This week’s roundup of new apps lets users put Disney characters in their home movies, and features offerings in comics, games, travel, and search.
The free Comics4Kids app for iPhone and iPad has always been a child-friendly way to introduce youngsters to a comic collection—it filters out the darker, Frank Miller-inspired titles that might be in one’s own digital library and offers kids just the age-appropriate stuff. This week’s update makes the app more iPad friendly, letting users read in landscape mode and view two pages at a time.
It’s back to school time! Chegg is a universal iOS app that lets users rent digital textbooks. It’s been “rebuilt and redesigned,” with a new homescreen that makes it easier for users to find the content they need. Among the other new features: A free preview of any textbook that Chegg offers, as well two free “guided solutions” to aid your understanding, every week.
Wish you could star in a movie with Pixar and Disney’s most-beloved characters? Disney Infinity: Action! is a free iPhone and iPad app that let users overlay animations of Mr. Incredible, Sully (from Monsters), and Captain Jack Sparrow onto their own iOS-based videos. Videos can then be shared to Facebook or Twitter for maximum Disneyfied fun.
It’s rare that you hear good news about the Nook platform these days, but the folks at Barnes & Noble keep chugging along, this week introducing the free Nook Video app for iPhone and iPad. Users can rent and buy streaming TV shows and movies from B&N’s online store, and even download those videos for offline viewing.
Even toys as old-fashioned as train sets find new life on iOS. Lionel Battle Train features toy trains with a twist: you guessed it they’re prepared for battle. Weapons and armor can be upgraded with in-app purchases costing up to $20.
This app is for users who don’t want to choose between Google and Bing: Phlo claims that users can “type once, search everywhere.” The results don’t all appear on the same page; instead, type the search term in, then change the results page without retyping. There are also plenty of options for social-media sharing and saving links for later reading.
Yes, iOS 7 is going to bring iTunes Radio to life, but that isn’t slowing the rush to market of competing music apps. Radical.FM is the latest, a Pandora-like offering for iPhone and iPad that lets users choose the music genres they want to hear, and make adjustments so they hear as much or as little of each genre as they choose. The app is proving popular: The service said this week it is adding servers to keep up with demand.
TripCase is a free iPhone app that helps users plan out-of-town trips. This week’s update lets American Express users connect to special offers in the app, and provides all users with wider access to special offers from restaurants, hotels, and other locations they may want to visit on their trip.
Notability now works on the iPhone … YouTube (pictured) has added a “picture-in-picture” feature … and WatchESPN has a “live toolbar” to let users track other scores while viewing their favorite games.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.