keys, scripts, and most anything else that comes from remote hosts.

To see BatchPatch in action, watch the video below. For more information, visit the BatchPatch website where you can download a free trial version of the software and check out license pricing.





Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Converter app calculates almost anything

If you've done much travelling, you probably have a currency converter installed on your smartphone. You'll know in a flash how many dollars you would need to buy 100 euros.

But will your smartphone convert temperatures from Celsius to Farenheit? How about miles to kilometers or acres to square meters?  It will if you install the new Converter app for iOS and Android devices.

The app was developed by engineers at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, a European company that works with high-precision materials in the aerospace, automotive, marine and other industries. The app delivers more than 300 engineering and scientific conversion units in 32 categories.

Some of the conversions, like torque or density, will appeal primarily to engineers, but many others provide useful answers for everyday situations. For example, there's a timezone converter (What time is it now in Prague?), a percentage calculator and a table that will calculate an optimum pace for running a morning jog or a marathon.

I especially like the percentages calculator. I no longer have to remember which value is divided (or multiplied) by which.

Check out Converter in the iTunes Store or the Google Play Store.

Monday, September 1, 2014

It's always Trivia Night when you have Brainer

Bertrand Russell once said "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." I wonder if he was the star of trivia nights at his local pub. I bet he would have loved Brainer, a new and free iOS game app that puts a trivia quiz in your pocket.

The game delivers rapid-fire questions from any of seven categories: Movies, Sports, TV, History, Science, Music and Video Games. Each has sub-categories, like Game of Thrones under TV or Middle Ages under History.

Select a subject area and the game presents a question and four possible answers. You might be asked which philosopher did Aristotle study under? Or when can a football team attempts a two-point conversion?

You have 8 seconds to respond. If you're both smart and fast, you might win an Amazon gift card. Or at least impress your friends with your grasp of useless knowledge. Tell them Bert would be proud of you.

Get the full scoop on Brainer and a download link at Brainerapp.com.

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