GeekSugar

Download of the Day: Kinotopic

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:11:53 PST

For mobile photographer pros looking to move beyond the looping whimsy of goofy GIFs, the Kinotopic iOS app ($1) is a new take on the animated photo. The style of not quite a photo, but not a video was first made popular on the Cinemagraph website, for the photographers' blend of gorgeous moments captured in traditional still photo, with a hidden animated twist that pulls the viewer further into the image.

The Kinotopic app makes images in the spirit of cinemagraphs, using a short video to select an anchor frame, which acts as the background "still" photo, and using a finger to select the scope of the photo's movement. Perfecting what the app calls the kino, the small animated movement, without obvious signs of its digital enhancement is tricky. It took several attempts for me to create a believable kino that captured the slight breezy movements of a late night bus ride. With patience and enthusiasm to perfect the cinemagraph, Kinotopic is a fun diversion from the filter photo apps that seem so standard now.

Download of the Day: Girl Scout Cookie Locator

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:29:49 PST

Amidst the healthy goals of the New Year, there's one annual food tradition lurking in the background that you can't help but fanatically pine for - Girl Scout Cookie time! While the Girl Scouts themselves say, cookies can go on sale anywhere between January and April, there's a new way to take the guesswork out of this yearly treat. The free iOS Girl Scout Cookie Locator app searches your neighborhood for cookie sales.

The app lets you set reminders to purchase the cookies (like you'd forget), use GPS to find nearby cookies, and even take a quiz to see what draws you to the coconut flavor of the Samoas. Be sure to also check out the in-app recipes for a new edible take on the Girl Scout Cookie experience.

Download of the Day: Facebook Cover Designer

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:11:57 PST

You've upgraded to the Facebook Timeline, but now comes the hardest step of all, beyond acceptance of yet another layout change: selecting the perfect cover photo. Choosing one slightly quirky, but fun, yet flattering square profile picture was enough, but compound that with the new creatively charged large rectangle to small square picture combination, and you get a recipe for Facebook-induced insomnia. A new free iOS app, the Facebook Cover Designer, promises to give your Timeline image duo a professional treatment.

Select pictures from Facebook itself, Flickr, Instagram, Picasa, or Photobucket to edit with the app, then add filters like condensation, solar effects, and sparkle to the picture. A $1 upgrade to the Facebook Cover Designer pro app allows you to create two seamless Timeline photos from one image, as shown here in the app's demo.

Download of the Day: Mars Images

Kelly Schwarze — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:10:18 PST

While there are still months until the Mars Curiosity rover lands on the Red Planet, get your Martian fix with the free Mars Images app for iOS and Android devices.

The app lets you browse the latest images from the Opportunity rover, on the planet since 2004. Take a cue from David Bowie and dream of life on Mars with daily refreshes on the rover's planetary explorations.

Download of the Day: Master Your DSLR Camera

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:30:50 PST

The basics of photography are not so, well, basic. Between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO setting, capturing the perfect picture with a DSLR outside of the automatic setting is a challenge. Enter the Master Your DSLR Camera iPad app ($10).

It may cost a bit more than your typical tablet app, but think of your sense of accomplishment when you can actually wield that SLR camera like a pro. The slideshows, guided tours, and list of common photography scenarios ensure you'll retain the how-tos, unlike trying to follow complicated technical jargon. With this app by your side, you can count on finally using the correct light and shutter speed settings to warrant major compliments on your vacation photos.

Download of the Day: Onion Magic Answer Ball

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:11:47 PST

Wondering which path you should take in 2012? Don't leave it up to chance - ask the Onion Magic Answer Ball ($1) instead. This app from the hilarious minds of The Onion was created to give you some magical (if not totally sarcastic) insight to the questions surrounding your life. Ask loud and clear, and you shall receive an answer. Whether or not it's the answer you're looking for is totally unpredictable, but it's good for a few laughs anyway.

5 Reasons to Download the Hipstamatic D-Series App This Holiday

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:06:02 PST

I remember a few years back when disposable cameras at parties were all the rage. They allowed guests to take snapshots of moments you would have otherwise missed. This analog idea goes digital with the Hipstamatic D-Series app, which lets you share a "roll" of film with other guests at your next event. Even easier than asking guests to upload pics to a massive Flickr album, this app lets you make photography social. Here, five reasons you should definitely download this app (and spread the word to your iPhone-toting family members) before your holiday festivities kick into overdrive.

Out with the old, in with the new - Who needs disposable cameras anymore when you have an iPhone?
It's collaborative - You can invite three people to share your "roll" of film and capture moments from more perspectives. Plus, when the roll is up you all get the images loaded into an album inside your Hipstamatic app. So convenient! What's more, you can customize your "camera" and control effects before your image "develops."
It's limiting - Limitations aren't always a bad thing. If you know you only have a few chances to get a really good shot, you won't waste time snapping away at everything that you wander past. That's the idea, at least.
You can get prints - If there are any images you really love, you can have them printed on the cheap in the Hipstashop.
It's free - The app is free, so there's really no excuse. Plus, sharing a collection of 24 images with friends is fun.

Download of the Day: Google Shopper

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:33:36 PST

When you're doing the right-before-the-holidays gift scramble, you've got no time to lose wading through crowds looking for the best bargain. Vanquish hours of time spent on the phone calling shops searching for one item. Google's here to save the day and your sanity with the Google Shopper app that identifies local stores with the products you've been searching for.

Free for both Android and iOS devices, use the Google Shopper app to scan product barcodes to look for competitive prices and availability near your location. Or, if you're not sure exactly what you're looking for, use the keyword search to compare the shopping selection of both online and local retailers.

As an added bonus for Android users, hop on over to the latest version of Google Maps for floor-by-floor guides to select department stores. Shop now with a purpose and in the right direction!

Download of the Day: Newser

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:49:06 PST

Want to quickly get world news in the palm of your hand without shuffling through an undermanaged and wordy RSS feed? Download the Newser app (free). Drawing from the best news sources on the web including CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and BBC, Newser editors condense the news into bite-sized articles that you can read on the go.

Get stories in the customized grid format, or view in an easy-to-digest list, plus share with friends via email, Twitter, or Facebook, and browse through photo galleries with a few swipes of a finger. Just like Newser's tagline, you can read less and know more. Who can argue with that?

Download of the Day: Pad & Quill

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:30:12 PST

More than just a simple note-taking app, the Pad & Quill app ($1) acts as your virtual library by organizing your notes in separate sections, or in this case, separate "books." Have one book for work notes, another for private, school, activities, food journal, etc, and the Pad & Quill app will keep you organized (instead of tossing all your notes into one stack like the native Notes app does).

You can customize your virtual book covers, fonts, paper style, and more, as well as sync your notes across your iDevices. You can even email yourself the notes if you need to share. Plus, it just looks way nicer than your standard note app. Who can argue with that?