SkyWidgets - App Review

Wouldn't it be great to add some useful widgets to your iOS Notification Centre?

This App promises exactly that.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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Having installed the App, you need to access the Notification Centre (from any screen, scroll your finger from the very top of the screen downwards). Pick Today and at the bottom of the page you will see the ability toEdit. Pick this option and you will see 5 new items that you can now include (or not) in the Notification Centre. You will recognise these by the icon for the App.

Address
This detects your current location and gives you the detailed address, with a very neat 'Copy to Clipboard' function which enables you to paste it somewhere useful.

Barometer
You'll need an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or iPad Air 2 to see the pressure and relative altitude.

GPS Status
Gives you an indication of the quality of the signal.

Movement Information
This gives you your altitude, speed, heading, latitude, and longitude. Again there is the facility to copy this information directly to the clipboard.

Stopwatch
This is displayed to one tenth of a second. Simply Hit Start to beginning timing and Stop when you are finished.

Go to the App itself to set units to imperial or metric.

Cost
There is a nominal $1 charge for the App.

Indispensability
This is a useful addition to the notification centre.

Dependability
The Address widget pastes the location as one continuous line of text in what could be described as reverse order (country first, street address last).

Security
This is a standalone App.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Useful and inexpensive.

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

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

Geekbench 3 - App Review

The name gives a strong hint of what you are letting yourself in for.

If you want to know more about your iOS device, here's an App for you... you'll probably even get answers to questions you wouldn't think to ask.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The interface is very uncluttered; just 3 buttons:

Run Processor Benchmark
Hit this then sit back for a few minutes while your iOS device is analysed. You will get masses of information, not only the overview of exactly which iOS device you are using, but also speed ratings for various rests (split between single and multi-core).

Run Battery Benchmark
Again, hit this and wait, but this time, until your battery is 100% charged. You will then get a rating of your battery's health status.

Previous Benchmarks
... no explanation required.

Cost
The App costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
If you feel something might be amiss, this is a great way to put your mind at rest, or get the ammunition do do something about it.

Dependability
To be honest, I have no way of checking that the tests are accurate but, I can vouch for 100% accuracy in detecting many different iOS devices.

Security
You can share your results by e-mail, as well as share the information on the primatelabs.com website.

ACIDS Test Rating:

More results than you could shake a stick at.

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

You can get Geekbench 3 here and support for the App here.

DayEntry - App Review

Do you keep a diary, or even just notes?

Do you attempt to be organised?

If you answered no to both those questions, there's no point reading on.

Still here? Then, if you don't have Evernote get it now and then try DayEntry.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The first thing you need to do is allow DayEntry access to Evernote.

In my opinion, there are only 2 types of user interfaces that work; those that are totally uncluttered, and those that have everything to hand (usually for those who know what they want and where they expect to find it); DayEntry falls into the former category.

The screen has the 7 days of the week, starting with Monday, and their respective dates. The bottom of the screen has only three icons: DayEntry, Alarm Clock, and an Evernote green arrow.

Tap the screen and start typing; it's as easy as that. At its simplest, that's all you need to do and then hit the Evernote green arrow at the bottom right of the screen.

You can however get much more sophisticated by tapping DayEntry, this brings up a number of icons that allow you to personalise the process:

Keyboard (the same as if you had just tapped the screen)
Notebook (choose the notebook in Evernote to which you would like your note(s) added, rather than the default 'DayEntry'.
Tags - this is Evernote, after all
Camera - take a photo to add to your entry
Recent (recent photos) or Library (all photos on your iOS device)
Check Box - these are so useful in lists and, most importantly, Evernote correctly displays those boxes that are ticked, or not. Those of you who have experience of other systems will know that this is more the exception than the rule
Bullets - only as bullets, not numbered
Copy All - fairly obvious but also very useful if you are sending information to Evernote and also want to duplicate it somewhere else
Undo and Undo - no explanation needed but so useful
Settings - Although the default settings are pretty good, this enables you to further customise the use of the App. Just an example of the thought that's been put into building the App... there's even the time when yesterday is still today (default is 3 am); brilliant.

Cost
The App costs $3. Whether you are using Evernote for free, or have a premium account, the sum of the parts is definitely worth the modest investment.

Indispensability
If you use Evernote for anything other than web clipping, this is an absolute 'must have'.

Dependability
The diary page doesn't have the month name at the top so, you need to be a bit careful that you are on 'today'. In practice, this is easily ensured as dates before today are highlighted in grey, dates after in green, and today is in purple.

Security
The fact that you can enter a note, tap the green Evernote icon at the bottom of the screen and whoosh, your note is sent, stored in Evernote and, you are back to a blank screen; this is brilliant for keeping your notes from prying eyes.

Sure, you need to share your information via Evernote but, this is a calculated risk that you are taking anyway.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Evernote without DayEntry is like writing notes while handcuffed!

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

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

Bulk Delete - App Review

Deleting multiple photos used to be a chore. If you are still running an older iOS version then, this is an ideal App to get rid of all those photos that you no longer need (or don't even remember taking).

Now for the ACIDS test:

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Before you do anything (having downloaded that App), go to Settings and scroll down to 'Bulk Delete' and then allow Bulk Delete access to Photos. If you do not do this, the App will not work.

There are very few controls, making the App easy to use. At the bottom left of the screen you can choose one of two thumbnail sizes.

You can now either select photos by time (last 1, 24 hours, 7, 30 days), everything, or individually select them from the thumbnails.

Having done that, press the trash icon and , job done.

Cost
The App costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
If you have an old version of iOS and cannot choose items for deletion from the Photo App then, this is a great time saver.

Dependability
The App works, as described.

Security
This is a standalone App so there are no concerns in that respect.

You obviously need to be careful of which images you delete.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Ideal for older iOS.

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

You can get Bulk Delete here and support for the App here.

Shortcuts Keyboard - App Review

How many times do you type the same phrase?

This is an App that should reduce the tedium.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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In order for the App to work you need to let it have access. In order to do this, just go to Settings/General/Keyboard/Keyboards/Add New Keyboard/Shortcuts Keyboard. You are now set to make use of the App.

You can now go back to the App and choose the + to enter your first phrase, to which you can also assign a colour.

It is now simplicity itself to access the keyboard through the 'globe' to the left of the space key. Your phrase will be entered into your document, be it a message, or whatever.

Cost
The App costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
Sure, the App isn't indispensable but, if you frequently use phrases, it will save you a lot of time, not to mention the frustration sometimes caused by predictive text.

Dependability
The App works as described.

Security
This is a standalone App so there are no qualms in that respect.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Great and very easy to use time saver.

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

You can get Shortcuts Keyboard here and support for the App here.