This week’s roundup includes iOS-based apps for enjoying the imminent football season, as well as new and updated offerings for photos and videos.
Football season is starting! That means you might be tempted to fill the hours that real games aren’t on by playing around with the digital equivalent. A new arrival on the scene is Flick Kick Field Goal 2014 which, yes, lets you kick field goals, but is unique mostly for its social component, letting you recruit and compete against friends and family from across the country. An evolving list of rewards, challenges, and match-ups are available every day. The app is free (though there are in-app purchases) and available for iPhone and iPad.
Flickr is doing its darndest to present itself as the Facebook-hater’s alternative to Instagram. The latest update adds a number of new filters to the app’s feature set, but also lets you add filters live while composing the shot. You can also create custom filters, and the app now features free editing tools that were previously only available to paying customers.
KeyCam is a free iPhone app that lets you put a timer on your camera, letting you get your selfie without holding the camera. Just set the timer for five, 10, or 15 seconds before the picture is taken, or clap when you’re ready to be photographed. A visual countdown and sounds will let you know when the picture about to be snapped.
The free Human app has one goal: To get you moving 30 minutes or more a day. (That’s supposedly the magic number that will reduce your risk for diabetes and other obesity-related diseases.) Turn it on, throw your phone into your pocket or bag, and the app tracks your walking, running, and bicycling through the day. Developers say you should be able to run the app in the background throughout the day without needing a recharge.
Material for iPhone is the latest in the Zite-style social newsreaders. Sign in with Facebook or Twitter, and the app will provide a magazine-style layout of headlines shaped toward your interests. It can also be read in offline mode. Content is delivered in twice-daily editions.
This trading card game for iPhone and iPad has been updated with 40 new missions, 25 new cards, and the addition of a cooperative “bosses” mode that lets you team up with buddies to fight adversaries.
It’s just $1, but Split the Tab for iPhone might save you money. It’s fairly straightforward: Just input your dinner tab; the app figures out the appropriate tip, then figures out what each person should pay—they can then pay their share to you using PayPal, cash, or credit card, and you can pay the restaurant
Sympler is a free video-mixing app for the iPhone: You pick video clips or photos to fill the six grid boxes in the app’s interface, even pulling content from your Vine and Instagram apps. Select music from your iTunes library, then start mixing—you’ll end up with a 20-second video perfect for sharing on social networks.
Can Opener lets users optimize their music for their headphones … Wedding Party allows you to share and collect photos from friends at group events … and ESPN College Football has been updated for the new season.
Check out last week’s iOS apps roundup, Fun and games.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.