Blood Pressure Companion - App Review

As we all seem to be becoming more health conscious, one of the parameters we want to monitor is blood pressure and heart rate.

This App does not measure any of the above but does enable you to monitor your 'progress'.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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First, a bit of housekeeping which means crating a (your) profile. This includes date of birth, gender, weight, height, as well as optional goals for blood pressure, heart rate, and weight. These are all optional but, especially if you are monitoring more than one person, very useful. At this stage, you can also set colour ranges for when the values are graphed. If your physician hasn't advised anything specific, you're probably best advised to leave the suggest values.

You now need to measure systolic and diastolic pressures, as well as heart rate. There are plenty of (fairly) accurate monitors at reasonable prices which will enable you to do this., All you then need do is enter the values.

Over time the built-in graphing function will easily enable you to monitor progress on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

Cost
The App Costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
You could use an Excel worksheet (or anything else for that matter) to store your readings but, this does make life easy.

Dependability
The readings will, of course, only be as accurate as the measurement instrument you are using.

When viewing summary information by day/week/month, the App uses the appropriate average.

This is an iPhone App which works in 1x and 2x modes on an iPad.

Security
The App can be protected with a four digit passcode.

The App can use notifications to send you reminders.

The App can back up directly to your PC, as well as via Dropbox and iCloud.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Easily store heart pressure/rate recordings.

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

You can get Blood Pressure Companion here and support for the App here.

RadioApp - App Review

Am and FM radio still exist, although who knows for how long. The fact is that as we go more towards DAB (and DAB+), there are fewer receivers.

This handy App allows you to tune in to the masses of available content, wherever you are.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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You start with the invitation to 'Slide to find a station'. By sliding the ribbon, you change the wavelength, which is also displayed digitally above. When you find a station its name is displayed.

You can also enter a station name in the search box.

Having tuned into a station, apart from, obviously, listening to it, you can also use it as an alarm, or add a new country, and save as a favourite.

It is also possible to share the station you are listening to with a very attractive equivalent of a photo of an iPhone with the display.

Cost
The App Costs $2.

Indispensability
The real plus is to tune into AM and FM stations while being nowhere near a transmitter.

Dependability
This is an iPhone App which works in 1x and 2x modes on an iPad.

Security
The App uses your location, although this is optional.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Am, FM, anywhere (with Internet access)

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

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

Cardiograph Classic - App Review

Are you interested in measuring your heart rate, without actually physically taking your pulse. This is a simple way to do it.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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This is one of those great looking Apps; it always gives pleasure to use such an item.

The home screen has a lovely looking graph readout, complete with nib; love it.

Press the Start/Stop button to get a measurement and then place your index finger on the camera lens. Now just wait as the heart icon 'fills up', and then displays a tick, then you're done.

The App records your history, and enables you to manage several profiles.

Cost
The App Costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
There is a clear warning in the App that this is not a medical instrument and that it does not replace your physician; obvious but noteworthy.

Dependability
This App is requires iOS 8.0 or later. The App works as suggested, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, although I had problems using it on an iPad running 9.3.5, possibly due the absence of a flash.

Security
The App needs access to your camera in order to function. The App can also, optionally, be given access to your location.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Easy guide to heart rate.

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

You can get Cardiograph Classic here and support for the App here.

Pocket Earth - App Review

At the simplest level, if you haven't got an unlimited data plan, and are interested in maps then, this App is great. But, that would be to sell this App far short of its capabilities.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The home page has a map of the world where you are invited to drop a pin, which you can name, colour, iconise (all right to all you pedants, that's not really grammatically correct but, you know what I mean).

In order to do this you will need to press on the map briefly to mark a location (which can also be used as a point on a route later), and you can then personalise it to your heart's content. Part of the information that you get are the co-ordinates to 5 places of decimals, which makes it easy to share with others, although the App itself goes one step further in allowing you to directly share the location and information by e-mail (automatic link created for viewing in any browser, as well as the App), Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, or even Facebook Messenger.

Enter a starting point and a destination and get a route prepared (driving fastest/shortest, cycling, or walking).

You have the option to use the All Online, WiFi Only (no mobile data usage), or Off-line.

The Settings will blow your mind... in a good way.

As such a fully-featured App deserves, there is a built-in Manual which is clearly written and comprehensive.

This really is a very complete map and route App.

Cost
The App Costs $5.

Indispensability
If you're happy with iOS Maps and Google Maps then, either you are easily satisfied or, you need to experience more to see what you're missing.

Dependability
No complaints on this score; you are even made aware of the memory usage for off-line maps.

Security
In order to make your life easier, it is best to allow the App access to your location, as it will save you having to enter it (if it's a starting/end point). You can, optionally, enable synchronisation so as to have the information from your favourites available across multiple devices (so long as you are using the same Apple ID).

ACIDS Test Rating:

To paraphrase the developer: Have fun NOT getting lost with PocketEarth

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

You can get Pocket Earth here and support for the App here.

TextGrabber - App Review

How many times have you seen some text that you wanted to share, perhaps putting it into context? The fact is that sharing whole articles often bores the recipient, and tediously copying the desired content is time-consuming for the sender.

This App claims to effectively resolve the issue, as well as, obviously, being useful in a plethora of other circumstances.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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Here's an example of how to use the App, having downloaded it.

Simply press the button, having aimed it a newspaper article. This will create an image which you can easily crop and then watch the App scroll down the image and turn it into text. As soon as this happens (and it is very fast), you are presented with the option to translate the text into another language (with excellent results).

This can then be copied and pasted wherever you want, as when as shred directly from the App with Twitter, Facebook, Evernote (nice one), E-mail, or Message.

It really is as easy as that.

Cost
The App Costs $5.

Indispensability
If you want to share information, and edit it, this is an App for you.

Dependability
The App recognises 61 languages; they weren't all tested but the four I did worked fine.

The only irritation is that a solid carriage return is put in at the end of each line but, this is easily dealt with.

Security
The App needs access to your camera and photos.

ACIDS Test Rating:

The call's yours, boredom, time wasting, or appropriate content.

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

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

Smart Office 2 - App Review

If you deal in documents, be they Excel, Word, Powerpoint, PDF (any many others), you've probably also got a whole load of Apps to view and edit them. Smart Office 2 might be your one-step solution.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The start-up screen gives immediate access to new, existing, and recent documents of all the flavours mentioned above, and plenty more. These documents can be on your iOS device or on Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box.

Opening any of them will take you straight into an viewer and editor (for editable documents). A nice touch is that documents start in a sort of thumbnail view and then a touch on them brings them to editable size.

Cost
The App Costs $10.

Indispensability
Being able to edit your documents is almost certainly indispensable, the beauty of this App is that it brings them all together.

Dependability
The App works very well although not all types of documents are editable (hardly surprising really).

Security
The App needs access to your cloud storage accounts if you want to use this facility.

ACIDS Test Rating:

View, edit, and reduce the number of Apps you need.

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

You can get Smart Office 2 here and support for the App here.