Tuesday 3 June 2014

Top Phones 2014


There are a lot of phones coming up so we cut short some phones and we give you some of the amazing phones that is recommended by us fo you to buy..!Have a look at it..!

14. LG G3

LG G3
  • OS: Android (version to be announced)
  • Dimensions: TBA
  • Weight: TBA
  • Screen Size/Resolution: Size TBA, 1440 x 2560 pixel Quad HD display
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: TBA
  • CPU Speed: Octa-Core Processor, Speed TBA
  • Memory: TBA
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: TBA
  • Camera Resolution: 16MP Rear-facing
  • Overall Rating: Rating Coming Soon
The LG G3 isn’t on the shelves just yet, but information has recently been leaked about some of the handset’s features, and let’s just say that they look formidable to say the least. An octa-core processor is just the start since this phone will move to 64-bit architecture much like the step that the iPhone 5S has already taken. There’s no word on the size of the screen yet but it is known that a 1440 x 2560 display is on the cards, bringing it to 2K resolution standards. A 16 megapixel camera also sits on the rear of the phone, but for the rest of the specs we’re just going to have to wait and see. What’s certain is that this phone will be a ferocious competitor for all of its rivals, and the sales figures will hopefully do this phone some justice that the LG G2 never experienced. 

13. LG G Flex

lg g flex
  • OS: Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
  • Dimensions: 160.5 x 81.6 x 8.7 mm
  • Weight: 6.24 oz (177 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 6.0 inches /720 x 1280 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: TBA
  • CPU Speed: Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400
  • Memory: 2GB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB
  • Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.2/10
After the Samsung Galaxy Round’s release in Korea, there was no way that rival phone companies weren’t going to come up with a like-for-like response: the LG G Flex is LG’s answer to this wonderfully curved device. The G Flex has a curved screen measuring 6 inches and possesses a quad-core 2.26GHz processor. Its camera is quite impressive at 13mp, but the one thing that may put many off at this stage is the substantial price tag, ringing in at well over the usual high-end phone price at roughly $900 or so. The Flex is no doubt a high-end masterpiece but waiting for the price to drop would be a smart move that will save you money. 

12. Sony Xperia Z1

Sony Xperia Z1
  • Dimensions: 144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm
  • Weight: 6 oz (170 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 5 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 13.83 hours/36.7 days (880 hours)
  • CPU Speed: Quad core, 2200 MHz, Krait 400
  • Memory: 2048 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
  • Camera Resolution: 20.7 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.44/10

11. HTC One Mini

HTC One Mini
  • Dimensions: 132 x 63.2 x 9.25 mm
  • Weight: 4.30 oz (122 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 4.3 inches/720 x 1280 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 20.72 hours/20.8 days (500 hours)
  • CPU Speed: Dual core, 1400 MHz, Krait
  • Memory: 1024 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/No Expansion Available
  • Camera Resolution: 4 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.44/10

10. Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm
  • Weight: 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 oz (130 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 5 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 17 hours/15.4 days
  • CPU Speed: Quad core, 1900 MHz, Krait 300
  • Memory: 2048 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
  • Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.66/10
At position 7 the SG4 was 2013's first real phone hard-hitter –. The Galaxy S4 had a lot to live up to when it was released back in April – the Galaxy S3 was a game-changing smartphone, and one that few thought Samsung would ever top. It's questionable whether Samsung managed to pull it off - some may think they have, we think not. This phone is more of a tweaked version of the SG3 rather than a phone worth upgrading to if you already own the SG3. In terms of value for money we'd recommend getting the SG3 (further down the list) on contract instead and if your a loyal SG3 owner, wait for the SG5!
The Galaxy S4 is a slightly more serious looking phone than its predecessor, and gives the superficial appearance that it really means business. Samsung has opted to stick with the much-maligned plastic back panel, but it doesn’t really take too much away from the device. The S4 is still better spec’d, more innovative, and has a bigger screen than the S3. Speaking of the screen, the 5.0-inch Full HD resolution display at 441ppi is impressive, with vivid colours and deep darks. A 1.6 GHz Cortex A-15 processor and 2 GB of RAM are used to power the phone providing an ample improvement on performance to the S3.
Smartphone photographers will enjoy the 13-MP camera, which produces quality images and excellent features, including Dual Shot, whereby both cameras (front and rear) shoot footage at the same time.
As ever, Samsung is generous with storage, offering 16, 32, and 64 GB versions of the S4 and a micro-SD card slot for a further 64 GB of space which some other big names such as the HTC One range and iPhone ranges fail to do.
If your in the market for a 'flashy' brand new phone, the SG4 might be for you. However if your looking for value for money on a contract phone, opt for the SG3 further down.

9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 3
  • Dimensions: 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm
  • Weight: 5.93 oz (168 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 5.7 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 25 hours/22 days (528 hours)
  • CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon, Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
  • Memory: 3072 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
  • Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.74/10
Samsung build's on the success of their second edition note with an additional 1GB of Memory, twice as much in built storage to fit all those useful apps on and over 40% more processing power with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad core 2300 MHz processing power. This is a serious monster of a phone with a great deal of improvements at it's core beyond power - just check out the full range of note features at theofficial micro site.

8. HTC One

HTC One
  • Dimensions: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm
  • Weight: 5.04 oz (143 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 4.7 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Quad core, 1700 MHz
  • Memory: 2048 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/None Expandable
  • Camera Resolution: 4 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.78/10
Despite producing stellar handsets in recent years, HTC has never really captured public attention in the same way as Samsung but the HTC One changes all that.
This smartphone really is as good as it gets. A machined precession aluminium body gives the phone a build that only the iPhone can compare to. Like the Xperia Z, the weight (143 grams) and thickness (9.3 mm) only serve to add to the premium feel and make the One a dream to handle.
By opting for a 4.7 –inches instead of 5.0-inches in the display department, HTC has produced the best quality display ever seen on a smartphone, with Full HD resolution producing 469ppi. Colours are wonderfully vivid and text is pin sharp every time, no matter if you’re watching Netflix or browsing the web.
The HTC One is also a powerhouse of a smartphone, boasting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. The Taiwanese manufacturer comes up trumps in the camera department too, with a 4-MP ultrapixel snapper delivering staggering quality. Both the rear and front facing cameras get 1080p video recording and the secondary camera, at 2.1-MP, is great for video callers.
Beats Audio will have your music sounding better than ever and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage should ensure plenty of space for tunes.

7. HTC One Mini 2

HTC One Mini 2
  • Dimensions: 5.41 x 2.56 x 0.42 inches (137.43 x 65.04 x 10.6)
  • Weight: 4.83 oz (137 g) the average is 4.8 oz (137 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 4.5 inches/720 x 1280 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 23.2 days (556 hours) the average is 22 days (516 h)
  • CPU Speed: Quad core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A7
  • Memory: 1024 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Expanded up to 128 GB with Micro SD
  • Camera Resolution: 5 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.3/10
Good things come in small packages. Boasting the award-winning features and design of its larger counterpart, the HTC One mini has a compact 4.3" display screen and a slimmer build. Its dual frontal stereo speakers, automatically updating home screen and low-light camera come in a premium metal design more compact than ever.
Constructed of polished metal alloy, the HTC One mini features a compact profile that's designed for easy one-hand use. Its durable construction is shaped to seamlessly conform to your grip and provide on-the-go convenience for your busy life.
Dual frontal stereo speakers project sound at you, not away, for unrivalled sound from a smartphone. Built-in amps enhance everything so you'll experience louder, fuller, richer sound for a more immersive experience. The only thing small about the HTC One mini is its size.

6. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
  • OS:Android (4.4.2, 4.3)
  • Dimensions:5.00 x 2.56 x 0.37 inches (127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm)
  • Weight:4.83 oz (137 g)
  • Screen Size:4.3 inches
  • Screen Resolution:720 x 1280 pixels
  • Pixel Concentration:342 ppi
  • Camera Res:20.7 megapixels
  • Computer Chip:Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974
  • Computer Processor:Quad core, 2200 MHz, Krait 400
  • Graphics Chip:Adreno 330
  • Phone Memory:2048 MB RAM
  • Phone Capacity:16 GB
  • Expandable Capacity:microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GB
  • Battery Talk Time:10.00 hours
  • Battery Standby Time:27.9 days (670 hours)
  • Talk Time (3G):18.00 hours
  • Standby Time (3G):25.0 days (600 hours)
  • Standby time (4G):22.9 days (550 hours)
  • Camcorder:1920x1080 (1080p HD)
  • Front Camera Res:2 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.8/10

5. LG G2

LG G2
  • Dimensions: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm
  • Weight: 5.04 oz (143 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 5.2 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: Info hours/Info days (Info hours)
  • CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Quad core, 2260 MHz
  • Memory: 2048 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/None expandable
  • Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.82/10
The first phone to contain the Snapdragon 800, Quad core, 2260 MHz processor this is a seriously fast phone and big Android contender from LG. The 13 Mega pixel camera takes super sharp photos and with a generous 2GB of memory we would have put this phone at the number one slot had it not been for the fact that in the UK neither Three or O2 offer the phone in the 32 GB internal storage version.
With the 16 GB version being the only model available some users may find this capacity just a little limiting. If LG would have kept to the expandable memory option (micro SD slot) that was present in their previous phones this may not be have been too much of a hurdle for users who like more space. If however you are not a heavy gamer or app user and can manage your inventory more efficiently this won't cause you a problem.
On the whole the LG G2 deserves second spot due to it's many powerful features compared to previous models. It scores an impressive 8.82/10 across the big phone review sites.

4. Google Nexus 5

Google Nexus 5
  • OS: Android (4.4)
  • Dimensions: 131.9 x 68.2 x 8.6 mm
  • Weight: 4.59 oz (130 g)
  • Screen Size/Resolution: 5.0 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Battery Talk Time/Standby: 17.00 hours/12.5 days (300 hours)
  • CPU Speed: Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
  • Memory: 2048 MB RAM
  • Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Not expandable
  • Camera Resolution: 8 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 8.85/10
The Nexus 5 is finally here and with some serious power behind it (Quad Core processor and 2GB of Ram) this phone comes with some very good contract offers it's only two uk network suppliers at current - O2 and Three.
It's a monster of a phone considering it's performance specs highlighted above and easily competes with the LG G2. With a recommended retail price of £299.99 it hands down beats all other phones for value for money. In terms of contracts it means you can get the very best minutes and internet data deals for a much lower price than other handsets of equivalent performance specs.

3. Sony Xperia Z2

Sony Xperia Z2
  • OS:Android (4.4)
  • Dimensions:5.78 x 2.89 x 0.32 inches (146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2)
  • Weight:5.75 oz (163 g)
  • Screen Size:5.2 inches
  • Screen Resolution:1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Pixel Concentration:424 ppi
  • Camera Res:20.7 megapixels
  • Computer Chip:Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AB
  • Computer Processor:Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
  • Graphics Chip:Adreno 330
  • Phone Memory:3072 MB RAM
  • Phone Capacity:16 GB
  • Expandable Capacity:microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GB
  • Battery Talk Time:15.00 hours
  • Battery Standby Time:28.8 days (690 hours)
  • Talk Time (3G):19.00 hours
  • Standby Time (3G):30.8 days (740 hours)
  • Camcorder:3840x2160 (4K)
  • Front Camera Res:2.2 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated
Enjoy your photos and videos in the same quality and performance as a real compact digital camera. The Xperia Z2 comes with a 20.7 megapixel camera with Exmor sensor for sharp, clear and bright photos and 4K video capture.
The 5.2-inch Full HD screen provides the perfect place to view your photos, or the latest blockbuster movie, and gives you an incredible viewing experience no matter what you're watching.

2. Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung Galaxy S5
  • OS:Android (4.4.2) TouchWiz UI
  • Dimensions:5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 inches (142 x 72.5 x 8.1)
  • Weight:5.11 oz (145 g)
  • Screen Size:5.1 inches
  • Screen Resolution:1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Pixel Concentration:432 ppi
  • Camera Res:16 megapixels
  • Computer Chip:Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC
  • Computer Processor:Quad core, 2500 MHz, Krait 400
  • Graphics Chip:Adreno 330
  • Phone Memory:2048 MB RAM / LPDDR3
  • Phone Capacity:16 GB
  • Expandable Capacity:microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 128 GB
  • Battery Talk Time:21.00 hours
  • >Battery Standby Time:16.2 days (390 hours)
  • Camcorder:3840x2160 (4K) (30 fps)
  • Front Camera Res:2.1 megapixels
  • Overall Rating: 9.02/10
The Galaxy S5 blends iconic Samsung design with modern trends to appeal to a range of customers tastes and interests. The Galaxy S5 features a perforated pattern on the back cover creating a modern look. Its new sleek, contoured shape comes in an array of colours, with Charcoal Black, Shimmery White and Electric Blue ranged by Three UK.
You're serious about the photos you take on your mobile, so Samsung took camera quality to a new level on the Galaxy S5. For one thing, it has a super fast Auto Focus (<0.3s) meaning you'll never miss the action, no matter how fast it happens. It has selectable advanced High Dynamic Range (HDR), which means your photos will be artfully lit, even when the subject is in the shade, or backlit. Selective Focus allows you to focus on what's important and blur the background. All this with a stunning 16MP camera, means your mobile photography just got amazing.
Compare Samsung Galaxy S5 offers
Buy the SG 5 from Primacost at the Cheapest price with worldwide shipping.

1. HTC One M8

HTC One M8
  • OS:Android (4.4) HTC Sense 6 UI
  • Dimensions:5.76 x 2.78 x 0.37 inches (146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35)
  • Weight:5.64 oz (160 g) the average is 4.8 oz (137 g)
  • Screen Size:5.0 inches
  • Screen Resolution:1080 x 1920 pixels
  • Pixel Concentration:441 ppi
  • Camera Res:4 megapixels, Duo camera
  • Computer Chip:Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
  • Computer Processor:Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
  • Graphics Chip:Adreno 330
  • Phone Memory:2048 MB RAM / LPDDR3
  • Phone Capacity:16 GB
  • Expandable Capacity:microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 128 GB
  • >Battery Talk Time (3G):20.7 days (496 hours) the average is 20 days (489 h)
  • >Battery Standby Time:20.00 hours the average is 13 h (757 min)
  • Camera Res:1920x1080 (1080p HD) (60 fps), 1280x720 (720p HD)
  • Front Camera Res:5 megapixels
  • Available Colours:Yellow, Gray
  • Overall Rating: 9.16/10
The HTC One (M8) has been precision crafted from a single block of aluminium to achieve a smooth, zero edge finish that wrap right around to the screen. The soft curves and sleek lines feel perfect in the palm of your hand. The brushed aluminium finish to the HTC One (M8) make it as beautiful to the eye as it is in the hand.
The camera on the HTC One (M8) allows you to take photos and make them amazing with professional photo editing features. The HTC Duo camera allows you to take a photo and then re-focus it afterwards to blur the background or the foreground, just like you would with an SLR camera. The 5MP front camera has a wide angle lens and a special selfie mode with a countdown tier so you can take a perfect selfie to post online. The HTC UltraPixel technology is designed to capture just the right amount of light in different conditions so you can take a brilliant photo in day or night.

Top Iphone Apps


All the best iPhone apps in one place - what more could you ask for?

Apple’s App Store boasts one of the most extensive collections of apps this side of the sun. Inside you can pretty much find anything – and we mean anything. But what are the best and, more importantly, which are worth having on your iPhone?
In a bid to locate, download and test the best apps for iPhone in 2013 we’ve been tinkering with applications all year to bring you a list of the best apps in the run up to Christmas. We’ll be adding 10 new applications to this list every week as December 25 approaches.
To keep things tidy we’ve decided not to include the big apps that every man and his dog knows about –– Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Mail and the like. Instead, we’re focusing on useful applications that might have slipped under your radar.
So, without further ado, here's our pick of the best.

Silent Text 2 - Free


Private, secure, and self-destructing messaging apps seem to be all the rage nowadays. After all, there’s Snapchat for photos and now there’s Silent Text 2 for text messages and attachments. With the app you can text anyone with a Silent Circle account (a paid subscription) and even send them encrypted attachments along with the texts. The makers of the app say it is “created by globally recognized encryption experts and using modern encryption algorithms, Silent Circle software is open sourced and peer reviewed.” But the best thing about it is the Burn feature, which lets you decide how long your texts can be seen before self-destructing. Even better, you can manually delete a text you’ve sent not only on your device, but on your recipient’s device with one tap.

Scanbot - £1.49

Hands down Scanbot is the best iPhone scanner app I’ve ever used. The app allows you to snap a picture of any document, which will be cropped automatically just to show the document, and save it as premium quality PDFs or JPGs with 200 dpi or higher resolutions. What’ really great about the app is that it supports a wide range of cloud storage services--like Dropbox and box.com, just to name a few--so its fast and easy to get your scan onto other devices via automatic uploads. All this plus the app has a great UI that is easy to use.

Jutsu - Free


Jutsu isn’t getting things done (GTD) app, rather it’s a larger goal-setting app that helps you organize and accomplish the grander goals in life, like building a startup or learning how to surf. It allows you to create any goal and then add progress points that you can then tick off as you accomplish them. It does all this is a beautiful interface that allows you to inspire yourself by creating vision boards, which help spur you on to completing your goals.

PQChat – Free

Some of those instant messaging apps you’re using aren’t as secure as they’d like you to think. Do you remember that Snapchat leak a couple of months back? Well one company thinks it is time for change. With businesses and business heads alike using instant messaging more and more there needs to be a secure alternative which stops your private information getting out.
PQChat aims to do it by encrypting everything it can behind the scenes. First up you need a 5-digit pin to jump in which automatically makes it more secure than your average 4-digit option. There are a bunch of other secure features such as a video which proves you’re speaking to the right person.
It’s a video of them reading out a specific code which stops those pesky man in the middle attacks which can sometimes take hold of your conversations.
Inside there’s a Snapchat like feature as well which allows you to restrict how long the other party can see your media which can range from a video to a photo or just a text based post. It’s pretty smart, to learn some more head over to our full preview with PQChat here. 

Authentic Weather (£0.69)


This might be the best weather app ever. Why? Because it’s very blunt in what the current weather is like outside and it takes the piss out of our seeming need to have an app tell us the weather when we could instead just look out the window. Launch the app and you’re greeted with weather updates like this “It’s fucking raining now. You can look outside for more information.” The app also allow you to take pictures with the current weather text applied over them.

Table Tennis Touch (£2.49)


Table Tennis Touch is one of those rare games that are fun to play for just a few minutes while you’re killing time on the train or all night long while you’re chilling on the couch. The graphics are top notch and the controls are some of the most responsive I’ve seen of any table tennis game. What’s really nice about Table Tennis Touch is that it features a variety of game play including Epic modes, tournament mode, and plenty of fun mini-games (like having to knock bowling pins over with your ball).

Colour Status Bar (£1.49)


This is a nice little modification app for your iPhone. It allows you to tweak the status bar at the top of your home and lock screens. Well “tweak” is a bit misleading as Apple doesn’t allow developers to customize the status bar. Instead this app lets you put status bar overlays on the wallpaper of your home and lock screens so the status bars look different, without actually modifying any fixed assets in iOS.

Yahoo Finance (free)

Some of my favorite iOS apps are stock apps. I just like to keep track of what the markets are doing as I pretend to be rich. Unfortunately the default Stocks app that comes with iOS is fairly minimal in features and looks like the place neon traffic signals went to die. A great alternative to the built-in Stocks app is Yahoo Finance. This app gives you quick access to the latest stock prices and news in an attractive package. Yahoo Finance is the most popular financial website and it’s nice to see the company has put so much effort into this app. The full screen charts are amazing and the ability to track currencies, industries, and commodities are a huge bonus. And in case you like watching news about stocks instead of reading it, the latest version of this app added support for video.

Acompli Email & Calendar (free)

If you don't like how Apple segregates email, calendar, and contacts into separate apps on your iPhone, might I suggest Acompli? The app supports Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, Google Apps and Gmail account and allows you to see all your emails, calendars, and contacts in one place. Acompli has a drop dead gorgeous design, but more than that--and more than just combining all your email, calendars, and contacts in one place--the app also offers an easy “files” view that lets you quickly see all the attachments you have shared with people. Another plus is the ability to easily share your location with people in your contacts. It’s too bad this app doesn’t support more email providers, but we hope that will change in the future.

Piano Tiles (free)

This is one of those games that are set to become as addictive as other iOS classics like Dots. In Piano Tiles there is one rule: don’t touch the white tiles. As the tagline states: “Is it easy? Everyone can handle it, but not everyone can handle it well.” The game offers five modes of play including Classic, Arcade, Zen, Rush, and Relay. Every time you tap a black tile you’ll hear a charming piano sound. The more black tiles you tap the further you go along in the game. I know, it sounds weak, but give it a try. You’ll become addicted.

Scanbot – £0.69

I’m the kind of guy who likes to digitize all his receipts so I always have proof of things I’ve paid for and so I can know where my money is going. There’s a lot of scanning apps for iPhone out there but I’ve found a new favorite. Scanbot is a bit different than other iPhone scanning apps in that it captures scans at a whopping 200 dpi, which is the same resolution most flatbed scanners do. This means you’ll get more detailed handheld scans than ever. The app also features must-have standards such as edge detection, so only the document you are scanning is scanned and not the surrounding area (like a table top). The app also supports a number of cloud services for automatic uploads.

Carousel by Dropbox – free

Normally I always say the last thing iOS needs is another photo app, but Carousel by Dropbox is a bit different. Instead of being another Instagram clone, Carousel is a photo management app that automatically saves and uploads every photo you take with your iPhone at full-resolution. The app displays the photos in beautiful timelines and lets you share your photos with friends. This is part of Dropbox’s move to becoming more than just a standard cloud storage company and I suspect we’ll see more niche apps like this from the company in the future.

Monument Valley – £2.49

Monument Valley is one of those games that make you marvel at how cool multi-touch gaming can be and that also makes you awestruck at the same time because it looks so beautiful. In the game you help Princess Ida navigate around surreal architectural mazes with impossible geometry--manipulating the world to help her clear a path through it. Almost just as beautiful as the graphics are the accompanying sound effects. It’s a short game, but well worth the price.

Cloak — Incognito Mode for Real Life – free


“Cloak scrapes Instagram and Foursquare to let you know where all your friends, ‘friends,’ and nonfriends are at all times so you never have to run into that special someone. Think of it as the antisocial network.”
Thats the first line of the description for the Cloak app and it’s captivated tens of thousands of people since. It is perhaps the perfect antidote to our over-sharing culture. Cloak allows you to actively avoid everyone who you kinda, sorta like, but don’t really. Matter of fact, the app encourages you to “Hate Follow” people – follow people you hate on location sharing sites just so you can avoid them in real life. Right now only Instagram and FourSquare are supported, but the company is working on adding Facebook support soon too.

The Week UK – free


I’ve been reading The Week for years. I’ve often called the magazine the “Twitter of Print” because if beautifully summarizes the news of the past week from all the major papers and Internet sites into an impressively designed magazine.
I’ve subscribed to a number of digital magazines over the years and The Week get props for being the digital mag with the best interface. Many magazines try to make their apps to glitzy with needless eye-candy or pointless features. The Week eschews that for excellent navigation, a clean interface, and a great way to browse through past issues. On the first screen users can simply swipe through a stack of issues piled on top of one another to find the one they are looking for – it’s simply brilliant.
The Week does require a subscription for full access, but anyone who downloads the app can try it free for 14 days. Also the app has just added an enhanced Daily Briefing section that features 10 important facts about the day; company news, markets and financial talking points; and a selection of inspiring quotes, making The Week an app I now turn to daily.

AirHelp – free


Thanks to EU regulations passengers can get up to €600 in compensation if their flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked. However, as with most regulations, the process of getting your money back can be a paperwork nightmare. That’s where AirHelp comes in. Simply start a new claim in the app, enter all the information (flight info, your name, etc) and the app spits out exactly how much you’re entitled to. AirHelp then gets to work handling all the paperwork for you. If they succeed in getting your compensation they keep 25% of it while you get 75%. Seems like a good deal since there are no fees if they aren’t successful and since you don’t need to lift a finger to get your money.

MyScript Calculator – free


This is an awesome app for students, engineers, or any profession that relies on scribbling down maths formulas. While calculator apps make it easy to punch in simple equations, it’s often complex and confusing to type in powers, roots, and exponentials (7², √, ∛, e³). Well, no more! MyScript Calculator lets you easily draw any maths equations with your fingers and the app will convert your scribbles into digital text and give you an answer at the same time. It’s an ingenious solution to an annoying problem.

UP Coffee – free


This app is by the makers of the Jawbone UP fitness band – and it’s something most coffee drinkers should probably take a look at. Using UP Coffee with your UP fitness band the app will tell you how your daily cups of coffee affect your sleep at night – and your productivity throughout the day. The app works by the user inputting when and how much coffee he or she drinks. The Up Coffee app then uses algorithms to detect altered movement patterns throughout the day and night via the UP band. It’s a great way to learn if that after-dinner coffee is keeping you up after hours.

Jet Car Stunts – £1.49

This game is just freaking awesome. We love it. No other racing title has gripped our attention for such a long, uninterrupted period of time. The concept is simple and the gameplay is beautiful. To be frank: this is perhaps one of the best games available for iPhone and iPad – and at just £0.69 it’s an absolute steal.
I’d also suggest giving this one a look ahead of the sequel: Jet Car Stunts 2. The original game is simpler and a lot more satisfying. The sequel is good but it feels like the developer has tried to do too much and, as a result, has lost the essence of what makes Jet Car Stunts so good. 
It’s not a racing game, per se – although you are awarded for speed and driving skill. The real USP of the game is the layout and composition of the tracks, which are platforms housed in the sky, high above earth. You have to make huge jumps using your car’s jetpack, navigate loops and do your best not to fall off the track. 

If you like driving games and you don’t already own this title, stop what you’re doing right now, head over to the App Store and download it! 

Habit List – £1.99

There’s no shortage of to do list apps in the App Store, but they all miss one crucial point: many of us create daily lists of things we have to do, things which repeat multiple days a week. That’s where the beauty of Habit List comes in. It lets you create recurring lists (say, “Workout every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) automatically. You swipe your items off the list as you complete them and the automatically reappear the next day you want them to. I’ve been using Habit List for months and it’s earned a coveted spot on my iOS dock.

AirBnB – Free

I’m surprised by just how many people don’t know about AirBnB. It’s the app/service that allows you to find accommodation in virtually any local around the world. Just enter the dates you are going and the city you are going to and you’ll get a list of available housing locals are renting out in the area. AirBnB is a great (and often better and cheaper) alternative than renting a hotel or hostel and is almost always a much better way to get the “local’s” experience of a place.

Duolingo – Free

If you are going to be traveling somewhere, it never hurts to learn the local language. In the past this meant joining a class or reading boring language guides. But app now make learning a language much easier—and more fun. Duolingo acts as a game almost, allowing you to track your progress and hit goals as you go along. The app allows users to learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. It’s completely free and doesn’t have any ads. How do they benefit, you may ask? Because the lessons that you are taking have a hidden benefit: it helps the company translate real-world texts in the language you are learning, which help them translate the web into other languages. Best of all, the app has been scientifically proven by an independent study to be more effective than a one semester university course in the same language.

London Bus Checker – £1.99

Waiting for a bus anywhere is a pain, but no more so than in London where it seems like every bus that comes by is not the one you need. Thankfully an app like London Bus Checker exists. I’ve been using it for over six months now and it’s saved me more time and headaches than you can imagine. The app works by showing you all the bus stops on a map in your area. Tap a stop to see a real time list of the upcoming buses, including how far away they are and when the next one of the same number comes if you miss the immediate one. Also a nice feature is that you can view the route map for any given bus—handy for planning your journey.

Vert 2 – £1.49

I think everyone should have a conversion app on their iPhone. After all, there’s so many random times when you find yourself needing to convert something, be in currency, metric to imperial, or even UK to EU shoe sizes. The problem is most conversion apps don’t offer the whole host of units you might need to convert on the fly—especially cloths. That’s where Vert 2 comes in. Vert is the most feature rich unit conversion app I’ve found on iOS. It gives you the ability to convert over 900 units on the fly. Moreso it’s freaking beautiful.

Wordeo – Free

After 2013 was full of video-based social media apps, 2014 was surely going to follow suit. Right at kick off Wordeo has launched, a video messaging app launched by former employees of Apple and the BBC. The real bonus, this one is free.
The aim of the app is to message each other with video clips and to “be as quick and easy as sending a tweet.” That can be difficult to upload video, write a title and share but Wordeo claims you can compose and send a message in 30 seconds. You enter the text you want to send on and the app searches through Getty Image’s library of content to match up and create a video message. From there you can change fonts, choose different clips and then change the accompanying music.
The app allows you to send these packages to a friend, post on Facebook or Twitter and even upload it to your own Wordeo feed. If you still don’t fully understand, here’s a sample message.
Wordeo is the brainchild of David Bailey, ex director of worldwide retail development at Apple and partner Bob Johnson who helped to build BBC iPlayer. Wordeo is currently available on the iTunes store for iPhone and iPod touch devices sporting iOS 6 or 7.

Jelly – Free

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has been busy at work creating a new social networking app called Jelly. It has no relation to Jelly Splash but because of the name is can be difficult to discover on the app store, search for Jelly Industries if you have any issues.
Jelly is Yahoo Answers for 2014, the aim of the app is to use other people’s knowledge by asking a question and crowd-sourcing an answer. There’s also a photo sharing element to it as well. Jelly state, “It’s not hard to imagine that the true promise of a connected society is people helping each other.” That’s what Jelly is trying to do, help people get through life by sharing information. The best example of the app so far comes from Mr Mark Zuckerberg.
The founding father of Facebook found a spider in his bathroom and was unsure how dangerous it was. So how do you go about finding out? He posted an image on Twitter asking the question and less than 10 minutes later he’d received a reply and knew to swiftly get it outside and as far away as possible.
If we’re honest you won’t be using this on a hourly basis much like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But it will come in useful when you need some specialist knowledge or want that warm fuzzy feeling when you’ve helped someone out of a pickle.

Citymapper – Free

Picture the scene: you’re out in London (or New York) and you’re a bit lost, drunk or both. It’s late, most likely raining, and you need to get home but you’re in an unfamiliar part of the city surrounded by strange buildings and weird people. What do you do?
Simple, just open Citymapper, enter where you want to go and the application will give you detailed instructions, complete with public transport information, on how to get from your current predicament to the comfort of your own abode.
The New York Times described Citymapper as the best travel app to ever hit New York and on this subject that particular publication ‘ain’t wrong. Citymapper is a must have application for anyone living in either London or New York.

Viber – Free

Viber is in many ways just like Skype, it syncs your contacts and provides you with push notifications as well as regular messaging or calling. This app is for everyone: from the jet-setting world traveler who wants to keep in contact with people around the globe, to the average user who might have hit their messaging limit.
Viber allows users to send video, photos and messages just by connecting to 3G or Wi-Fi.

Tinder – Free

Dating can be tough. Online dating seems like a good solution but can also be a laborious process. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time you joined the Tinder party.
Designed with dating in mind, Tinder is the rapidly up and coming social networking app for people ages 18-35. Tinder makes things easier by utilising your Facebook profile, set up takes seconds simply by connecting your Facebook account and then you’re free to browse singles nearby.
Tinder gives you a continuous feed of faces to evaluate. Like someone? Swipe to the right. Not so keen? Swipe to the left. Once you “like” someone who has also extended you the same courtesy a notification pops up and you can begin messaging. It’s really that simple.

Couch to 5K – Free

Couch to 5k is an app designed to help the average, non-runner get into a routine to help them get fit. The name speaks for itself when describing what type of fitness level you can start off with, so there is no need to worry about how long it’s been since you last sported those dusty trainers.
This app uses a time frame of three times a week, for 20-30 minutes for nine weeks to allow users to go from virtually no exercise to the ability to run 3.1 miles.
With in-app music playlists and real human vocal cues from a selected trainer this app will make you feel as though you’re in the presence of an actual personal trainer.
It allows you to track and calculate pace and distances of your workouts, as well as your progress. If you’re looking to train for your local 5k or even just to get into shape then we highly recommend you purchase this app.

TriggerTrap – Free

Have hopes of becoming a world-class photographer but don’t have the money for the proper tools? Or maybe you just want to dazzle your friends with your amazing photography skills. Either way Triggertrap is the inexpensive solution for you.
By using a simple adapter plug to connect your camera to your mobile device, Triggertrap transforms your smartphone or tablet into an advanced photography tool. Trigger modes include Timelapse, Distancelapse and long-exposure. These modes work to help the photographer create images that are compatible to those taken with expensive equipment.
The app itself is free while the dongle will cost you around £30, but when compared to the price of the latest cameras and changeable lenses this is nothing. Trustedreviews,com states this app is a “nifty addition to a photographer’s toolkit” and points out the unique trigger qualities that it has to offer.

Feedly – Free

The New York Times raves that ‘Feedly is what you needly.’ Feedly provides a personalized news feed for users, saving the time spent searching for news or checking in on your favorite Tumblr blog.
This RSS reader app allows users to track their favorite YouTube channels, news sites and blogs. It creates a magazine-like feel with a deck of tracked sources all easily accessed through the app by merely flipping pages-or scrolling through. Feedly even allows you to share articles or pages through popular social networking sites.

Cinemagram – Free

From the next Steven Spielberg to skateboarders, from video bloggers to parents wanting to creatively capture special family moments, the Cinemagram app has something for you.
This app allows users to create short, polished video clips to share with their friends. You can film a clip for up to six seconds, edit it with Cinemagram’s filters and effects and share it over your social networking feed. It’s so easy, even Tommy Wiseau could do it.
Praised for its creative nature, Cinemagram combines the use of video and still picture to create a Vine-Instagram hybrid app. This unique app allows users to freeze areas of the clip that they wish to remain stationary so the focus of the moving clip can shine. This app is a must have for those with creative ideas who wish to see them produced and shared.

Steam – Free

Gaming is no longer purely geek territory and is now very much a mainstream medium. Thanks to smartphone technology the gaming world has opened up a new platform that is literally much easier to get your hands on.
Steam provides over 2,000 games ranging from all genres and allows users to interact on mobile devices, desktops and even their televisions. The app creates an online community of users who want to play games and interact, all in one place.
The Steam website encourages users to “Meet new people, join game groups, form clans, chat in-game.” Take that gamer stereotypes of being antisocial!
This digital distribution app provides great deals and updates on games as well as providing a way for users to interact with other gamers. PCmag.com claims that it helps ease the transition from console to mobile device and is “damn near flawless in terms of usability and execution.”

Quora – Free

Maybe you’re the kind of person who spends time typing questions into Google search, or maybe you’re the kind of person who trolls the questions on Yahoo to provide condescending answers, either way this app is for you.
Developed by two former Facebook employees, Quora is one of the leading question-answer apps. Quora allows users to create a profile to add, browse, or respond to questions on topics that they have knowledge of or interest in.
Like most apps nowadays Quora lets users share questions and answers with their friends and followers. It also has a location-based feature that allows users to read topics that are being discussed nearby.
With an attractive interface this app has received great reviews and provides users with endless amounts of topics to read up on whenever there is a spare moment. Users boast about the speed of the app for those moments when you need to know something right there and then. Bottom line is: You’ve got questions and Quora’s got answers.

Omnifocus 2 – £13.99

Imagine how much easier life would be if you had your own personal assistant. Someone to keep track of your appointments and events, to write down your every thought and basically help organize your life. Well, stop rubbing that magic lamp, because Omnifocus has the app for you.
Described as a personal task manager, the Omnifocus app allows users to record thoughts, memos and appointments into their device. It creates to-do lists that will actually keep you on track with reminders of tasks that need to be completed.
What makes this app different from pre-installed solution, such as the iPhone’s Calendar app, is that it provides location-friendly tasks and reminders. Omnifocus allows users to create lists based on hierarchy and allows them to track task details like due dates, audio notes and images attachments.

Dragon Dictation – Free

Typing on the small iPhone keyboard can be difficult, why not give those tired fingers a rest? Siri is great for using talk to text technology but sometimes she just doesn’t understand you. Dragon Dictation is a free app that allows you to speak into your phone and it will transcribe it allowing you to tweet, text, email or update your Facebook status. This app is perfect for grammar nerds as it allows you to call out punctuation marks, such as “Bill COMMA take out the garbage FULL-STOP". 

Dubble – Free

The latest in phone photography brings us Dubble, the first app that allows people from around the world to merge their photos together. First, take a photo. Then, Dubble will randomly select someone else’s to create a unique image. Shoot directly in-app or use a picture from your camera roll to Dubble an image, then share it on your social networking sites. This app is an innovative, cool and will spice up your Instagram account.

Around Me – Free


Exploring a new place can be fun, but what happens if you need to fill up your gas tank or withdraw some money from an ATM? Around Me is a free app that uses Wi-Fi to identify your location and finds everything from the pubs to the pharmacies nearest to you. Relying on Google Maps for directions, Around Me is a great and easy to use companion app for any iPhone user.

Shazam – Free

Shazam is one of those apps where you wonder how you coped before you downloaded. This musical recognition app will make sure you will never be bothered by those unidentifiable ear worms again - simply hold your iPhone to a speaker and it will tell you what song is playing in as little as 1 second. 

Tumblr – Free

Post pictures, links, observations or videos from wherever you are in the world with the Tumblr app for iPhone. Not only will it let you keep up with your favourite blogs and publish remotely, it also offers offline support where you can post, like and reblog. Nice!

Movies by Flixter – Free


At a loose end? Or just fancy seeing the latest Jennifer Lawrence film? Whatever you want, this is the app for you. All you need to do is select a film and the app works out everything else. It displays nearby cinemas and screening times based on your location. Plus, you can customise it by adding your favourite cinemas. All you need to do is buy the popcorn.

Mint – Free


You don't just need a budget: you need Mint. It allows you to track and manage your money on the go - and see what you can save. Simply open an account, add your details and Mint will do the rest. If you're worried about security, the app is password protected and you can deactivate access remotely if you ever lose your phone.  It also syncs across other devices so you can use it on a desktop or via any tablets you have.

3Rings – Free


3Rings is an app designed to help you keep a watchful eye on elderly relatives to ensure they’re ok.
The service links an elderly relative’s traditional landline phone to the rest of the family’s smartphones via an app interface, SMS texts, calls or emails. Essentially, the elderly relative makes a daily call from their landline to 3Rings’ automated hub, this then relays the “check-in” to linked family and friends via either the app, a text message, an automated call or an email. If the relative doesn’t call to check-in for a day as expected, then an alert will be sent out suggesting you check on them.
The app is free to download and comes with a free trial, but a full package costs either £5.99 per month or £9.99 per month depending on what options you go for.