Posted 05/11/2015 at 1:37pm | by J.R. Bookwalter
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This week's column is chock full of stuff for photo buffs, including a revamp of Flickr, updates to Droplr and PhotoSync, and more. We've even got a handwriting keyboard app and a mobile app for making charitable contributions, so let's dispense with the introduction and get things going!
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It appears Yahoo may finally be getting it with last week's release of Flickr 4.0 [1] (free, universal), which revamps the web and mobile apps to work more like iCloud Photo Library. Coupled with the existing 1TB of free storage space, the facelift puts the focus on your photos with a new Camera Roll timeline that displays images from most recent to oldest. (You can also now zip through the years with a swipe of a finger.) There's a Mac automatic uploader that works great with the new Photos app, and the web app has a really cool Magic View mode that automatically collates images based on subject or content.
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Another cloud-based service jumping to 4.0 is Droplr [2] (free, universal), which allows mobile users to share photos, screenshots, videos, songs, documents, and much more from anywhere with an Internet connection. The slick new app offers a redesigned UI with iPhone 6 support, the option to make files self-destruct, real-time push between Mac and iOS, a sharing extension, and the ability to go Pro via in-app purchase. If you already use the service, this is a no-brainer download â€" otherwise, it looks like a pretty slick alternative to whatever you're already rocking.
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A third-party keyboard app that allows users to deliver handwritten messages? MyScript Stylus [3] (free, universal) makes it possible using either fingertip or stylus from any application, including email, text message, calendar, web browser, and more. Handwriting is converted into digital text in real time using cursive or print, complete with line breaks, erasing characters, words, or sentences, inserting or removing spaces, joining words, or overwriting characters. The app includes support for 14 different languages without the need to enable full access mode, with another 39 languages available to those willing to trust the app with their privacy.
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Flickr wasn't the only photo app with a big update last week: PhotoSync 3.0 [4] ($2.99, universal) has long been one of our favorite ways to transfer, backup, or share photos and videos wirelessly. The latest update adds support for Amazon Cloud Drive, deletion of photo library images, full support for iCloud Photo Library and iPhone 6 displays, importing pics to Photos for Mac, creating subdirectories, support for burst mode and edits made to photos or videos, folders, smart albums, Moments, screenshots, and even duplicate detection for many services. It's like an iOS file manager for photos and videos, and we consider it a must-have.
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If you actively donate to charities and other good causes, Pledgeling [5] (free, iPhone) has been designed to make it easy to find non-profit entities and make donations from anywhere you happen to be. Absolutely free for both the donor and charity, the app features thousands of verified non-profit organizations with quick discovery, the ability to follow favorite causes, build a charitable profile, share and encourage others to give, and consolidate your giving history when tax time rolls around, complete with receipts.
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You have been challenged! Selfiest [6] (free, iPhone) allows selfie fans to snap new shots, participate in challenges, and vote for others. The app includes a built-in photo effects editor to make shots look their best before posting, with the option to share images straight to Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Create beautiful, funny, crazy, or weird selfies, then rack up likes from other users, view statistics for your fans and likes, and discover others taking the selfie challenge.
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A companion to the existing chat service, FileChat [7] (free, iPhone) allows account holders to accept new invitations, interact with professionals, friends, or families, preview Google Drive or Dropbox files, change online status, and receive push notifications when new activity occurs. Users can chat, like, or vote for documents, videos, and photos that reside in cloud storage accounts without having to jump over to crowded social networking apps. Sounds good to us!
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To paraphrase the great philosopher John Cougar Mellencamp, "When the paywalls come tumbling down / When the walls come crumblin', crumblin'..." NYT Now 2.0 [8] (free, iPhone) delivers the best of The New York Times to the palm of your hand, and now it's absolutely free with unlimited articles and no more paid subscription. The app has also brushed up on its UI by placing the newest articles at the top and highlighting them with redesigned cards and 1Password support, as well as the ability to receive an alert each day for the Morning Briefing and share screenshots of summaries with friends.
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Links
- ^ Flickr 4.0 (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Droplr (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ MyScript Stylus (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ PhotoSync 3.0 (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Pledgeling (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Selfiest (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ FileChat (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ NYT Now 2.0 (itunes.apple.com)
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