Outsmarting Traffic Together With Waze

Nowadays it is not easy to predict the traffic condition on the road, especially during the festive season where the mass exodus might happen in the city center. So, in order to avoid the traffic jam, we need to outsmart the traffic together with "Waze".

Waze is a free iOS app for people with iPhone to get the latest information on the traffic condition as well as contributing traffic information so that people around the area will know about it. The app is very simple to use and one can just use his or her Facebook account to login to the app and start contributing and get the traffic information.

There are many other functions that you can get from Waze, and like most of the navigation apps like the Papago application, one can also see speed of his or her own transport with additional feature like the average speed of that road. One feature I like about Waze on traffic information is it will display the traffic condition with different color, like red for heavy traffic.

Red color road for heavy traffic with the average speed shown

Other features in Waze include chatting with the people you see on the road, but I think this is unnecessary as it will be dangerous typing messages to the friend in front of you. There are other reports that you can get like the police or accidents and this kind of information is useful when we plan a journey, especially a long journey during the holiday season.

The cons of Waze is that it requires internet connectivity and supposedly required a fast one. By turning 3G and having the app on will definitely drain the battery of the iPhone fast. I remember I use the app once and before I realized, my iPhone battery level was at less than 40%.

Overall, Waze is really useful for those who want to plan the journey by getting information on the traffic before heading to the road to avoid having stuck in the middle of the traffic jam.

Dressing Up Your Photo Collection With Pic Collage

Pic Collage is another free iOS apps that one can download to their devices which uses the iOS - to dress up the photo collection in the Camera Roll or even in the social network like the Facebook.

The app is easy to use, there are a number of the templates of the frames; or user can choose to be creative by creating free form collages, cutouts, filters, borders, stickers, and text. It doesn't takes up much space, about 22MB of space on the devices. With new iPhones and iPads coming out with a standard of 16GB and up to 64GB, there will be plenty of space to store up this free iOS app. Good news for those on Android platform, the app is supported as well, so although I'm blogging on the iOS version, I believe it will be the same for the Android version.

I have been playing with the apps throughout the Chinese New Year week - to compile the list of food at any time to prevent myself from uploading a number of photos to either my social network account or my blog. As part of the social network, you will get notification on any of the collages posted by your friends, as well as they'll be getting yours and it seems fun to have this kind of photo sharing on the activities that you and your friends are doing.

Free form collage that I created using the app

Another example

The only drawback I found in the app is when I'm trying to be creative and use the free form collages, sometimes it ended up in a mess and I need to redo. However, this free form collages are also the pros that I found in the app.

Overall, I found that this app is nice to use and it is a must installed app for those who like to takes photographs on many things in an event and wanted to post the photos as one compilation of collage.

PIP Camera - Companion for self-snapshots

PIP Camera is another free photography apps for both the Android and iOS. Try searching "pip camera" in Google Play or iTunes App Store and then you are on your way to download and install the app on your smartphone.

The app has the motto " PIP Camera is the best companion for self-snapshots! Make your photos extra fun with creative shots!" which is indeed quite true. It must be one of the best, if it is not the best, especially for people who like to do self-snapshots using smartphones - since most smartphones equipped with the front camera. And since it is free and takes up to 30MB of space for iOS and 17MB of space for Android, the app is worth a try. The app is preloaded with the template use to edit photos and this library of templates is constantly update with the pic-in-pic (PIP - this is how the app get its name, I assume) material.

I only manage to try it on the iPhone 5 which is using iOS 6, and perhaps that is why sharing of the photo to social network like Facebook and Twitter seems so easy. I download some of the pic-in-pic material like iPad and iPhones and have fun editing photos of myself. Good thing is that the app can be use on devices without camera like my iPod Touch, of course you can only edit the photo while for devices with camera, you can directly edit the photo using camera mode - and did not seems to lag on the iPhone 5.

Overall, I found the app is nice and easy to use, and since it's free, it is really worth to download and play with it. It won't hurt to get extra photography app, well, at least to me.

[News] Angry Birds Rio is Now Free For Limited Time

Sqwaaaaak!!!! To all the angry birds fans, Angry Birds Rio is free to download for limited time only. Angry Birds Rio is the App Store Free App for the Week, so squicckkk, login to your iTunes and start download the app.

The review on Angry Birds Rio can be found here.

[News] Thor: Son of Asgard Is Now Free

If you have been a fan of the Mighty Thor, take this opportunity to download Thor: Son of Asgard for free. This is not the lite version of the game, this is the full version of the game featuring stunning HD graphics optimized for Retina Displays that bring Asgard and Thor to life. Step into the role of the Mighty Thor in this epic 3D action game. Asgard is under siege from forces both inside and outside its walls. Wield the great hammer Mjolnir as you battle rampaging foes to protect the kingdom and the nine worlds. Download now to save $2.99.

[App] Line Camera

It was not long before that I blogged about Line app as a better alternative to Whatsapp...well, back then I did not realize that NAVER Japan Corp has put in so much effort in this app...(for those who are not aware, it is the developer that develop the app for Line).

So, what kind of efforts am I talking about? It's the efforts to make LINE user experience to be complete by creating another app to complement with it, known as Line Camera...

Basically, the features are similar to the popular Instagram...and I dare say some of the features are even better...and all of that are made possible to be shared with your friends via LINE...I'm pretty outdated because the Line Camera is out for some time...
















Below this pic, I'm trying out the app...it's pretty cool...





I don't have the time to play with the app in detail yet but a big thumbs up to Line for this...whatsapp really is trailing far behind now...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

[News] Angry Birds Seasons Is Now Free

 

To all the angry birds fan, today Angry Birds Seasons is free for download. No, this is not the lite version nor the free version nor the cracked version. This is the genuine copy of Angry Birds Seasons that you can download directly from iTunes. Squicckkkk!!! So, let's come find out where the birds go this summer.


Download links for iPhone
Download links for iPad

[Review] LINE

Have you ever wonder which is the best app to use for social network. We all know that whats app has been the most popular app for quite a while as a replacement for text messages. But with LINE, we have something new. 

Whatever that Whatsapp is capable of, LINE is also capable of but LINE comes with a few extras...

Here are some of the cool features that I find with LINE.

If you are like many, you will find this extremely amazing...expressive stickers and emoticons...such emoticons and cute graphics have been one of the key features on LINE....as it makes communication becomes more than just words...sometimes, images speak a thousand words...I guess this is where LINE wins over Whatsapp....

Of course, this could also be the flaw of the app....imagine if someone kept sending emoticons and stickers to you on LINE....one could easily find it to be frustrating and annoying...

We all know that Group messages are important and LINE is making sure to include this key feature as well.

Group Messaging with your Favourite Friends or selected people would make communication in a group as well as group outing be organized easily. 

There are other ways for you to add friends such as using the Shake It feature or the QR codes...this is really where Whatsapp is missing...but I find the feature to be hardly useful...but still fun to have once in a while...

Wallpaper could also be easily customized...I'm sure this feature suits the females more than the guys...it's definitely not the killer feature but it's good to have it once you are bored with the usual background.

For me, I personally find one more feature in LINE that beats out the rest...the availability on the PC. 

One could easily access into LINE via the PC or even the tablet....For tablet, one would have to use the browser version at the moment. This is totally in line with what iMessage idea....so basically, LINE is integrating both the goods in iMessage, WhatsApp and the cute emoticons we once saw in WindowsLive Messenger...

Therefore, LINE is really an app that beats out most of its' competitors...very innovative and user friendly at the same time...a big thumbs up for the developers....

[Games] Bejeweled Blitz

If you are always on the go and in between you have about few minutes of break, there is a game that you might play in between the break. The game is short, addictive and you can even challenge your friends for high score over the Facebook account.

The game is Bejeweled Blitz by PopCap. In this game, you have 60 seconds to strategize, match and detonate as many gems as you can - just like the normal Bejeweled games, but only this time you have up to 60 seconds to play, which is good especially when you are playing it on a very short break.

Page to see where you rank among your friends in Facebook playing the game

There are options to play either offline aka challenging the imaginary challengers by the game itself (with the latest update), or you can login to your Facebook and compete with Facebook friends to see who get the highest score and the high score is not there forever, the competition will restart every week. Give the game a try and you will see how addictive it is.

Checking personal statistic of the game

Great Eastern 21 Days app

Well, I don't usually talk about the company that I work for but since I have downloaded the Great Eastern's 21 Days app, I decided to share it here. 

Honestly, I think it is pretty cool for the company to think of enhancing the brand through the Gen-Y method...technology!!


Alright, the 21 Days app is a free app that is set to be a reminder to your goals and your targets. It is especially suitable for those of you who have made certain commitments for your New Year resolution. 
Well, like most apps these days, you can link with your Facebook and Twitter.

This is the starting, promoting Great Eastern...lOL!

The setup is pretty easy...very user friendly!! a big THUMBS UP here!!

Basically, this is how the app works. You can set certain commitments that you want to make and set the promise that you make to certain people, for example, to your parents, loved ones or friends. I find it funny though that they decided to use the term "My Intentions" for all the commitments and goals. Wouldn't the word Goals or Targets be easier or more suitable? Anyway, you can shared those "Intentions" on Facebook and Twitter. There will be a setting for reminder that you can set. Some of the "My Intentions" available are like going to gym weekly, quit smoking and many others. 

A little about the company...the word "intentions" is being used repetitively...these people definitely love that word and believe it is powerful...(I doubt that though)

Here, you can contact the company, whether in Singapore or Malaysia...

Some of the example of the intentions that are available..."Make time for my family", I think that is an important one...

Overall, the app is user friendly and it's pretty cool initially. But after a while, I got bored of it...it's just another reminder app and there are many other reminder apps much better than this one...but a good start though...worth trying for those who are trying to keep to their New Year Resolution.

Viber - Free Phone Calls for Iphone, Ipod Touch and Ipad

Viber is a free Iphone application that allows you to make free phone calls to another Iphone owner who has the application installed. This application is currently one of the most popular free VOIP applications that are available in the iTunes Store and Iphone users who have downloaded the application can call whenever there is Internet connection be it Wi-Fi or 3G.

Viber is not only works with Iphone but it is also compatible with other Apple products like Ipod Touch and Ipad which use iOS 4.0 or newer. For Ipod Touch 3rd generation and older, a headset with mic is required to make the phone call using Viber.


After downloading and installed Viber on the Apple device like Iphone or Ipod Touch, one will requires to setup the application by entering a mobile number so that Viber can send an activation code to the mobile number. For Iphone, the activation code will usually be send to the Iphone, while for those who are using Ipod Touch or Ipad, they will get the activation code on their mobile phone. After the activation, Viber is ready to go and one will be able to save a lot of phone call charges by calling family and friends using Viber. Extremely good when call oversea.


One of the thing that I like about Viber is I feel that the sound is better than regular phone call especially when I'm in a Wi-Fi zone where the Internet connection is fast - assuming the receiver's Internet connection is the same. In the latest version, Viber includes call quality indicator, which really do me a great deal of favour in finding the location with the strongest Wi-Fi signal.