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Today's Best Apps: Spin, Vidness, Shares 2 And More

Today's Best Apps: Spin, Vidness, Shares 2 And More

October 3, 2013
The App Store takes delivery of hundreds of new apps per day. The overwhelming scene makes it possible to easily overlook an exciting game, valuable productivity suite, etc. However, we have a solution. Today’s Best Apps tackles this problem by providing you with a handpicked and tested list of apps that are truly worth your consideration each and everyday. Remember: Even though in-app purchases typically require your iTunes Store password for processing, you can further prevent them and other unauthorized actions by enabling local restrictions using the passcode locked iOS parental controls

iPhone:

Vidness - Video Frames For Instagram by Versagram, LLC (Free, 11.5 MB): Easily add some flare to your share using this Instagram-optimized video framing app. From hugging hearts and playful polkadots to "LOL" masks and scenic seasons, the wide selection has most situations covered. Yet, the all-in-one screen design, complete with transparency adjustment and live preview gallery, means nothing is hidden away, that is, unless you want it to be. Videos are imported via the iOS camera roll and exported either back to the Photos app or shared through Instagram at a resolution of 640-by-640.

Shares 2 by Nothing Magical Inc. ($2.99, 797.2 KB): Beautifully complimenting the iOS 7 experience, this stock portfolio tracking tool provides a sleek and simple way to actually monitor your investments. In addition to reporting how much stock prices have changed, the app calculates and reports what those effects do for your specific holdings. So, for example, if you purchased five shares of Apple when it was $476.40, then there would be a smile provoking +$65.80 green-colored profit indicator sitting alongside the AAPL entry. Of course, that's not the only important math for anyone with multiple stock investments. Such a situation requires a grand total, which is blatantly shown at the very bottom of the screen. As much as this basic information proves helpful, there are a couple bonus displays. Just tap any stock symbol to view more details and the grand total box to switch between currency and percentage.

Universal:

Spin: The New Together for iPhone and iPad by Net Power & Light Inc. (Free, 41.2 MB): Discuss the latest viral video, show off your recent photos, or even collaboratively analyze the game as if you're all in the same room with this elegant group video chat and real-time media sharing app. The very sleek and efficient perception-driven user interface offers a lot of functionality through logically natural gesture-based actions. Whether a YouTube video, your iDevice's camera roll, or a social media hosted photo, simply drag-and-drop the item out into the crowd. Speaking of such, media source and participant representation icons can be moved around at will within the free floating, physics-based environment, which is especially great on iPad. Beyond providing a means of fun organizing, the behavior allows virtual position modification through a feature dubbed ListenUp. Similar to real life, moving away from, or in this case shrinking, someone reduces their visual and vocal dominance for alternating desired focus. When we turn back to sharing, photo and video showcasing is accompanied by ChalkTalk, a built-in annotating a free drawing toolset for enhanced media-style communication. Last, but certainly not least, everything can be streamed in high-definition to as many as nine friends during spontaneous or scheduled gatherings. The app integrates with Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and the iOS camera roll, plus requires sign-up of a free account.

Edge of the World by Central Core Studios, Inc. (Free, 64.8 MB): Man the helm and make a daring run towards the literal ends of the Earth in this clever, pirate-themed version of shuffleboard. It's a time when the planet is still flat, sending the ocean waters splashing over unknown ridges. Are you brave and skilled enough to teeter on the brink of possible destruction? Let's find out. During a turn-based competition, you'll have at least eight attempts to secure positions nearest to the edge. The closer, the more points awarded. Sail beyond and gain nothing or lose those earned if you get knocked off. Whomever holds the highest score after two rounds, three for ties, wins. The game features charming 3-D graphics, humorous commentary, solo mode, online and offline head-to-head, five pirates, more than two dozen ships, 10 power-ups, single finger slingshot-style control, as well as multiple means of online matchmaking: username, email, Facebook, or Game Center.

dubr by Axel Drewan (Free, 27.8 MB): It doesn't matter if your interest is making educational presentations or America's Funniest Home Videos-type voiceovers, this additional dialogue recording studio provides simple and effective results on-the-go. After importing, editing can be approached two ways. Option one would involve going watching the entire video from beginning to end, performing a tap-and-hold and commentary whenever desired. The other possibility will involve quick additions. Tap on the main viewing area to jump along the timeline, start playback, then dub. The process is truly that easy, and does include an undo for those failed scenarios. As a bonus, there are independent slide controls for adjusting the original audio and the ADRs, plus a trimming tool. The app allows up to 10 minute movies and 128 audio insertions with export to the iOS camera roll or Facebook in SD or HD quality. An in-app purchase is required to remove the dubr logo watermark and prevent any pop-up ads.

Mentioned apps

Free
Vidness - Video Frames For Instagram
Vidness - Video Frames For Instagram
Versagram, LLC
$2.99
Shares 2
Shares 2
Nothing Magical Inc.
Free
Spin: The New Together for iPhone and iPad
Spin: The New Together for iPhone and iPad
Net Power & Light Inc.
Free
Edge of the World
Edge of the World
Central Core Studios, Inc.
Free
dubr
dubr
Axel Drewan

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