App Review: Disney Story

Product: Disney Story

iTunes Link: Disney Story

Cost:  Free

Category:  Photography

Platform: iOS

Device: iPhone

Rating: 5/5

Review:

Description:

Story App by Disney may not be unique but it is executed very well.  The app provides you with a “Digital” photo book that you can share with your friends and family.  When you launch the app it allows you to create a story by inserting pictures or videos from your phone.  You can then add comments and text before sharing it with your friends and family 

The stories can be shared via Facebook or email. 

Note that there are limits to how much you can share per story.  20 pictures and 2 videos are max per story.  Also note that the videos can be at max 1 minute long. 

You do have themes that you can choose from and you can add unlimited pages of text to each of your stories.    

Pros:

This free app allows you to share bits of your life in a story format.  From your child’s first steps to successful Thanksgiving dinner; you can choose a moment of your life and make a story out of it.

Cons:

Limits on the number of photos and video length are areas the app can improve on.  1 minute videos are typically hard to convey the intended message.  Although we suspect with editing it can be done.  But you can’t download the video, edit it and use it in the app as only media on your iOS device can be used for Story App.

Bottom Line:

Get It.  Story App by Disney is great way of sharing a moment of your life in a stylish manner. 

App Review: Minu Timer

Product: Minu Timer

iTunes Link: Minu Timer

Cost:  Free

Category:  Utilities

Platform: iOS

Device: iPhone/ iPad

Rating: 4/5

Review:

Description:

Minu Timer is a free timer/stop watch for your iPhone/iPad.  Yes, there are countless other timers available but what sets apart Minu is the design and look of it.  If you are a high connoisseur of all things design (which maybe one reason you have an iPhone) and only enjoy apps if they look great then this app is for you. 

Pros:

A well designed timer/stop watch app.

Cons:

We wish the timer had some pre set settings; allowing for a quick timer based on your needs.

Bottom Line:

Get it!  If you are in need of a timer/stop watch then this would be a good option.    

App Review: MyFitnessPal

Product: MyFitnessPal

iTunes Link: myfitnesspal

Cost:  Free

Category:  Lifestyle

Platform: iOS

Device: iPhone & iPad

Rating: 5/5

Review:

Description:

Getting healthy and getting into shape is very hard; and it consists of two things. 

1. Exercising  

2. Eating healthy (Portion control and calorie counting)

Until they come up with an app that forces you to exercise, you have to rely on self motivation on the first part of this routine.  However the second part of getting healthy has gotten a bit easier.  MyFitnessPal is an app for your iPhone and iPad that helps you set daily goals, count your calories and keep you honest about your healthier lifestyle.  The app includes cool features such as a bar code scanner that automatically adds the calories for the item you are eating.  You can also search on the items that do not have bar codes (we even were able to find some ethnic foods on the list).  When you work out you can also input your time and calories you used during your routine.

Pros:

The apps easy to use system of inputting your daily calories intake as well as the scanner and your daily goal makes watching your calories easy to do.  We also found out that if you LOVE making lists then this app provides you with a unique opportunity to make lists of foods you eat. 

Cons:

We wish we had a better grasp of serving size (Perhaps adding some pictures so that we could estimate our portion size a little better).

Bottom Line:

Get it!  If you are planning on losing weight or getting in shape this is a great app to use.  The bar code scanner makes inputting your food even easier and it provides a healthy daily calorie intake based on your weight, height and desired amount of weight you want to lose.   

App Review: ICEE Maker

Product: ICEE Maker

iTunes Link: ICEE Maker

Cost:  Free

Category:  Games

Platform: iOS

Device: iPhone

Rating: 1/5

Review:

Description:

ICEE Maker provides your children (and during long waits for your doctor you) with the ability to make your own ICEE.  The game allows you to choose your flavor, cup type, straw and after you make your ICEE even wash the machine.  Once you have created your ICEE you could share it via email or upload it to Facebook.

The app also has a few other features, such as a store, and another game called ICEE slice.  This is supposed to be similar to the Fruit Ninja game.

Pros:

The ICEE maker is interesting enough that will keep the kids occupied for about 30 minutes at most.  The ICEE slice game has very poor response and will make the player very frustrated.

Cons:

Unfortunately, the free game comes with a lot of Pop up ads.  The majority of flavors and cups and accessories are also for pay, so if you have young children make sure that in app purchase is not automatic.

Overall the game gets frustrating to play with the pop up ads so be aware of it.

Bottom Line:

Skip it, unless you are a huge ICEE fan.