More interesting apps from the App Store

1. WritingPad
This supposedly helps you to type faster on the soft keyboard, and it allows you to send e-mail from your notes. The way to type is to "draw" on the letters of the keyboard without lifting up your finger. The software recognises this input and predicts a commonly used word. But if that's not the word you're looking for, a list of other matching words appears in a bar just above the keyboard. The concept is pretty good, except that I don't particularly like it that they moved some of the keys and changed the entire look of the keyboard. Perhaps Apple could take a look at this method of entering words as well. I'll explore it a little more.







2. Scribble
Sketches without the price tag and most of the extra features. Just a barebones drawing app with only 4 colours.

3. NetNewsWire
One of the most popular desktop RSS feed readers, packed into an iPod Touch app. Short excerpts of feeds are displayed and you can read the entire article by clicking on the link (opens in its own browser). It also allows you to view the article in Safari.

4. Evernote
A really nice concept, and executed quite well in my opinion. The service stores notes that you make in their server, and this app allows you to retrieve your notes. You can compose notes from pictures, text, audio (only on the desktop version I think) and web clippings. There is also a handy web clipper that you can bookmark in Safari to take clippings of a webpage and place it in your notes. The desktop app (available for Mac and Windows) will sync your notes with the server so whatever notes you have (on your mobile device or PC) stay in sync.

I don't understand. How can I be taking life TOO seriously? There is only ONE life. And we should make the best of it. Isn't it so? Maybe I'm just a pessimist. I can never be happy. I thought I was happy single. Now I feel awful and I don't know why. I do hope Ubin will help me let go of this feeling.

To David:

I'm really sorry I missed your graduation. You should stop being so nice to me, because I'll just take advantage of it.

Lost

I suddenly feel so helpless and lost all of a sudden. I was looking at one of my ex's Facebook pictures, and I felt sad without knowing why. What IS wrong with me? I thought I got over that relationship long ago. I HAD to initiate some contact with him, so I lamely sent him an SMS to ask why the sudden decision to add me to Facebook. But you know what? I don't even think he thought twice about it. It's just stupid me feeling stupid.

Oh my god, I'm pathetic! I don't even know why I'm searching for his blog, or why I'm watching his YouTube video.

And I wish I was doing something I really like. Like him.

More on iPod Touch 2.0

Some gripes I have:

1. Stability
After opening and closing apps for, maybe 10 times, the entire device suddenly drops everything and restarts.

2. Scientific calculator
It's not really working the way I want it to. The way you enter functions is like the way you use a normal calculator. Not a scientific one. I can't seem to enter a string of numbers that make up functions. For example, you don't enter "√2" to calculate the square root of 2. Instead you enter "2", then "√".

3. Still no cut and paste

4. Lack of really great native apps on launch day
We really need a:
Multi-messenger client! Something I can use for MSN. There are a few betas floating around, but none have been officially released at the App Store yet.
VoIP client like Skype (for the iPhone) Maybe fring (still in beta)?

Features I really like:

1. App Store
2. Multiple Calendar Support
3. Support for links to Youtube videos in Safari
4. Contact Search

My Top Free Apps from the App Store

1. Remote
Native app by Apple. Allows you to remotely control iTunes on your PC via WiFi (on iPod Touch).
Works really well - pairs your device with your computer using a randomly generated passcode.
Would be good if they expanded the capabilities of this app by allowing it to control your computer's volume (not the volume in iTunes) and FrontRow. Perhaps even Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote support? That way, I don't have to use my Apple remote. I'm not counting on Apple to do it though.

2. Instapaper
Saves webpages for offline viewing. Great for reading my favourite sites when WiFi is absent.

3. ShoZu
App for uploading pictures and videos to popular social networking and blogging sites like Facebook and Blogger.
Could be improved but thumbs up for supporting multiple websites.
So far, I've only used it with Facebook and Blogger. ShoZu does not seem to allow stand-alone blogging without posting a picture first.

4. Aurora Feint
Right now, best free game for the iPod Touch. However, I can only play it once before it gets cranky and refuses to load. :S

5. Facebook
Function is similar to the Facebook web app for iPhone.
Extras: Supports comments, Facebook chat, changing of profile picture
However, this native app does not allow you to view your own photos easily. It would be nice if it allowed uploading of photos too.
Edit: It does allow uploading of photos, but not to your profile pictures.

6. To Do (By Erica Sadun)
Not the best GTD app out there, but it's free. I would prefer checkboxes to greyed out text, and the ability to categorise your tasks. E.g. Rent Movies>Shooter

Other Apps that I tried out:

Currency
Currency conversion app.
Not as good as the currency widget. Only allows changing values of the master currency, and not any currency you have added.

Holy Bible
It can't retrieve the Bible text if you're not online. Oh well.

eBay
App that watches bids on items, allows searching and bidding on items.
Refining of searches could do with more options, such as by country. Now I just get a mass of entries that ship to the U.S.

eReader
Reader to read eBooks.
Haven't downloaded any eBooks, but the demo ones work fine. Page flipping is cute - nice sliding animation.

Epocrates Rx
Drug database, complete with pictures and descriptions (e.g. contraindications). Allows for searching of drug interactions, specific drugs (by name, shape, colour etc.).
Works rather well, and updating the database is easy. But I suspect it won't be too useful for me as some of the descriptions are a little too technical for the layman to understand.

Tap Tap
A game like Dance Dance Revolution, except that you tap the little dots on the screen according to the beat.
Moderately fun, but not a very impressive game. Maybe I just don't like DDR.

Morocco
For Othello fans. Works well, but I suck at it. Option to show you your possible moves.

iPod Touch 2.0

I just updated my iPod touch to the 2.0 software. I really like it now that there are stable, not beta-ish, apps that I can download easily. The calendar finally supports multiple calendars!! And I love it. The new apps are okay, mainly because I haven't paid for one yet. I've only been trying the free ones. Remote is supposed to be good though. I haven't got around to trying it yet.

Oh by the way, I'm blogging this using an app called ShoZu. It definitely has some potential.

I've been trying out the new MobileMe service from Apple. One of the gripes that I have is that it's not exactly push. My mac syncs with the server only every 5 minutes, and changes in the MobileMe apps are not reflected in my mac apps immediately. However, between MobileMe apps and my iPod, it's a different story. Changes are pushed to my iPod in seconds.

I'm going to write more tomorrow, coz it's late and I'm tired.