Onavo: If you use a capped data plan, you might have to seriously consider using Onavo. It compresses emails, apps or web surfing to as much as 90 percent! Sounds too good to be true, right? Onavo promises you could pretty much double or triple the data plan you’re on, with it working on anything data-related-except video, sadly. It works by routing the downloads through its cloud-based servers, so while it might make pages etc load a bit slower, the data is already compressed by the time it gets to you. Free.[imgclear]
Verbs: What really shines about Verbs is that it doesn’t bog you down, the app feels light and is very easy to use. Starting a chat is simple, the little chat bubbles are attractive and managing multiple chats is like the ‘tab view’ in mobile Safari (zoomed out cards). It displays the current conversations you have open in the top right corner of your buddy list and in its ‘tab view’ shows you how many new IMs you’ve missed. It’s the prettiest IM app in the App Store (but comes with limited push). $3.99[imgclear]
Super 8: A super fun, full featured and free vintage video camera app. Not only does it let you shoot video (with front facing and back facing), you can change effects and filters by swiping across the camera case in mock fashion (it’s more fun than it sounds) and play the video by pulling down a projector screen (complete with old school styled buttons). You can even add flickering and scratching film. So cool and so free.[imgclear]
Hype Machine: Hype Machine, the Whole Foods of obscure indie-blog popularity tunes, is now pocket-sized. As opposed to the browser version of Hype Machine, which is essentially a big list of streamable songs music bloggers are excited about, the app is going for a more Pandora-esque thing, turning blog giddiness into radio stations. You can stream by recency, popularity, pick a favourite blogger to follow, or track what your pals are listening to. $3.99.[imgclear]
Geoloqi: Geoloqi crams almost every conceivable location service into one tidy package. Trying to meet up with a friend and don’t feel like explaining your coordinates over the dive bar din? Send a link to your spot via Geoloqi (and choose when it expires, for privacy’s sake). Automatic Foursquare checkins? Yup. Don’t want you roommate to bring a girl over because you’re studying, and the sound of them pounding against the wall is really, really irritating? Set Geoloqi to shoot him an email every time you get back to your place. Do whatever you want with it! The flexibility is pretty impressive-and it’s free.[imgclear]
Magic Piano: A re-imagination of how to play the piano, Magic Piano is a shrunkified experience of the uber popular iPad app of the same name. You can play along with popular classical music or just plain popular songs by tapping on falling light beams, freestyle a little in solo mode with three different keyboards, and listen to people play with Magic Piano all across the world. It’s all super easy and for some reason, feels natural. Free[imgclear]
