NiteFan - App Review

The developer states: "Do you FANcy falling asleep to the sound of a fan? Well that’s FAN-tastic! The sound of a fan is calming and blocks out other sounds in the room to help you fall asleep. You probably FANtasize about being about to take your fan with you when you travel, don’t you? Sometimes that’s just not possible. But never fear! If you’re a fan FANatic, this app is for you!"

FANciful or true?

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The screen has four fans with slightly different sounds. These can be turned on either individual, or in any combination you choose.

There are also buttons for clicks, rainfall (possibly quite soothing), and an 'electric wobble'.

In addition there is a sort of 'all off' button which is very useful.

Cost
The App Costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
If you are used to the sound of a fan at home and find it difficult to fall into the arms of Morpheus when away, this could be the answer to your prayers.

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

You can lock your iOS device and the sound will continue, without further distractions.

Security
The App is self-contained, so no concerns on this front.

ACIDS Test Rating:

FANciful, maybe but definitely different!

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

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

Wifi Widget - See, Test, and Share Wi-Fi - App Review

The developer says: "Save time and frustration with the fastest way to see, test, and share your wi-fi, without even unlocking your iPhone".

So, how does that pan out?

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The App opens up initially with detailed instructions on how to install the widget (in notification centre Today view, scroll to bottom and tap edit, then scroll to Wi-Fi (the App) and tap the +, and then tap Done.

Using the App or widget is also very simple.
You can use the App (by pressing the icon) or the Widget to see the currently connected network and then detect the speed (or latency, chosen through the Menu).

If you save the password in the Widget then, this can also then be shared via Message or other Apps.

Cost
The App is Free.

Indispensability
Apart from speed testing, this is a very easy way to share passwords for Networks.

Dependability
The App requires iOS 10.1 or later.

Security
The passwords you enter in the App are stored in your own iCloud Keychain account. Passwords are not transmitted to the developer.

ACIDS Test Rating:

The easiest way to share wi-fi passwords and check speed.

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

You can get Wifi Widget - See, Test, and Share Wi-Fi here and support for the App here.

LeechTunes - App Review

The developer says:

"Love Apple Music? Enhance the experience with LeechTunes! Add all your favourite music via Apple Music then enjoy them with LeechTunes.

LeechTunes is the fresh new way to enjoy your music. Now you can listen to your music with great ease and style. LeechTunes features customised gesture controls in a skinned interface that shouts out your personality.

LeechTunes is perfect for in-car use for safer music control. No need to look away from the road while changing track & playlist. Also great while doing other tasks like jogging, working-out or just general listening."

Now for the ACIDS test:

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At first use you are invited to see the gesture controls; I suggest you accept the invitation. Although, here's a handy list for you:

Fast forward - 2-finger right
Next playlist - 2-finger down
Next track - swipe left
Pay/Pause - tap
Play all media - 2-finger tap
Play current artist - tap and hold (very neat)
Previous playlist - 2-finger up
Previous track - swipe right
Repeat mode - triple tap
Rewind - 2-finger left
Shuffle - double tap (very handy)
Shuffle - shake
Tweet - tap and hold
Volume - swipe up/down

In addition to this there are a lot of links such as rating, lyrics, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, the artist's site (nice touch).

There are also a number of skins that can be chosen to be set as a background.

So now you have a very enjoyable, as well as rather different, way to listen to your music.

Cost
The App Costs $2.

Indispensability
You're bound to want to play music with your iOS device, even if it's not your main use (or maybe it is).

Dependability
The App works, just like we want them to.

Security
The App needs access to Apple Music.

There are a lot of direct links, including Facebook and Twitter.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Dare to listen to music differently.

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

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

OrasisHD - App Review

The developer states:

"OrasisHD is a 1-shot HDR app. It takes a SINGLE image and automatically transforms it to a well-exposed, natural-looking photo, simulating the way your eyes perceived the scenery at the moment the photo was taken.

Based on a decade of academic research, OrasisHD uses a proprietary image processing algorithm: dark and bright image regions are enhanced, revealing information that was not visible previously. More importantly though, well-exposed areas are not affected! To the best of our knowledge this is a unique feature not offered by any other app in the industry."

Now for the ACIDS test:

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once you have taken a photo with the App, or imported one from your photos, nearly the whole screen is taken up by that picture, leaving controls at the edges; visible but unobtrusive.

You can view it, as taken (original), Auto (the App adds excellent correction), or Manual (where you can edit various values).

You can have access to bright areas, dark areas, and tonal width, all of which are 'corrected' via a slider control.

In addition you can add effect (including cartoon, sepia, gloomy, grey, and a multitude of others), as well as changing the colour saturation, brightness and contrast.

Cost
The App Costs $2.

Indispensability
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you decide whether or not you are satisfied with photos as taken by your iOS device.

Dependability
The App woks as described.

Security
The App needs access to your camera and/or library, and optionally your location, in order to attach GPS data to your photos.

You can share your photos via e-mail,Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Get more vibrant photos with one click, or let those creative juices flow...

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

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

Classicalc Music - piano sound playing calculator - App Review

For those of you who remember Monty Python, "...and now for something completely different"...

The developer says: "Classicalc is a unique, the most classy calculator app on the App Store. It's designed to be beautiful and simple, but also… to sound amazing! Each colour theme has its own, actual Grand Piano major scale! It's Chopin-awesome! Underneath it beautiful simplicity, there's some serious technology powering Classicalc".

So let's see how it stacks up.

Now for the ACIDS test:

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The App opens as a calculator, with a numeric keypad (kind of essential), the four basic operators, and brackets, a percentage key (which divides the figure in the display by 100), and a delete key which deletes the rightmost figure.

So, it's a pretty basic calculator but, there is a lozenge at the top left, move that and you change the background colour (quite pleasing) but also change the scale.

Cost
The App Costs a nominal $1.

Indispensability
A calculator is indispensable... here you can add 'music' to your calculations. As each key is a different note, this could also avoid you making mistakes.

Dependability
The App works, although the lozenge always returns to its starting position (otherwise it would interfere with the result display).

Security
The App is self-contained, so no concerns on this front.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Be different: 'hear' your calculations and detect mistakes!

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

You can get Classicalc Music - piano sound playing calculator here and support for the App here.