Stock Alerts Pro - App Review

How do you keep tabs on your investments when limits are breached? Many people don't and just rely on someone else to 'look after it for them'; bad move.

This App allows you to easily set alerts when values outside your range, either upper or lower.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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Adding a stock is a breeze. Simply tap the stocks icon and then the '+' and enter either the symbol or the company name and let the App find it for you. You can also easily enter multiple stocks by separating the symbols with spaces (a great time saver).

Having added your stocks, you can then set alerts for all or any of the following:

Price Target (low, high, and Price trigger)
% Change (drops below and rises above)
Volume (absolute or % above average)

Tapping the 'i' button on any stock will give you access to lots of information, including:

Open
High
Low
Volume
Average Volume
Market capitalisation
Charts (1, 5 days; 1, 3, 6, 12 months).

The Settings will allow you to configure how alerts are delivered and, in my view, very importantly, whether an alert is repeated each time any given limit is breached.

Cost
The App is absolutely free.

Indispensability
If you need share/stock information to be timely, and act as a reminder, this is simple and effective.

Dependability
The App only supports shares quoted on NYSE and NASDAQ.

The App is designed for the smaller screen of the iPhone but also works well on an iPad in 1x and 2x modes.

Security
This App allows you to receive but not share data, so there are no issues.

ACIDS Test Rating:

A good tool for the investor.

To find out how the ACIDS Test works, click here.

You can get Stock Alerts Pro here and support for the App here.

Moves - App Review

If you're thinking of getting fit, there are a numbers of was that 'gadgets' (or necessities as some of us call them) can help. Although it is true that the advent of iOS 8 promises more integration with external devices, and no doubt more health and fitness Apps, at the moment there is an App available that will get you on the road to achieving your goals.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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You are invited to open an account (free) which involves giving an email address. Although this is not compulsory, it is a good idea as it would enable you to retrieve your data, should you lose your iPhone.

If all you want to do is track your steps then, you don't actually need to do anything else. On the other hand, you can achieve far more with the App.

Moves will estimate your calorie usage, provided you enter your gender, year of birth, height, and weight. This is based on an algorithm based on population averages but does take into account the 'physicality' of your activity; running 1,000 steps, or walking 1,000 steps do not burn the same number of calories; the App reflects this difference.

Your activities (walking, running, cycling, swimming...) are neatly displayed in graphical format, together with a timeline, as well as maps.

You can elect to receive not only daily notifications but also weekly summaries.

The next clever part of this App is that it links to many other lifestyle Apps so you can add data to your existing system.

Cost
The App is free.

Indispensability
If you are determined to get (or stay) fit then, you probably need some encouragement. For those of us who do not have a personal trainer on tap, 24/7, this is a good alternative... and just think of the money you will save.

Dependability
As the App only works when it is with you, it is rather more useful on an iPhone than an iPad. Like all hardware devices that measure steps, it is not 100% accurate but, is as accurate as it needs to be. There are a few pointers in the hints section to improve matters.

Security
In order for the App to give you sensible information, you need to share information (which may be sensitive) with the developer. This is the usual Catch 22 situation; you need to be aware of it.

ACIDS Test Rating:

No excuse to not get fit.

To find out how the ACIDS Test works, click here.

You can get Moves here and support for the App here.

Clear - App Review

There's no need to repeat my view on lists... so here is another contender for your attention.

'Clear' is based on gestures which will either be right up your street, or you will seem like a complication. Fortunately, we are not all the same so, it's worth a try.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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On an iPad, your lists are down the left and the items in your chosen list on the right.

Whether you are dealing with list, or an item on a list, the gestures are identical:

Pull down to create an item/list
Swipe right to mark complete
Swipe left to delete (if you are dealing with a list, there is a reminder to check that you really ant to delete the whole list)
Tap and hold to move the item/list up or down in the pecking order
Pinching two rows apart allows you to enter an item directly between 2 others (beautiful graphical implementation); you might find it easiest to use two thumbs.
Pinching together collapses the list so that only the list is shown (on an iPhone)
Swiping right from beyond the screen opens up a whole other bag of tricks on an iPad.

There is a very useful 'Welcome Guide' with the App. This is very useful as, unless you are a confirmed 'I'll try anything and see what happen' type of person, you might not otherwise guess all the neat tricks this App offers. this, together with the settings, is accessed by a swipe to the right from the edge.

Cost
The App is in the premium price range at $5.

Indispensability
A list manger of some sort is indispensable. Clear could be the one for you if you prefer gestures to commands.

Dependability
Being gesture driven takes a little getting used to but, once you have got the hang of it, it's very easy to use.

The App behaves differently on an iPad to an iPhone (where only one list is shown). On the smaller screen you need to 'pull down' to switch lists, which is pulling down to the 'pull/release to create an item', and keep going.

Security
You can choose to synchronise your lists through iCloud.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Possibly the list maker for those who don't like lists.

To find out how the ACIDS Test works, click here.

You can get Clear here and support for the App here.