Apps

Iryss: an app that uses Machine Learning to identify objects

There are countless new features to take advantage of in iOS 11, but many of them are under the hood in the form of APIs and require App Store apps to get the full effect.

Iryss is a new app developed by Florian Hebrard, better known by the jailbreak community as Ziph0n, that takes advantage of Apple’s brand-new CoreML (Machine Learning) API to recognize objects around you in real time.

Faviconographer adorns your Safari tabs with site icons

Internet browsers long have featured favicons, small-sized site icons adjacent to the tab description. In fact, some still do. They are certainly great as visual cues and aids to speed up navigation. Nevertheless every so often, what's handy can be at odds with what looks aesthetically pleasing, which is why Apple - on their perpetual crusade against clutter - have no such default setting for Safari.

Shapr, StatMuse, Check, and other apps to check out this weekend

This week's edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a Tinder-like app for networking with like-minded people, an engaging sports app, and an ephemeral todo/task manager. And as always, we've picked two great new games for you to check out.

Shapr

This isn't a new app, but it's an interesting concept that I think is worth checking out if you haven't yet. Shapr is a personalized, mindful way of networking. Based on your interests and experience, the app provides a daily dose of inspiring, like-minded people to meet nearby in your area. Whether you're seeking friends or employees, each swipe is a new opportunity and a new discovery. Think of it like a dating app, but for professional networking. Kind of cool, right? Shapr is available for free.

StatMuse

Sports fans looking for a new way to follow and learn about their favorite teams and players may want to check out StatMuse. This app allows you to talk with your favorite players and personalities for your daily sports conversations. Keep up with the latest scores, stats and original content about the teams you love through personalized musings, and get instant NBA, NFL and MLB trivia answers dating back to 1876. Features the real voices of greats like Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice, Drew Brees, and more. StatMuse is available for free.

Check

Now I know what you're thinking: great, ANOTHER todo list app. But I like options, and for the folks out there in search of more options for todo list apps, this one might be worth Check-ing out (see what I did there?). Check is an ephemeral to-do list app of sorts. You can rapidly create new tasks and add a duration period. At the end of that duration, your todos will expire and disappear. Ultimately you can revive the tasks you don't finish from your "task graveyard" but the whole concept of getting your tasks done before they're gone is the motivation here. Maybe this works for you, maybe it doesn't. Either way, Check....it out. Check is available for free.

Iron Marines

From the creators of the award winner Kingdom Rush trilogy comes the most extraordinary space odyssey. A real-time, dynamic and deep strategy game that will transport you to amazing and unknown planets. Immersive, engaging gameplay, ridiculously appealing art, and a touch of silly humor. Brave soldiers, mighty mechas and powerful aliens await your command to face the greatest challenges. Yes this is a trashy freemium game with tons of IAPs, on top of an initial purchase price, but early reviews are through the roof. Iron Marines is available for $5 (with several IAPs).

Drag'n'Boom

In Drag'n'Boom, you play as a rebellious teenage dragon and burn everything your path! Roast the neighboring lords and steal their gold in order to mass the greatest treasure ever held by a dragon. It's a unique mobile gaming experience. The left side of the screen controls your movement: jump, fly and charge your prey, and the right side lets you spit fireballs: pillage, burn and ransack. There are over 50 levels to power through and a leaderboard, so you can challenge your friends for high score. Drag'n'Boom is available for free.

More apps to check out Apple’s free app of the week: INKS. Automatically download fresh desktop wallpapers every hour with Irvue

Automatically download fresh desktop wallpapers every hour with Irvue

 

For the Wallpapers of the Week collection, we typically focus on iOS devices and with the new iPhones launching in two days, there will be an entire iPhone 8 wallpaper series coming this week. In fact, I already have two complete iPhone 8 wallpaper packs ready for launch and need you to make more!

But today, we give much love to desktops. With a tip from my buddy @guitrasher, I can provide you with an unlimited number of photo quality wallpapers, installed to your desktop, every hour. But how? Just a simple download from the App Store.

Fullcourt, Todotxt+, Appetence, and other apps worth checking out this weekend

This week's edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a powerful a new social network for folks who like to play basketball, a unique to-do manager, and a dating app with an interesting twist. And as always, we've picked two great new games for you to check out.

Fullcourt

Like to play basketball? Then you have to check out Fullcourt. This app connects you with local basketball players, games, courts and gyms. See things like peak times and real-time traffic at some 10,000+ courts throughout the United States, create games, add your friends and more. Other features include push notifications, zip code search, invites via text message, court player count, and ratings. Fullcourt is available for free.

Todotxt+

Todotxt+ is a powerful client for managing tasks using just Plain Text, based on the todotxt.org format. Use simple rules to describe tasks, prioritize, categorize and annotate tasks with ease. And because it's plain text, it's ultra-portable - any computer in the world can understand it, and you are never locked into any service. Other features include metadata filter, multi-file importing, split-screen support, Spotlight indexing, and much more. Todotxt+ is available for free (with an IAP).

Appetence

Here's an interesting take on the now crowded, swipe-filled dating app space. Conversation is what matters most in Appetence. So as you talk to someone, and let the magic happen, your photos and similarities you share will gradually be revealed. The app uses a 'Slow Matchmaking' algorithm to pair you up with only people who shares your interests, ideas and view of life. As you talk to each person, you can distribute and collect likes and use them to reveal more of their profiles. I also like the UI design and that the app team says it constantly verifies profiles to avoid inactive and spam accounts. Appetence is available for free.

Nuzzle

If you enjoy number puzzle games, you're going to want to check out Nuzzle. It's similar to Sudoku, but it's a little more challenging. The goal is to align numbers from top to bottom and from left to right. There technically is no time restriction, but that does not mean the game will last forever. Share your top scores on social media and even challenge your friends. Nuzzle is available for $1 (with a single IAP to unlock a bigger board).

Blocky Beastmode Football

In honor of the NFL season kicking off this weekend, I thought I'd highlight Blocky Beastmode Football. As you'd expect, it's a football game starring Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch. In it you must rush, maneuver, and drive your way through the defense in full "BEASTMODE" as Lynch. It's an endless runner of sorts—think of it like Temple Run, but with a football theme. There are collectable characters and playing fields, retro-style arcade graphics, and you can compete with friends. Blocky Beastmode Football is available for free (with some IAPs).

More apps to check out WWDC app gains Handoff support, better Apple TV navigation & more Elk’s smart use of a Live Wallpaper tackles your biggest peeve with currency converters Popular Readdle apps are getting feature packed updates in time for iOS 11 Apple’s free app of the week: Streaks Workout YouTube for iOS gains support for live streaming via Apple’s ReplayKit Pixelmator Pro with advanced machine learning features is coming this fall

Elk’s smart use of a Live Wallpaper tackles your biggest peeve with currency converters

Anyone having the pleasure (or obligation) of travelling overseas has likely had their share of exposure to currency converters on iPhone. Whether you have selected your travel companion on the basis of features, price or mindlessly downloaded the first search result, in my experience the common denominator across the board is an off-putting level of self importance. More often that not, currency converters lack an understanding of their role on your phone.