Tpo be clear, Globemaster is basically a clever repackaging of Wikinews, Wikitravel and Google Maps — all free resources used with permission. So, why pay for information you can get for free on the Internet? There are many reasons. (Editor’s note: Globemaster is on sale for $0.99 until the end of 2009.)

Globemaster is polished, easy to navigate and endlessly interesting. Even more, it passes my “airplane mode” test. All the information and functions (except for the ability to refresh news alerts) are available and work as expected even when your device is in airplane mode. This is one of my most important requirements for any travel app. You don’t want to get lost in a foreign country and find out your guidebook stops working when you don’t have a cell connection — especially when you’re using AT&T.

Other Globemaster features include:

• an intuitive user interface
• more than 260 countries and areas, and 1400 major cities and 4100 photos
• satellite view by country/city using Google maps
• information that is neatly categorized for quick access
• tip calculator with one-tap access to customary tipping expectations of your currently selected country
• currency converter with on-demand update
• “favorites” for saving tip and currency presets
• comprehensive information for each country including history, holidays, travel advice, reference information, weather, electrical requirements, languages, eating, staying safe, etc
• “alerts” from Wikinews offer international news and maybe insight about which countries to avoid

One of Globemaster’s features — the “neatly categorized” part — is what makes this travel guide stand out from the pack. The app takes information from wikitravel.com and separates it into bite-size pieces so jet setters like you and me can quickly find just the information we need at any given moment. The categories make planning for your trip a breeze. Wondering what to see, where to sleep, how to show respect? It’s all just a tap away.

Keep in mind that wikis are community-edited resources. Although generally reliable, sometimes you may want to double-check the facts.

The developers, Ivan Kerpan & Evgeniy Lebed, have done an excellent job of wrapping an intuitive, user-friendly interface around a community-created information. With the addition of the currency converter and the tip calculator, Globemaster is a practical and useful travel app that globetrotters won’t want to leave home without.

• rating: 8/10
• app_name: Globemaster:

© AppCraver, 2009. | Globemaster: Offline travel guide is clever, polished and endlessly interesting | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Paris 3D is part of this new generation of maps. Using the same aerial image technology — all new photos from 2009 — the travel app allows users to take a thorough exploration of Paris, France. Of course, if Paris 3D were just another map app, there wouldn’t be much to write home about.

The app combines the true-life images with the functions of a guide book. Armchair travelers will enjoy reading about the 2000 points of interest, all categorized by interest and location. Tourists actually visiting the City of Lights have even more options. You can plan a walkable route for getting around Paris and, if you veer off the beaten path, use the geo-location features to find your way back to the hotel.

In practical application, Paris 3D works better than expected. The app is a beast! It’s a huge download that should only be attempted when connected to your computer. This is actually a good thing because it means that all the information Paris 3D needs is stored on your device not on the Internet. You’ll be able to plan your itinerary on the flight overseas, and, even better, you won’t be tied in to a costly data plan while roaming about the city.

For an app with so much information, the map is surprisingly responsive. Screen redraw time is minimal — about the same or less as you would get using Google maps — and navigating from map to description and back again is a breeze.

Like any map-based app, you use your fingers to scroll and drag your way around. But, there’s one thing you really need to know if you want to get the most out of Paris 3D. The map starts out with a typical top-down view, if you want to get the full 3D view you’ll need to rotate your viewing perspective. Hold one finger down on the screen, this becomes your anchor point. Now, use the other to rotate the plane of view or to take a 360-degree gander around a building.

It took me a while to figure this out. But, it’s quite impressive once you get the hang of it.

As you browse the Paris streets, double tap any building for more information. The app will provide a list of attractions and points of interest based on your current location.

Paris 3D is the first of a series of city-exploration guidebooks from Mobile 3D City. As my grandpa might say, it’s amazing what they can do with technology these days. Of course, this map app is more than just an awesome showpiece, it’s a practical guidebook for discovering Paris on foot, in a car, or from your living room. I can’t wait to see what cities they do next!

• app_name: Paris 3D
• rating: 8/10

© AppCraver, 2009. | Paris 3D Presents a New Way to Discover the City of Lights | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

iAm is an inspirational app designed to provide users with a guide for spiritual meditation and contemplation. The app uses stunning photography and more than 200 quotes from recognized authorities around the globe.

Artist Dan Baumbach shares his collection of nature photography and it is the primary reason to buy this app. The photos emote a stillness that can quiet a restless soul and nudge users toward serenity. The images really are lovely, so much so that I was surprised to find that they all came from the same artist. It’s amazing that so much beauty can come from one person.

The quotes are meant to go hand-in-hand with the photos as prompts for thoughtful meditation. From great minds and books such as Lao Tzu, Jesus, Buddha, Kahil Gilbran, Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, Saint Teresa of Avila, Voltaire, The Upanishads, and Aritstotle — nearly 60 authors in total.

A pop-up bar has icons for finding out more information about the authors. What I liked about this feature is that iAm goes beyond wikipedia to present “the best” resource available for each author. Some links go to wikipedia, but others link to specialized sources that present a richer learning experience.

It’s very interesting to learn more about the various schools of thought represented in iAm.

The pop-up bar is also used to scroll through quotes. Unfortunately, this part of iAm is a bit clunky. There is no clear indication of where or how to tap to bring up the toolbar, so I found it often took 3-4 tries to display the tools. It would be much easier to just swipe to the next quote or even shake to display the next page. (Though I think “shaking” is on the verge of becoming an overused parlor trick.)

The other problem I have with iAm is that while the photos are gorgeous, the rest of the design and layout is just ho-hum. There’s no correlation between the images and the rest of the app. A better font choice (something with a serif) and color-coordinated background colors would add some much-needed polish. Also, I’d like to see more of the images. The ability to zoom in on the photos, or at least make them full screen, would go a long way towards helping me find inner peace.

If, while browsing, you find a photo that brings you a step closer to peace and happiness, iAm makes it easy to spread the love. Any photo/quote combination can be emailed to a friend. It would be nice if there was a way to save a record of emailed pages or mark some as favorites.

Between layout and feature set, iAm definitely has “first-generation” feel. However, if you like photography, this app is worth a download just for the pictures. And, if it gets enough downloads, maybe the developer will polish up the rough edges in a future update.

• rating: 6/10
• app_name: iAm

© AppCraver, 2009. | iAm: Explore the Great I Am Through Quotes and Photos | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Each silent video lasts about a minute and can be viewed with captions in seven different languages. The best feature though, is the zoom option which offers a second animation with more detailed instructions for specific steps.

Regular AppCraver readers will know that I’m a big fan of paid apps. I believe that developers deserve to get paid for their hard work and good ideas. And, I think it’s shameful that most users are willing to tip their barista more than they pay app developers. However, in this case, I think that Anitello is overpriced. How-to videos are a good idea, but this app is too raw to charge full price. Anitello should be a $0.99 app. Here’s why.

Anitello starts off with 6 animations — 7 if you count the animated “help” video. The Anitello website says more videos are on the way, and are asking for feedback from users about what type of how to videos they’d like to see. If you like getting in on the ground floor, now is the time. In fact, it doesn’t get much more ground floor than this.

Although you can pause the app at anytime — and even zoom in for more detailed instructions — there is no way to rewind. This may seem minor, but if you’re jumpstarting a car, you may have to start again from the beginning when told to “remove jumper cables in the reverse order in which you attached them.”

I applaud the people who can take complex problems and then break down solutions into a few easy steps that laymen can understand. It’s a very special skill. However, in some cases Anitello’s “instructions” are overly simplistic. Trying to find safety in a thunderstorm? “A building is also a good shelter.” Hmmm… If you don’t know enough to come in from the rain then I doubt an iPhone app is going to be much help.

Another issue with Anitello is that it requires an Internet connection to watch the animations. Once again, it’s a design choice that defies logic. “Wherever you are, you usually have a mobile phone at hand,” say the developers. “Anitello and the animations are always within reach.”

Well, if you need instructions for tasting wine then you better hope that the wine bar has WiFi because downloading video without is enough to drive you to drink. On the other hand if you’re still on the Edge network, your wine will have plenty of time to breathe.

I admit, it’s a pain to download a 440MB app filled with video animations. (We did it recently with Italian Video Recipes.) But, I think most users would rather spend a little extra time installing the app than be unable to make a paper airplane while in airplane mode. Other apps have solved this problem by downloading videos as they’re requested but thereafter keeping the video on the device, but even this is a lackluster solution in my opinion.

Anitello could end up being a great resource. The animations are quality and the graphics are polished, but the app just isn’t “there” yet. Buy now and you can send in your suggestions to help make the app better. Or you can wait for an update or two and see if the features improve. Personally, I’ll keep the app around. The videos are entertaining and I’m curious to see where this goes next.

• rating: 5/10
• app_name: Anitello

© AppCraver, 2009. | Anitello: Animated How-to Videos for Life’s Little Problems | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

uKnowit, the trivia app from Baba Ganu, is a scrolling wonderland of minutiae. The compilation includes 10,000 quotations, trivia, factoids, how-to tips, definitions and etymology that could keep even Cliff Clavin occupied for quite some time.

UKnowit is easy enough to grasp. Open the app and a random factoid (referred to as a “Knowit”) will appear, slide to scroll through additional trivia right to left. If you come across a particularly juicy tidbit, you can email it to a friend with a quick tap.

Double-tap to add the current Knowit to your personal list of favorites. Build a list of favorites and you’ll be able to browse through them with the same scrolling motion. Favorites are differentiated by purple background.

Knowits are short by nature, but if you find that one paragraph is simply not enough information about Koala Bear fingerprints then tap the “learn more” link.  This quick find feature will fire up Google in a new browser with suggested search terms already entered. 

One of the best features of uKnowit is the ability to customize the categories. By default the app comes with 14 categories of trivia turned on: animals and pets, arts and entertainment, business and economy, food and beverage, health, history, hobbies, math and science, people and personalities, politics and culture, regional, social science, sports and recreation, and technology.

Each category has a toggle switch that can be turned off or on to force uKnowit to exclude the hokum and show only the details you find most interesting.

Most of the Knowits are interesting, verifiable facts. Most hold up fine under scrutiny. However, I did find one error in my random sampling, Herb (not Ed) Peterson invented the Egg McMuffin. It’s unfortunate, but with 10,000 Knowits an error or two is bound to sneak in. Plus, there’s always that Learn More button to check anything that doesn’t ring true.

Thanks to uKnowit, I now know that a herd of boars is actually called a sounder. As for the ox-driven insanity, you’ll just have to purchase uKnowit and find out for yourself.

• app_name: uKnowit
• rating: 7/10

© AppCraver, 2009. | uKnowit Crams a Whopping 10,000 Quotes, Facts, Trivia into One App | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

MyNewPlace.com recently released an iPhone app to compliment their website. The MyNewPlace iPhone App is a stand-alone product as it doesn’t have the ability to tie into your online identity. Despite this shortcoming, it’s a useful tool for apartment hunters.

MyNewPlace has all the standards one would expect from an apartment finding app: Zip Code or GPS-based search; results filtered by distance, price range, beds, baths, and amenities; interactive maps to compare, locate and get directions to properties; and click-to-call or email property managers.

In addition there are a few extra features to make organizing your search for the perfect apartment a little bit easier. The Notes & Photos section lets users take a quick snapshot and add a personal note which are then saved directly to the property’s listing. Properties that you tag are saved to your “favorites” for easy reference at the end of the day.

The features I appreciated most are the photos and the maps. When searching through apartment listing it doesn’t take long before everything starts to sound alike.  The ability to scroll through photos can help to narrow down your options. After photos, the next step in apartment hunting is the “drive-by.” MyNewPlace can create a map listing all the locations from your favorites so you can easily navigate to your potential new pad and check out the neighborhood. Find something you like? Go to the saved listing and tap the phone number to call the property manager from the parking lot!

There’s no denying that MyNewPlace has a lot of listings. However, for me, this app wouldn’t replace a craigslist search. Many of the listings are of the “apartment home” variety, gorgeous properties with lots of amenities. If this is what you’re looking for, then MyNewPlace will have everything you need. But if you want something a little more off the beaten path, managed by a smaller property company or individual landlord, then MyNewPlace will supplement your current apartment search plan, not replace it.

Because MyNewPlace isn’t likely to be the only place you search for apartments, I wish there was a way to add a listing to my favorites from an outside source. For instance, if I find an apartment I like through a newspaper or word of mouth I want to be able to keep the info in the MyNewPlace app. This would make the app a true information hub for any apartment hunter. 

MyNewApp also touts their ability to use Facebook Connect to let users share information about their apartment hunt on their profile pages. This has the potential to be a great feature. I would love to share favorite apartments during the search process and get feedback from friends and family. There’s one problem, though. The Facebook Connect option isn’t available until after you email the property for more information. This seems a little backwards to me and is a real limitation to the viral possibilities of MyNewPlace.

If I had to look for another apartment tomorrow — and let’s hope I don’t — I would definitely use MyNewPlace during my search. It’s not the only tool needed by tech-savy apartment hunters, but it a good tool.

• rating: 7/10
• app_name: MyNewPlace

© AppCraver, 2009. | MyNewPlace Helps Apartment Hunters Organize Their Search | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Wise Guide Wrigley Field is a take-along app for any one visiting the Cubs home stadium in Chicago, which isn’t to say that home-viewers won’t enjoy it as well. The guide includes three sections — tips, trivia, eat & drink — and is great for pre-game entertainment or keeping antsy kids occupied if the games goes into extra innings.

The tips section is a general guide to Wrigley Field where users will find information about Harry Carey (and his statue), the source of the curse of the cubs (and what they’ve tried doing to end the curse), bathroom tips, where to wait for autographs and more. There are more than 40 tidbits in all.

The WG Wrigley Field trivia section is actually more of a quiz game with multiple choice answers. You can keep guessing until you get the answer right, which is a nice touch as are the cheering fans. However, there’s no way to turn down the fans without turning down your device, so don’t plan on sneaking in a quick Wrigley Field trivia quiz during Monday morning’s boring meeting.

The last section of the Wrigley Field iPhone app is Eat & Drink and it goes beyond The Friendly Confines. This section includes cafes, diners and bars in and around Wrigley Field. So you’re covered regardless of whether you want to eat before the game, after the game or throughout the game.

The nice thing about Wise Guide Wrigley Field, besides the graphics and general ease-of-use, is that it’s not just a quick repackage of old material. The app is truly a companion to the wise guides website. And, if you like the guide and visit Wrigley Field use the tab on the app to “share a tip” so that future visitors can benefit from your experience and wisdom.

• app_name: Wise Guide Wrigley Field
• rating: 9/10

© AppCraver, 2009. | Wise Guide Wrigley Field Takes You Out to the Ball Game the Right Way | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Since I aptly consider myself a ranking somewhere below a novice on the astronomy scale, I typically need help finding even the Big Dipper. What makes Pocket Universe helpful is the way it displays the constellations with or without the horizon line and the “show me” feature supplies you with directional arrows to help you find them based on the time and your current location.

In fact, there are several optional settings that allow you to use Pocket Universe to your own benefit, such as turning the horizon line on or off, eliminating or displaying constellation lines and object names, and several other functions. To access these options, tap the information icon from within the Planetarium viewing mode.

Pocket Universe also gives users access to astronomy news and information available from various web sites and also features a constellation quiz to test your knowledge of the night sky. Information such as viewable objects, sun rise and set times, and moon phases are also included. With the “auto-tilt” function on, you can also try matching up the stars to your current location. It’s difficult to say how accurate the positional function is, but I’d have to say it gets you close and you can always speed up the time if things aren’t matching up.

At the end of the day, which is when you’ll likely find this app most useful, Pocket Universe proves to be a pretty user-friendly educational tool and the addition of the quiz and news links only enhance this aspect. The best part is that even kids can use it. Trust me, if I can use it to figure out where Orion is, so can anyone.

• app_name: Pocket Universe
• rating: 8/10

© AppCraver, 2009. | Pocket Universe is Astronomy Made Easy | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Whether you are a wilderness junkie who can’t get enough of the outdoors, a city dweller that loves the urban lifestyle, an agoraphobic that hates both or a card-carrying member of the Audubon Society. At some point in your life you hear the sweet or annoying sounds of a bird yet to be identified. If you love birds and the sounds they make, and live or travel in the Western Region of North America, iBird Explorer Western iPhone app by the Mitch Waite Group is a wonderful resource to have available.

iBird Explorer Western includes more than 700 species of birds throughout the western United States. It is simply loaded with much information more than I can include here. Some of what is in store for you include photographs of each bird, a range map that identifies the complete region where a species can be found, notes that help identify a species, a list of birds similar in type to the species you are looking at, interesting facts of each bird, a Wiki page and recorded sounds of each species. The only thing that would come close to iBird Explorer Western, would be having a professional field guide walking alongside of you while bird watching.

The developers claims that iBird Explorer Western contains unique features that allow you… to play bird songs and calls to attract birds right to your iPhone.

I put that claim to the test. While I didn’t have my local sparrows landing on my phone or any terrifying moments a la Tippi Hedren in The Birds, I did hear responses from the local birds every time I played the sounds from my iBird Explorer Western app.

The Mitch Waite Group has assembled several iBird iPhone apps that include birds from a variety of regions. If your interests include all of the birds of North America, including all of the United States, Canada, and the islands and costal waters of the Pacific and Atlantic, you’ll want to get iBird Plus or iBird Pro.

iBird Explorer Western has and continues to be a source of great entertainment and education for me. I’m sure for those that have even the most remote interest in birds that iBird Explorer Western will be a welcome addition to your app library.

• rating: 9/10
• app_name: iBird Explorer Western

© AppCraver, 2009. | iBird Explorer Western: A Beautiful View From Above | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!

Bible Shaker-Every day millions of people throughout the world tap into some form of daily inspiration. Many are searching for spiritual guidance. That guidance can come from a variety of sources, modalities, or religions. Some prefer their inspiration to be directed towards a very specific subject such as finance or relationships. Many enjoy the surprise and randomness of the inspiration acquired from sources like your daily horoscope.

For many Christians spiritual guidance is often found in the verses of the Bible. With the Bible Shaker iPhone app by Moxic Studios you can have that inspiration instantly. No need to wait for that morning email, or search through the morning paper.

According to Moxic Studios, the Bible Shaker iPhone app is the quickest and easiest way to get Biblical passages and individual verses to help you in all areas of your life.

Bible Shaker is very simple to use. Once you open the app you have the opportunity to select a category from a list of 22. Choices consist of a range of subjects such as Blessing, Children, Healing, Marriage, Salvation and many more.

Upon selecting a subject, a suggested Bible verse will instantly appear. For instance, select Faith and you may be  prompted with Romans 5:11.  Tap on that prompt and you’ll be taken to a new page with the actual verse. After reading the verse you will have the opportunity to email it. Should one choose to email the verse you are taken to your email screen with the verse already in the email and the Subject prompted with, I thought you might like this scripture from the Bible Shaker iPhone app.

Should you not choose to email the verse you can select the back button and return to the previous page. There you can shake or tap the iPhone for another scripture within the same category or select a new category.

Bible Shaker iPhone app is simple quick and easy. It is designed for those that like to receive their guidence via a specific subject or category. I can see how that can often be important. There is no choice for random so if you’re the type that likes receiving daily inspirational tips without knowing what direction you’ll be lead, you’re out of luck for now, maybe in a future update. Until then, if you find yourself out and about and in need of a quick bit of inspiration or spiritual guidance, Bible Shaker might just be what you need when you need it.

• app_name: Bible Shaker
• rating: 8/10

© AppCraver, 2009. | Bible Shaker: Spiritual Guidence At Hand | Get our iPhone Reviews on Facebook & Twitter!