Monday, December 29, 2014

BabyPhone Mobile monitors a sleeping child

There are lots of baby monitors on the market, but most of them require special hardware and have a limited range. BabyPhone Mobile creates a baby monitor using two devices that you probably already own: two mobile phones or a phone and a tablet.

The app create a continuous live link using the Internet to connect the two devices. The device in the baby's room uses its built-in camera and mic to transmit live video and audio. If the baby cries, you hear it instantly. It doesn't just call when it detects a crying sound.

Other features include end-to-end encryption with a custom password chosen by user. The service also monitors the battery level on the monitor device and it can support external devices to monitor temperature and humidity.

BabyPhone Mobile is free to download in the Google Play Store. There's no charge to use the app for up to 30 minutes but you will be prompted to buy a license for longer use. More information is also available on the BabyPhone Mobile website.

Math app teaches the Order of Operations

When you see a math expression like the one below, does it make you think of your Aunt Sally?

Math instructors teach students about  the Order of Operations, a specific set of steps you must take to solve a problem like that. Sally is the star of an often-used mnemonics device that students use to remember the acronym for those steps.

The steps are summarized as PEMDAS, which stands for Parentheses, Exponents (Powers and Square Roots, etc.), Multiplication and Division (left-to-right), Addition and Subtraction (also left-to-right). The phrase that helps students remember the steps is Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. 

There's another and perhaps easier way to learn your PEMDAS: download the Order of Operations app for your Android phone. The app includes a explanatory video, 50 practice questions, timed questions, flashcards, and a timed game.

The app is free and available in the Google Play Store. Your Aunt Sally would be would be proud of you.

Moving sand art gives your brain a break

If I could turn my office walls into video walls, I would display images from the American Southwest. There's something about sand and rocks that would provide would be a peaceful counterbalance to my computer monitors.

The Navajos believe that their sand paintings contribute to general health and well being and many technical professionals make moving sand art part of the feng shui of their work space.

Artwork like the ones sold at Explosion Luck can give your mind a break from coding or writing and help you refocus your thoughts. The positive energy online store offers different moving sand creations that are housed in a variety of frames. The sand drips down from upper to lower levels to create colorful landscapes. Flip the frame and the process starts over to make a new creation.

Explosion Luck has more than a dozen different styles and frames with prices starting at $98. You can also check them out on Twitter.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

UTokens are being marketed in the US

Feeling disappointed that you missed out on the Bitcoin boom? The people promoting UTokens say this digital currency is the next big thing.

According to one website promoting UTokens, the currency was born in Asia about a year ago and has become popular in 15 countries including Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea and Indonesia.

The site says the currency is backed by three large Asian banks. Income from sales of UTokens is invested in property, gold, marble mining, among other things. Twenty-two percent of the income from sales is held in reserve.

The site includes a chart comparing UToken and Bitcoin, a quote from investor Win Kongmuang and a form to fill out if you want to be contacted by a UToken representative. UTokens is also on Twitter.

iCalc Math handles complex math on an iPhone

I'm old enough to remember when special tools were needed to perform sophisticated mathematical calculations. A few brainy kids in high school mastered the slide rule. When my daughter was in high school, I had to spend $80 to get her a fancy calculator.

Today you can perform just about any calculation you need at home or work on an iPhone with a free app called iCalc Math.

The program can handle square root, logarithmic and factorial functions along with trigonometric functions. It will convert values of for common measurements such length, area and volume.

For statistics analysts, iCalc Math will compute median, standard deviation and generate random numbers. Programmers can convert values to or from binary, decimal or hexadecimal formats. And the app has a graphing feature - just like that $80 calculator.

You can find iCalc Math in the iTunes App Store.

WhoaKit's digital pet gets you up and walking

You already know that walking is good for your health, but did you know that it's also good for your pet elephant? You say you don't have a pet elephant? Well, you could if you installed the WhoaKit app and got moving.

WhoaKit is part fitness app and part game. It ties your personal human exercise to the growth and fitness of you digital animal friend. The more you walk, the more your friend grows and thrives, whether he's a baby chick or a puppy.

The app uses the GPS feature of an Android phone to track and chart daily steps and miles. It tells you at a glance how close you are to your daily goal and how well your pet is doing. If it's hard for you exercise for your own sake, maybe you'll do it for them.

You can download WhoaKit for free in the Google Play Store.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

GoodWriter 4 edits PDFs and shares files with Word

Television commercials for Microsoft and Samsung tablets make a big deal about a feature that lets you annotate a document with circles and arrows. Of course, they don't mention that you can do the same thing on an iPad or iPhone with a app called GoodWriter 4.

The app does more than you might expect to see in software that doesn't require a full-sized computer. For example, it lets you open and annotate PDF files, something I haven't mastered on my PC. Files created with GoodWriter 4 can be opened in opened and edited in Word, Pages or Open Office and files created with those programs will open in GoodWriter 4.

Other features include the ability to view PDFs, create voice memos, open email attachments, sign documents with your finger and make handwritten notes. It even provides a palette of colors and a collection of paintbrushes and pencils - just like the fancy digital drawing tools. That's a lot of features from an app that costs $3.99 and works on both the iPad and iPhone.

Get more details about GoodWriter 4 and check out some of the user reviews in the Apple iTunes App Store.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

AddMood makes slide-show movies on iPhones or iPads

There was a time when I produced a short video to commemorate every family vacation or significant trip we made. I would upload photos from my digital camera and use slide-show software to arrange and edit the pictures and add a music track.

These days, I tend to shoot the majority of my photos on my iPhone and Apple thoughtfully shares them with my iPad. So a more efficient platform to make my little movies would be an iOS app, one that would work on both of my iDevices.

It was my search for such an app that led me to AddMood, a new - and free - app that does everything I used to do with a rather expensive program on my Windows PC.

The idea behind AddMood is to let users create short videos by mixing still photos, videos, voice and background music -- and do it all on their iPhone or iPad.

The app includes many of the tools that you find in desktop software including special effects and soundtracks. It also uses the device's microphone to let you add a personal voice narration. The finished product can be stored in your photo album or posted directly to Facebook or Instagram where your friends can see it.

You can check out AddMood for yourself in the Apple iTunes App Store.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Simpl website builder runs on iPads and iPhones

I built my first website in 1994. I used a text editor and a few HTML tags to insert text, links and images. It was simple, uncomplicated - and thoroughly unattractive.

Today you can build sophisticated and stylish websites with drag-and-drop or point-and-click tools and even do it all on your iPhone or iPad. That's right, an app called Simpl will let you create and launch a stylish website using only your iOS device. No computer required.

Simpl says it's the world's simplest website builder. It lets site creators add text, videos, blogs and links. There's even a shop feature for starting a business or selling a product.

Simpl offers nine different themes to choose from, including mobile themes. Photos and other images can be arranged using a drag-and-drop feature. Simpl will handle hosting your new site and use your own domain, if you have one. You can try Simpl for free for 14 days. If you want to keep the site, the cost is $4.99 a month.

Get more details at the Simpl website and in the video below. You can also follow Simpl on Twitter.



Memory Play will stretch your brain

When my kids were small, they always knew how to get me to play a game with them: Make it a memory game. My favorite was Simon, the electronic game that would light up panels in a random sequence, then challenge you to remember and reenter the pattern.

The game was fun for both little ones and adults, both of which could benefit from some memory exercise.

An iOS game called Memory Play is kind of like that. It displays colors, shapes or combinations of both, then you have to recall and recreate what you saw.

The games get harder as you progress through 48 levels for each category. There are more than 25 figures and 43 colors used in the game and more than a dozen different backgrounds, many of which can be distracting. But like any good game, if you want to score, you have to concentrate.

Memory Play costs 99 cents in the Apple iTunes Store.  

Rising Dragon game flies and swoops

When the little kids come for a visit, they want to know what new games I have on my phone or tablet. They's happy - and quiet - if I can sit them down with a character that flies, jumps, runs or swoops. If the character collects rewards along the way, that's even better.

And if it has a dragon, then stand back.

A new iOS game called Rising Dragon is just what they have in mind. The little Dragon has to find his path through the plains of Tarnir while he avoids a variety of obstacles and obstructions.

The dragon is cute and charming while the landscapes he flies over present a series of entertaining images.

Check out Rising Dragon in the Apple iTunes Store.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Lobster helps amateur photographers sell their work

It's not uncommon for people who post personal photos on Flickr or Instagram to see their images posted somewhere else, on a blog or a website. On one hand that's a compliment - someone liked your photo enough to want to use it. But on the other hand, it's a rip-off. They didn't pay you for content that would cost them if they got it from a stock photo service.

Lobster may have the solution for that kind of situation. The service allows individuals to sell their photos and videos without dealing with the hassles of licensing and collecting fees. If you have a Flickr or Instagram account, you can sign up with Lobster, tag the material you want to make available for reuse and let Lobster handle the details.

Lobster charges 99 cents for photos posted on Instagram and $1.99 for a photo on Flickr. Buyers pay with PayPal, Lobster keeps 25 percent and the owner of the photo gets the rest.

Lobster would like to see more amateur and semi-professional photographers to put their material on Instagram and Flickr, especially if they shoot photos on topics that interest potential buyers such as news agencies. A good example is a music festival.

Buyers can search Lobster by topic, tag or location. When they purchase an image, they can download it immediately. A copy of the license that goes with the image will arrive by email.

To find out more about Lobster, visit the Lobster website or Twitter page.

Penned apps support writers on the go

Not all aspiring writers want to live the reclusive life of J. D. Salinger. Many, if not most, a happy to interact with their peers where they can get exposure for their work and help with their craft.

Penned is just that sort of environment. It's a membership website with mobile versions for iPhones and Androids that's designed to be a platform for writers and bloggers to create and share their work on-the-go, while allowing them to interact with others.

The mobile apps let writer members create stories on their phone, combine chapters to form a book or blog, follow other writers and add and receive comments.

Here's how writer Danica Cornell described Penned in her blog: "We are a platform for writers and readers to create, interact, and share their work with others. We are an ‘Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook’ for writer’s combined, creating the ultimate community. We have thousands of readers, aspiring writers, and a select few of authors who preview their novels to our readers through the application."

You can learn more about the community on the Penned website and Twitter page. The mobile apps are available in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Amcrest security systems turn thieves into video stars

Along with eggnog and mistletoe, Christmas brings stories of thieves caught on video as they swipe packages from homes and businesses. You'd think they would know that their chances of being featured on YouTube or the evening news are pretty good now that almost everybody can afford a video security system.

Amcrest, for instance, offers multi-camera high-definition security systems that start at $349.99. That package transmits video over coaxial cable at 720p HD and 30 frames-per-second. It includes four cameras (two bullet-style and two domes) that have night vision and motion detection.

A four-channel DVR equipped with 1TB hard drive can store video up to 15 days of video - more if the system is set up using motion detection or scheduled recording. The Amcrest systems can also transmit video over Wi-Fi and display recordings in a Web browser or on Amcrest's Android or iOS apps.

Other Amcrest systems include more cameras, higher resolution video and larger hard drives. You can check out the whole product line at the Amcrest website.

Elevio's widget improves website user support

How many times have you been on a website looking for some sort of support option? You check the main menu, the links at the bottom of the page, the About page and so on.

If you're lucky, you might find a Feedback link or a live chat option. If you're not so lucky, you leave feeling frustrated and unhappy.

Elevio knows that an unhappy site visitor isn't good for the site's owner or its users. That's why they developed a floating widget that can appear - unobtrusively - on every page of a website.

The widget creates a string of icon links that sit quietly in the right margin of the website's template. It scrolls up or down when visitors scroll and moves from one page to the next when they do.

The icons can be customized to link a visitor to helpful services. One might go to a knowledge base, another to live chat, a site status report, a third-party support system like Zendesk or an RSS news feed.

The Elevio website includes a price list for the service, a link to Elevio's Twitter feed and a window where you can insert a URL to see how the widget would look on a particular website.

Sojournit lets you rent unused storage space

I have a neighbor who owns a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle and a speedboat. What he doesn't have is a place to store his expensive toys. Another guy I know just sold his boat, leaving an empty bay in his garage.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or on the Internet.

It's also the sort of matchmaking the folks behind Sojournit had in mind when they created their new online service. Think of it as Airbnb for things that need a temporary home. Instead of renting out your room, home or guesthouse, you offer your garage, driveway or shed.

Sojournit is free to join, where you are a host or a guest. Guests looking for space enter a location and a arrival and departure dates, just like booking a vacation home. Sojournit searches its database and tells you what's available.

For more information, check out the Sojournit website or their page on Facebook.

Want your own dating site? Check out Chameleon

Back in the days of computer bulletin boards, if you couldn't find a BBS devoted to your favorite topic, or didn't like ones that were already online, you could start your own. All you needed was one of the many available software packages and a few phone lines and almost overnight you became a sysop.

Now you can do the same thing on the Internet. A California company called Chameleon will set you up with your own dating or social networking website. Buy their core engine and one of their templates and you're in business. They even host your service.

The Chameleon script has a collection of features, including video chat, that you can turn on or off. And it's written in PHP, which is easier to customize than many other coding languages. Chameleon also has mobile versions for Android and iOS.

The core engine for Chameleon cost $97. Templates start at $67 and, if you're planning a dating site, Chameleon will sell you 1,000 fake profiles for $47 to get it going. Get all the details at the Chameleon website.


Sunday, December 21, 2014

MyLapse shoots a time-lapse selfie

What's a MyLapse? The people who created it call it "the love child that was formed when a time-lapse met a self-portrait."

The 99-cent iPhone app lets you collect several self-portraits - or duo portraits - over time, then mash them together into a single animated portrait. The result is a multi-dimensional look at a person that a standard selfie can't deliver.

The app has a built in reminder that prompts you to take another photo every day, or every week, whatever you decide. Give each shot a different look. In one, you might be buffed up for a night out, or craving your morning coffee in the next.

Users are finding creative ways to deploy MyLapse. They include tracing the progress of a fitness program, documenting a growing child, or building collages with friends and family.

See how MyLapse works at the MyLapse website or get your own copy in the iTunes App Store.

Pixilifi tools enhance iPhone photos

How do you use your iPhone camera? Do you capture beautiful landscapes, get detailed closeups, or do you mostly shoot friends and selfie? Even the most experienced iPhone photographer can benefit from some digital assistance.

Pixilifi is a new image processing and editing app that offers an extensive menu of professional-level tools. It can perform shadow imaging, apply filters, do creative framing and create photo collages.

The app also lets you apply stickers to photos for special events such as a birthday or anniversary.

Pixilifi is free in iTunes App Store and developer Erschel Dwellingham promises to continue adding new features in the future. You can also follow Pixilifi on Twitter and Instagram.

TripSketch has attractions in 150+ cities

With a trip to Chicago on our calendar for this spring, I'm lining up activities and adventures: The Field Museum for the kids, Michigan Avenue shopping for the ladies and maybe Second City for evening entertainment.

All those attractions and more are in TripSketch, a digital guidebook listing hotels, restaurants, tours and popular attractions in more than 150 cities around the world.

The profiles include an address, phone number, prices, hours of operation and a map. One click adds the profile to your TripSketch Planner.

You can use the free service on the TripSketch website or download and install versions for mobile phones and devices. The TripSketch Mobile page lists links for various regions such as the US West, Central Europe or Asia. The mobile versions are available for Apple iOS or Android devices.

Megalo Mini charger is pocket-friendly

The other day I was headed to an all-day business meeting when I noticed that my iPhone battery was almost dead. I had to make a detour to drugstore when I bought an overpriced wall charger and a cable.

I have a small collection of portable chargers at home, but they are all too big and bulky to be a convenient travel companion. But size is certainly not an issue for the Megalo Mini charger.

Billed as "The world's smallest charger with built-in cables," the Mini is just that. At 2.6-by-1.6-inches and weighing 1.7 ounces, the Mini is about the size of my car's key fob and just as light. It can travel comfortably in a pocket or purse or be attached to a key ring.

The device has a USB port to charge its 1400 mAh Lithium-Ion battery and a pop-out cable in Lightning or micro-USB formats.

The Mini currently sells for $29.99 at the Megalo Mini website. Read what users say about the charger in the company's Twitter feed.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

ILOOKTV turns YouTube channels into apps

Anyone who posts videos on YouTube has the ability to create their own branded channel. You can think of it as a TV station that's all about you, whether you're Taylor Swift or 12-year-old with a webcam.

Peter Redford wants to make it easy to extend those channels even further into the world of mobile devices. Redford is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who developed the concept of the 2nd screen, software that lets a mobile device interact with a TV.

Redford's new project is ILOOKTV, a cloud-powered platform that converts YouTube channels into branded mobile "channel apps." In an article posted on the ILOOK TV blog, Redford said he can see the day when TV viewers have access to "thousands, or even millions, of affinity TV networks."

ILOOKTV offers anyone with a YouTube channel to create a branded iOS app (an Android version is in the works). ILOOKTV handles the process of submitting the app to Apple and it provides four options to monetize the channel: subscriptions, advertising, pay-per-view or purchase the app.

For a closer look at ILOOKTV, visit the company's website and check out their Twitter feed.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Just Scan It app streamlines valet service

You know how valet parking works. You get a paper ticket that you present when you're ready to leave. Then you wait, maybe in the cold or rain, while someone finds your car and presents it to you. Now it's your turn to dig up some cash for a tip before you can be on your way.

The creators of Just Scan It have a different view of how the valet system should operate. Instead of a paper ticket, you scan a QR code. Now your receipt is stored on your mobile phone.

A few minutes before you leave the restaurant or hotel, you open the app and request your car, which will be waiting for you when you step out the door. And the tip? It's also handled in the app.

Just Scan It has been rolled out in several hotels and restaurants in Los Angeles and is headed to other areas of the country. The developers also also looking at using the technology with bellhops and other service providers.

Download the free app in the Apple iTunes Store or Google Play and check out the video below. You can also follow Just Scan It on Twitter.



Friends and peers can score you with DescribeMe

Human beings are naturally curious about what others think of them. Wouldn't you like to know what your friends say about you to their friends, or the opinions of others who share your interests and skills?

DescribeMe is a mobile app that allows users to anonymously rate one another on hundreds of qualities, from creativity to leadership to dancing skills.

Here's how it works: After you create a profile on the DescribeMe platform, you invite other users who are familiar with your lifestyle, personality and work to describe you using a 1 to 10 rating scale for each characteristic.

"DescribeMe allows users to call on their peers to acknowledge and reinforce their strengths as well as point out areas where they might need improvement, so they can change," said Saul Jaramillo, founder of DescribeMe.

DescribeMe's free app is available in English and Spanish in the Apple App Store, Google Play and Blackberry World. Check out the DescribeMe website to see a cool map of the app's global users and follow DescribeMe on Twitter.

Tall Tales mobile game saves rescue dogs

Tall Tails is a free mobile game that features two of my favorite things: puzzles and dogs. And not all of the dogs involved in the game are digital.

Here's the game's scenario: Max and Professor Barkington want to save rescue dogs that are trapped inside various storybook worlds. And, there are a lot of those worlds - 125 different game levels that run from straight and simple to brain-teasing difficult.

The game lets you customize characters and, of course, there are power-ups that will help solve the more difficult levels. You can hints and boosters inside the game and the developers, Zuul Labs, say they will donate a portion of their profits to support real rescue dogs.

To check out Tall Tails, trot over to the Apple iTunes Store or the Google Play Store.

App delivers info for currency traders

Stock traders thrive on quickly-delivered information. So do traders who buy and sell on the foreign exchange market, or Forex.

FxPremiere delivers daily signals - information about currency trades - by SMS or email. Their Android app called Live Forex Signals includes buy and sell alerts plus additional information such as price alerts, charts and trade leaders.

FxPremiere says FX Signals "is a perfect solution for traders who are still new to the forex market and are eager to learn how trades are best placed."

The app is available for free in the Google Play Store but the service requires a subscription.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Aquashield waterproofs shoes with nano technology

Years ago when I was an active backwoods hiker and backpacker, I would spend hours coating my hiking boots with a gooey substance that would make the boots waterproof. I didn't care that the solution left the boots looking blotchy and discolored.

Today, thanks to nano technology, we have the option of coating footwear with an invisible spray that makes shoes or boots waterproof without ruining their looks.

One of the leading nano coatings is called Aquashield. It's made by Nanex, a Belgian company that is among the first to develop nano-tech products for commercial use.

Nano-coatings create a super hydrophobic surface that repels water by causing any water-based liquid to turn into tiny balls that roll away like quicksilver. You can see how it works in the video below, And, unlike some other nano-coatings, Aquashield doesn't leave behind a white milky-looking film.

To get more details, visit the Nanex Aquashield website where you can order a 500ml bottle of Aquashield for $40. That's enough of the stuff to last you for about two years. You can also follow Aquashield on Twitter.




Wednesday, December 17, 2014

This stock photo service charges $1 per month

If you ever went looking for stock photos to use online or in publications, you suffered a bit of sticker shock when you saw the prices. The big-name services charge upwards of $2,000 a year for a limited number of downloads.

Compare that to 1200Pics, which charges just $1 per month. I can't even buy a Diet Coke at my local convenience store for a dollar. For that lonely George Washington, you get access to 100 different photos every month. It's like a shaving club, but without the razor blades.

1200Pics says all of the photos are high-resolution JPGS that come with a royalty-free license.

If you'd like to join the club, visit the company's website and enter your name and email address. You can also check out 1200Pics on Twitter.   

Free software prints custom business cards

With the big International CES trade show coming up in a couple of weeks, I'm lining up the different versions of business cards that I plan to take. As a self-employed freelancer, I wear a number of hats and have more than one service I want to pitch.

People like me - or anyone who wants a limited order or custom business cards - can design their own cards and print them 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.

The program has high-end features such as a multi-layer editor and detailed help files. It also works with 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 that offers more templates, higher quality printing and a license for commercial use. Download either version at the company's website.

Appromoters will promote your app

Where can app developers go to tell the world about their latest creation? A service called Appromoters says it has the answer.

The Amsterdam-based marketing company has programs that it says will reach 150 million viewers in 53 companies. Their slogan is "Appromoters will blast your app into the world!"

Appromoters services include PR outreach, social media exposure, community building, optimization for app stores and advertising solutions. The company has campaigns tailored for either game apps or business apps. And it offers a free analysis with optimization tips for apps in either category.

For more details, check out the company's website and Twitter feed.

Grate app lets you rate your servers

Today, everybody wants a report card. Whether it's your Uber driver or the person who created the app you just installed, they want to know what you thought of their product or service.

Now there's a new app called Grate that lets you rate your restaurant server. Once the app is installed, users can select a restaurant and a server. After the meal, they can give the rating between one and five stars and enter comments about the service and how the server or the restaurant might improve.

The app isn't designed to replace monetary rewards for good service. But ratings  and reviews are shared with restaurant managers or owners who can use the comments to train employees and fine tune their performance.

You can check out Grate at the company's website, download the iOS version in Apple's App Store and keep up with the Grate chatter on Twitter.

Elastic device helps improve your posture

I wouldn't call my work physically demanding. It's not like I'm delivering packages for UPS or making burgers and fries at McDonald's. But my body does pay a price for sitting at my desk, hunched over my computer keyboard for large chunks of the day. Some people call it "Tech Hunch."

Whatever you call my bad posture, my back complains with a some occasional aches and pains. That's why I was intrigued when I ran across a product called the Posture Transformer, a device that's designed to ergonomically lift and strengthen posture.

According to it's creators, the Posture Transformer is based on the science of elastic resistance. The device straps to your back and shoulders and gently pulls your spine into a straighter alignment.

The Posture Transformer can be worn while you're sitting or while you're standing, walking to doing daily activities. The potential payoff includes relief of back, shoulder and neck strain, better breathing and improved appearance.

To get a closer look at the Posture Transformer, or to order one for $99.95, check out the Perfectore website.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Find the patterns in Christmas Cookieland

About a week from now, our house will be invaded by rugrats, ankle-biters and assorted other little pre-school twerps, all of the thoroughly buzzed on sugary holiday treats. Among my many responsibilities that day will be to keep them entertained.

My arsenal of digital diversions includes several Christmas-themed games, including a new one called Christmas Cookieland. It's a matching puzzle game that challenges players to score points by matching Christmas Cookies together in a line of three or more cookies.

Christmas Cookieland is a bit more challenging than other matching games aimed at younger players. Most of them just want to remember and match two hidden images.

Christmas Cookieland requires more visual acuity to find patterns in an array of hearts, stars, fir trees and gingerbread men. I expect some of the older kids and even a few adults will want to try it.

You can find Christmas Cookieland priced at 99 cents in the Apple iTunes Store.

Cut-Fall-Crush tests your rope-swinging skill

If you grew up in a rural area like I did, you know that summer swims took place in creek, a lake or maybe an abandoned stone quarry. Only city kids had pools and lifeguards. And the salient feature of those "swimmin' holes" was a rope swing that some had tied to a tree branch that hung out over the water.

Here's the thing about that swing: If you timed your release just right, you went flying way out from the bank and made a great splash when you hit the water. The girls were sure to be impressed. But if you let go too soon - or held on too long - you dropped into the shallows or, worse, returned for a hard landing back on the bank.

I was reminded of those rope swings when I checked out Cut-Fall-Crush, a colorful new game for Android mobiles. It's based on the same physics as the rope on the riverbank, except instead of you or your friends at the end of the rope, there's a geometric shape: a square, triangle, hexagon or a star.

But the idea is the same. You cut the rope and the right point in the arc to make the shape drop where you want it. If it hits a shape of the same color, it crushes the one below. Like other crush games, the goal is to raise your score by clearing out the pile-up below. It's easy to play but hard to master, and that's the mark of a good game.

To test your own rope-swinging skills, download Cut-Fall-Crush in the Google Play Store.

Best Buy offering $150 off on Canon's T5i

Several years ago I decided to stop fooling around with point-and-shoot pocket cameras step up my game with a digital single-lens reflex camera. And, there was no question about which camera I would buy. It would be the Canon EOS Rebel. Today, a Canon DSLR has been my go-to camera for more than a decade and it has never disappointed me.

Canon sells an entry-level version of the Rebel, but the sweet spot for amateurs who are serious about photography is the Rebel T5i. It's a step up from the basic Rebel and it's also on sale at Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com. They've knocked $150 off the regular price of $1,049.99 if you buy it before Dec. 20.

The camera comes with the Rebel body and an 18-135mm lens, which I found to be a real workhorse. It's good for a variety of situations, including portraits, landscapes and even close-ups. The camera has a 3-inch color monitor with a touch-screen that you can use to frame the shot or use the optical viewfinder.

Other features include image stabilization, which can be help shooting in low-light situations, high-definition 1080p video, a 5fps burst mode for action shots, and an option to shoot is HDR (High Dynamic Range), which combines multiple shots within the camera to give you the image with the highest quality.

Canon DSLRs have a reputation for finding a middle ground that pleases both casual users and near-pros. You can select an option that matches your situation (portrait, nighttime, etc.) or set the controls youself. If you need to adjust the ISO setting or tweak the aperature setting, you can do that as well. One of my favorite shots shows a full red moon rising over the city skyline. My Canon captured the details of both the moon and the high-rise buildings.

Check out the product page at BestBuy.com for more details and specs and to read some of 141 customer reviews.

Note: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

MT5 for Android has tools for stock and currency traders

Back in the days when I was a business reporter for my local newspaper, I would marvel at the technology behind the trading terminals that I would see in a stock broker's office. Not only did they deliver instant stock quotes, but they also supported a collection of advanced analysis programs.

I remember thinking that if I had access a terminal and to all those tools, I wouldn't need a broker.

Today, anyone with a mobile phone can do everything those brokers were doing. MetaTrader 5 from Forex Time is an advanced mobile trading platform that gives users access to stock markets and the foreign exchange market while doing their own research. MT5 for Android works on an Android phone or tablet and connects an investor or trader to their broker's servers.  

The app can deliver currency and stock prices, perform market analysis using charts and technical indicators, order trades and store a history of the user's trading activity. Users can open a live account or a demo account from the mobile terminal. A collection of advanced analysis tools are also packaged with MT5, including Moving Average, Standard Deviation, Average True Range, Momentum, Relative Strength Index, Money Flow Index, Parabolic SAR and Stochastic Oscillator.

More details are available on the Forex Time website and in their Twitter feed.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Luna taking $299 pre-orders for an octa-core Android phone

If you've shopped for a mobile phone, you know there are plenty of high-quality phones available at what seems like a pretty good price, so long as you're willing to be bound to a service contract with one of the big mobile networks.

But what if you want to buy a new phone outright and shop around for a more affordable service deal? Then those prices don't look so sweet. Price tags for the newest phones start at about $500 and quickly go up.

But a new phonemaker called Luna Mobile plans to offer a fast and full-featured phone for as little as $299. The Luna ROX V8 is positioned to challenge the best Apple, Samsung and Google phones for size, speed and features but with a more affordable price and no service contract.

The Rox V8 is built around the MediaTek's octa-core processor. You've heard of dual-core processors? The MT6595 has eight cores capable of operating simultaneously.    

The ROX V8 has other features that are typically found only on the most expensive mobile phones. The phone has 32GB of memory and a 5.5-inch screen made Corning Gorilla Glass III that can display full 1080p high-definition images. Other high-end features include a 13-megapixel camera and support for the Qi standard for wireless charging.

Luna also plans to offer dual-SIM capability with options for GSM, WCDMA, and LTE. Multiple SIMs mean you can have a work number and a personal number ring to the same phone or add a local line when travelling abroad. The phone's operating system will be Android KitKat 4.4.4 and can be upgraded when a newer version is available.

The ROX V8 is slated to have a $399 price when it's available early next year. But Luna currently has a fundraising campaign under way at Indiegogo where early backers can sign up before Jan. 15 to get the phone for $299. For more details, visit the Luna Mobile website and check out the video below. Luna is also on Twitter.



Sunday, December 14, 2014

Upgraded Disk Cleaner utility finds even more Mac junk

If you're a Mac user who likes to keep their hard drive clean and free of digital dreck, you probably know about Disk Cleaner. Maybe you read my report last month about this affordable Mac utility.

Power App's Disk Cleaner inspects a Mac hard drive or solid-state drive and finds that stuff that you don't need, like cache files, downloads, application logs and other leftovers.

After performing a scan, the program delivers a report showing what could and probably should be deleted. You can say yes and get a full clean-up or pick an choose what you want to keep and what to discard.

Power App recently upgraded the program to target more types of useless stuff. The latest version now examines your iTunes collection and more dark corners of your iOS operating system. It also finds and offers to delete old backup files from your iPhone.

You can read more about Disk Cleaner on Power App's website or buy a copy for $2.99 at the Apple iTunes Store.

Here's royalty-free music anyone can afford

If you're Steven Spielberg and you need music for your next film project, you speed-dial John Williams, get out your checkbook and order up an Oscar-worthy score like the themes from Jaws, Star Wars or Saving Private Ryan.

But if you're someone with a tiny budget who just just needs to add some spark to a web video, app, video game or podcast, you need to check out Dan O'Connor.

O'Connor is a musician and composer who is ready to give you a package of 77 music tracks for the decidedly non-Hollywood price of $49.95.

The package contains MP3 audio files that represent the full spectrum of musical genres from power pop, acoustic guitar and piano to classical, jazz and reggae. And they come with a creative commons license, which means you are free to use the music for private or commercial purposes without paying any additional royalty fees. You can copy and distribute the music or remix and edit it. "The only thing you can't do," says O'Connor, "is claim yourself as the author or producer of the audio or resell the rights to use the music."

If YouTube flags your video because the music sounds too close to Beyonce or Billy Joel, O'Connor also has instructions on you to prove that it's not and that you have the rights to it.

To hear O'Connor's music and get the full story on his licensing offer, check out the package page at the Danosongs website.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Time capsule expands family history research

In my clan, I'm the family historian. I've built a family tree with more than 1,500 ancestors that I've traced back to England, Ireland, Germany, and other countries. What I don't have is context. I know that my grandfather's great-grandfather came to America from England in the early 1800s, but I don't know what the country was like when he left.

Historical context is one of the many elements that comes with the Family History Time Capsule. The time capsule is a collection of documents that reveal and enhance the history of any family name. One document explains the origin and meaning of the name and another is coat of arms associated with the family. Historical context is presented in a report about events that shaped a country's history.

Also included on the Family History Time Capsule USB drive are books about names and heraldry, vintage maps and video about a family's country of origin. A starter kit explains how to begin tracing your family roots and a template lets you fill in five generations of branches on a printable family tree.

The makers of the Family History Time Capsule have a fund-raising campaign in progress at Indiegogo where they are offering a time capsule for a contribution of $27. Other discounts and bundles are available for different levels of support.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Web Host Pro offers higher-level hosting

You've got an idea for a website and maybe you have a domain name registered. The next critical decision is choosing where to host your site.

You can take the easy route and park your site at the same place that secured your domain name. That's the simple choice, but maybe not the best one. When you're investigating hosting services like GoDaddy, 1and1 or some one of the other high-profile providers, put Web Host Pro into the mix.

Web Host Pro is a Los Angeles-based service that promises a higher level of security and performance than some other providers without breaking your budget. A standard hosting package, for example, starts at $2.99 a month.

Web Hosting Pro also offers a bundle of features that often cost extra. A basic hosting account comes with site-building software, custom email accounts, SEO tools, MySQL databases, CGI, a WordPress installer and other services that often cost extra or are simply not available from other hosts. Ask some other hosting provider if they support PHP 5.4 and you'll see what I mean.

For more details about all of their services, visit the Web Host Pro website and check them out on Twitter.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

NinjaStik USB offers instant Tor network access

I have a friend, an IT professional, who likes to keep his online profile as low as possible. He doesn't use social media or post comments on Internet forums. He's not anti-social, he just knows that there are organizations capable of monitoring large volumes of online traffic and he would rather not pop up on their radar.

He's the sort of person who might use Tor, a network with companion software that facilitates anonymous online communication. As the Tor website puts it, "Tor is a network of virtual tunnels that allows . . . organizations and individuals to share information over public networks without compromising their privacy."

Now there's a portable device that will let anyone get online with the Tor network from any computer, whether they're at the public library, in the school computer lab or visiting a friend or family member. The NinjaStik is a USB storage device that includes the Tor-access software. According to its developers, "NinjaStiks hide the users' IP address and provide a secure computing environment that leaves no trace of their activity on the computer. All activity and data, files, pictures, even bookmarks are secured with 256-bit encryption automatically."

The NinjaStik Lite sells for $34.95 with 8GB of storage and support for USB 2.0, the standard found on most computers. The NinjaStik Pro, priced at $56.95, had 16GB of storage and supports the newer and faster USB 3.0 standard. For more information, visit the NinjaStik website or check them out on Twitter.

EVA app will keep you clear of emergency vehicles

Not long ago, I was making a left turn at a busy downtown intersection when a police car and an ambulance suddenly appeared in the cross street to my right. I quickly hit the brakes as they flew past just a couple of feet from my front bumper.

Yes, they has their warning light and sirens on. But with my windows up, the radio on and two lanes of cars and trucks to my right, I didn't see or hear them until it was almost too late.

That's the sort of situation that gave birth to an app called EVA, short for Emergency Vehicle Alert. Billed as a digital safety net for drivers, EVA transmits notifications that alert drivers when an emergency vehicle is near, giving motorists an extra measure of warning and time to pull over.

With EVA, I might have known when the police and rescue vehicles were a block away, not when they were entering the street in front of me. EVA also uses GPS technology to plot a fast and safe route, steering them clear of emergency responders.

Atlanta-based DataView, which developed EVA, has launched a Kickstarter campaign hoping to raise $300,000 to fund production of EVA. Apps for iPhone and Android devices are expected to be available in February.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wappy Santa takes to the rooftops

We all know the story of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. The jolly fat guy moves from one rooftop to the next, dropping down chimneys and leaving behind brightly-wrapped presents.

But Wappy Santa turns the story on its hear. This Santa has added a pair of wings to his red suit, allowing him to land on rooftops and scoop up gifts while avoiding hazards like snowmen and even an occasional alien creature.

Wappy Santa is the star of a new Android game that lets players earn points by collecting presents. The game features simple controls that players of any age can master. Gameplay starts out easy, but gradually increases in difficulty as Santa moves through the neighborhood.

The game is right in season and the price is perfect. It's free in the Google Play Store.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Hotspotz has a new way to find and meet people

You've heard about Match.com, It's Just Lunch and Tinder. Now meet Hotspotz, an app that, according to its creators, "takes the guess work out of meeting someone of interest."

Hotspotz is designed to let people connect at specific locations, or Hotspotz. It might be a concert or festival, a sporting event or a pub, a club or coffee shop - any sort of place where people gather and where they could be interested in meeting other people.

The Hotspotz app lets you search for other members and find out if they are nearby. If you see someone you'd like to get to know, you can send a wink or an Ice Breaker.

The Insight feature lets you pose questions like "Do you watch the news?" or "Do you ever play video games?" It also has filters and protection features that let you block another user or report an offensive message.

You can sign up for Hotspotz at the service's website an check out the mobile apps at the Apple iTunes Store or Google Play Store. Hotspotz is also on Twitter.

Monday, December 8, 2014

App gives the iPhone a panic button

A guy I know who lives alone took a tumble at his home about a year ago. By the time his friends got worried and called for help, he had some serious medical issues.

I thought about him when I came across the Panic SOS Button, an iPhone app that can send a quick distress message to a chosen list of contacts. The app lets you use a default help message or write your own along with a second message saying that all is well. There's even a fake cancel code in the event that you need to trick an assailant.

Panic SOS Button is aimed at anyone who could use an extra level of security: an older person living alone, students and children who travel to and from school, business travelers or young adults who might be out late or in unfamiliar locations.

The free app is available in the iTunes App Store and you can get more information on the Panic SOS Button at the product's website.

Widget customizes clocks for Galaxy and Nexus phones

Among the many appealing aspects of owning an Android mobile phone is the ability to customize some of the features that you use every day. A good example is the phone's built-m clock. It's something you probably look a many times throughout the course of the day, so why not have one that suits your style?

The Round Clock Widget from Tiny Apps Studio lets you choose from among 20 different styles of clock faces and 12 different fonts for Galaxy and Nexus phones. Other features include a shortcut to the clock's alarm and a very cool animation that ticks off seconds.

The date and weekday display is linked to your chosen language, which can also be customized. Round Clock Widget supports four version s of English (US, UK, Canadian and Australian), plus Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, German, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Russian and others, including Chinese.

The Round Clock Face app is free in the Google Play Store.

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