Category: Software Reviews

If you have an elderly friend or relative, you’re naturally going to worry about them. However, that friend or relative may not necessarily worry. They might be too proud to have alarms or monitoring systems installed in their home and it could be tricky to even approach the …

When I was a lad we used to go and meet girls at the park or maybe at the local nightclub. Now, with powerful smartphones, you simply swipe your finger across the screen. In a way it can be a little disheartening to see everyone communicating via a …

You may remember my trip down memory lane when Microsoft launched their classic Solitaire app for both iPhone and Android devices. It was true to the original Windows desktop version, and Microsoft took great pride in promoting the “classic” feel of it, with the same graphics and te …

Have you ever picked up your Bluetooth headphones, then pocketed a pair of wired headphones in case they run out of juice when you’re out? Do you carry a spare pair of backup earphones as you’ve no real idea of the battery level of your Bluetooth earphones? BatON …

I held out as long as I could, but I have now caved and bought a Series 2 Apple Watch. Not because it is anything revolutionary. Not because I accidentally killed my original version, although I kinda did, but because health and fitness has become so important to …

Remember all those years ago when you’ve got your first email account and you couldn’t wait to set it up with a stupid account name? Now, many years later, it’s quite embarrassing having to pass those details to any prospective employers, hospitals or friends.  So what do you …

Welcome to the first in a series of articles celebrating apps which are an example to others on how things should be done. I’m probably preaching to the converted, but I wanted to talk about the BBC iPlayer Radio app. It’s available for iPhone,, Android and Kindle. For …

As much as I hate to admit it, we’re now definitely in the Autumn. The leaves are falling off the trees and I can no longer sit outside the pub without several coats on. It’s a bit naff, but if you time the weather right, there’s still the …

When you absolutely, positively HAVE to watch that particular movie (or TV show) tonight; accept no substitutes! The Justwatch app promises to scour the internet to provide all the options. It’s my default search tool for all such videos queries… it’s that good! I’m not sure of the …

You’ll definitely have heard of Mobile Bingo Sites and addictive games like Pokemon Go lately. It’s a simple idea though, and one which many of you will be a little confused by. Augmented Reality is at the heart of this particular app, and the game has a simple …

Last week we told you about the fantastic Iron Maiden game, Legacy of the Beast. The wait is over! The game now be download from Google Play and Apple iTunes official from now (5th July, 4pm BST). James Hursthouse, CEO of Roadhouse Interactive comments, “As a lifelong Maiden fan, I …

The PR people from CSR Racing have been emailing me quite a bit today. To be honest it’s a game I’m not familiar with, but I figured I’d give it a try. It’s a big download. I mean big. It’s one of those that needs a WiFi connection …

Rebtel’s Cheap International Calls App Review It’s that time of year again. The sun is out and those big school holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to fill a suitcase and head off abroad for … even more sunshine. Trouble is, when you’re abroad, the …

I saw these guys at Mobile World Congress and their offering is certainly an interesting one, and remarkably simple too.. Start with the ChatSim chat plan. It’s €10 a year and this will let you send unlimited and free text messages and emoji anywhere in the world. Wait …

I would say that 80% of my mobile phone use is listening to media. Specifically podcasts. I can’t even walk up to the shop to buy a loaf of bread without popping in some headphones and listening to my favourite episode. One of the first apps I load …

JerryCan does many things – and many things well. When I hear the word “mileage tracker” I start to fall asleep, but JerryCan’s stunning UI, smooth animations, and array of features make it the best of its kind. Of course, JerryCan can help you track your gas mileage, …

Monitoring a phone might sound like a slightly strange idea, especially when people talk of “spy software”. However, there’s perfectly legitimate reasons for doing it, such as keeping an eye on your kids. XNSPY, which is available for both Android and iPhone, will let you know where your …

Here is a game very close to my heart, as it combines smartphones and tablets with heavy metal! TeamRock are usually known for the Internet radio station and collection of music magazines from Metal Hammer, Classic Rock to Prog, covering every genre of rock music. Now they have …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtSGcPZLSA4 Dan Counsell is the man who brought us Realmac Software, an amazing software company out of England that currently makes RapidWeaver, Clear, and Typed.com. This time around he decided to create a personal project: a game available for iOS, Mac, and Apple TV. I took the iPhone version …

Following a quick demo from the team at Vodafone on their new Call+ features, I thought it would be useful to do a short write up before a full review in the coming weeks (should the loaner phone arrive soon). If you aren’t familiar with Call+, it’s a …

With the public release of iOS 9, everyone is eager to take advantage of the new features it has to offer: News, Proactivity, Search. But as the press picked up on during the summer, iOS 9 has also allowed for the creation of content blocker apps. These work …

I don’t have many games on my iPhone. In fact, I only have five: Alto’s Adventure, Infinite Flight, Monument Valley, Threes, and now, Prune. Nowadays it’s challenging to find games that don’t attempt to make you buy coins or watch ads to play. Prune is unlike any of …

What with the delightful weather we are having here in the UK, you may not have noticed that it is, in fact… summer. Do you feel that you need to get a bit of sun on your bones, or you fancy whisking your loved one away on a …

Earlier this week, Panic – maker of apps Transmit, Prompt, and Coda – unveiled a humongous, free update to Diet Coda, now called Coda for iOS. Panic really wants to stress that that this is no longer an accessory or counterpart to the Mac app, but rather a full …

I have literally no free time, so to get sucked into a 3D strategy game is a surprise to me. Here Galaxy Control appears to have done just that. If you’ve played Clash of Clans then you’ll feel at home here, because it’s a similar feel – albeit …

This week, Readdle launched the sixth version of their popular scanning app for iPhone, Scanner Pro. It’s a free update to all of its 7 million users, and is on sale right now for 50%-off at only $2.99. This is my go-to app for scanning documents, and v. …

I’m a bit of a fiend for alarm applications. I don’t know why… That isn’t true. I’m one of those people who would be late for their own funeral if I didn’t have something to remind me I need to get there on time. And then remind me …

  I’ve always been a big fan of Readdle’s apps, and they’ve been a supporter of iOS since the beginning days. Spark is their latest project, and one that aims to once and for all make email enjoyable. Maintaining your email is a hassle. There’s no doubt about …

Update #1: Added GoodTask, Gneo, Zippy on 07/04/15 First published on 08/11/14 Unlike most app reviews, this one is going to encapsulate several task managers for iPhone. Instead of reviewing every single one under the sun, I will pick apps that I feel are worthy of being on anyone’s …

Home automation is something that is only really limited by your imagination, possibly what accessories you can buy and possibly also by how much money you have. You get the idea though…. One of the more intriguing things I saw at MWC was the Piper NV, it is …

Getting Office documents working on your mobile device can be a hit and miss affair. Sometimes you’ll find an app that opens certain documents but won’t let you edit them. Sometimes you can edit some document types but not others, and you can find that the document will …

Robocat is known for making some amazing apps. Haze, Thermodo, and Televised to name a few. And Breaking, available for iOS and Mac, doesn’t fail to disappoint. The premise behind Breaking is simple: See news important to you with only a swipe. Any websites you want can be searched for …

I’ve had the pleasure of playing a pre-release of Alto’s Adventure for a while now. It’s a truly immersive, gorgeous, addicting app. Sure, there are countless endless runners to hit the App Store; Tiny Wings and Badlands to name a few personal favourites. But you cannot find either on my phone. …

Mail Pilot started out in 2012 as a web app. Then it became available natively on iOS in 2013, and on Mac early last year. Its founders call it “the email client reimagined from the ground up.” What sets Mail Pilot apart is the focus on tasks. Emails …

Tracking your car is possible with just a smartphone. Various apps will let you do it, but it’s a matter of having a spare smartphone with a data plan and GPS, plus you have to leave it plugged into the 12v charger and that alone will probably attract …

Shifts is a brand new app by the folks at Built by Snowman, the makers behind Checkmark, Super Squares, and Circles. Their latest app is Shifts, a iOS calendar app for those who work shifts. Rather than focusing on a calendar that incorporates todos, emails, GTD, or whatever …

I thought I was being clever a few years ago when I installed a programmable thermostat into our house. We’d just moved in and there was a number of issues with the heating system at the time. The biggest problem was the fact that the hot water system …

At this time of year we’re probably all thinking of a nice home-cooked meal. Brussel sprouts, turkey, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Problem is though, this is all a lot of work. So give yourself, your mother or whoever a break and get yourself a takeaway instead. …

SimCity is one of those classic iconic games that has help to shape the video game industry through its many incarnations. There have been mobile versions of SimCity released previously although they have never quite managed to recapture the magic of the big screen original. This may be …

Large screen devices have a lot to answer for these days, they force me to wear trousers with large pockets, they force me to carry a man bag whilst I’m out and about and most of all they force my thumbs to stretch way beyond what they were …