AppCraver » Currency & Units

3 Numbers is a Travel Utility App that Provides Way More than 3 Functions

Jennifer Beam — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:30:32 +0000

3 Numbers – Despite the influx of tip calculators, currency converters, note apps and other utilitarian applications for iPhone, the new releases keep coming. One of the latest, 3 Numbers by Politepix, is a traveler’s multi-tool, enabling conversion of currency and units combined with both standard and tip calculators and more. In some ways, 3 Numbers strives to be an all-in-one app for traveling, and while it definitely has some unique features, it remains a practical application by sheer design.

3 Numbers has an old-world navigation appearance, which is quite elegant, but could be over the top for more practical users. Fortunately, this was taken into consideration and there is an option to for an incognito appearance. Which ever appearance you choose, 3 Numbers has a relatively simple to follow interface, though some aspects of 3 Numbers may not be obvious at first glance. There is a help section accessible by tapping the information icon shown in the currency conversion mode that contains directions.

So what can you do with 3 Numbers? Certainly more than 3 things, as the name tends to imply. The name is derived from the ability to retain up to 3 numbers you might use repeatedly by storing them to the fields at the top of the screen. I’m not exactly sure what instances this would be useful for, but perhaps there are a few. The main features of 3 Numbers are the currency and unit conversion tools and the tip calculator.

3 Numbers offers dozens of different currencies and conversion rates can be updated instantly. To use the currency converter, simply select the “from” currency in the left hand side of the dial scroll wheel and the “to” currency on the right. Tap the field above on the left to enter an amount and then tap the arrow button to convert. Similarly, entering into the unit conversion tool, the same UI applies and you can convert units to meters, kilometers, inches, feet, miles and knots as well as units of temperature, speed, and weight.

Like most tip calculators, the 3 Numbers tip calculator offers a sliding percentage scale and the ability to calculate the split of the total bill. Additionally, 3 Numbers has tipping “tips” for different countries, such as the standard dining tip, taxi tip, and other useful information that can serve as a guide while traveling. The final feature of 3 Numbers is the ability to take notes and upload them to a computer on the same network.

While there are several apps available that could combine to perform all aspects of 3 Numbers, some of which may be free, 3 Numbers is a fairly intuitive and simple to use multi-feature app that can perform a variety of tasks on the go. And for its current price of just .99 (USD) or $1.14 (Canadian Dollars) or $1.26 (Australian Dollars), you can hardly beat it.

rating: 8/10
app_name: 3 Numbers

Convert: Answers In The Palm Of Your Hand

Keith Lewis — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:30:30 +0000

Convert (Unit Converter by PBF) – One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there are several categories of possessions. The two that come to mind today are the possessions of others that I would love to own and those that I own but seldom use — but when I do use them nothing else will do.

Convert (Unit Converter by PBF) is an iPhone app by Polar Bear Farm Ltd that helps to condense the latter. I don’t know how many times throughout a year that I’ll need to know how to convert miles to nautical miles or need to know that 45 radians is the equivalent of 2,578.31 degrees but with Convert handy I know I will be able to solve such dilemmas.

Convert is a unit converter that allows you a selection of a wide range of categories and units from which to chose. Your choices include Angle, Area, Currency, Length, Mass, Power, Pressure, Speed, Temperature, Time and Volume.

Within each category of Convert are sub-categories. For example within Angle you can convert degrees, radians, gradian and revolutions. Chose Temperature and work between Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin. Tap into currency and your choices are endless.

When I first saw Convert I knew it would convert currency using up-to-date exchange rates. I thought, that’s nice but how often do I really need to know the exchange rate, once a year or so?

Shortly after I got Convert I heard a discussion on the radio concerning 35 nautical miles. I was quickly able to determine that 35 nautical miles was equal to 40.277 land miles.

Convert is nothing fancy but extremely functional. It’s basic gray and blue screen colors are a perfect combination. The look and feel is such that I can almost hear my old professor working his way through algorithms on the board. The only problem I could find with this app was the inability to enter a minus when converting. Which could be useful when converting temperatures. (Note:it will show a minus within results after calculating.)

There are probably thousands of situations when Convert would be great to have available. One of the things that it could be very useful for is converting things like tablespoons into teaspoons while cooking.

I own many items that I must have but seldom use. Tape measures, power drills, hand saws, and levels are the types of things I’ll use only couple of times a year. The security of knowing they are available is often more important than actually needing to frequently use them.

The Convert iPhone app falls into my category of possessions I love to own but will probably use just a few times a year. If I were still in school I’d probably use it considerably more. For the time being I’ll be happy knowing that when I have a need to convert something, I’ll have Convert available to me. Maybe someday in the future I’ll have a boat like my neighbor and really want to do some work in the nautical miles category.

app_name: Convert by PBF
rating: 8/10

Measures – A Scroll Wheel Converter

Anna Axster — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:00:03 +0000

Measures is an iPhone conversion app by German developer Neuwert Media, which includes all of the standard conversion categories but differs from other apps mainly in its interface and usability. Measures has three scroll wheels (category, converting from, converting to) and numeric touch keys for value selection, it looks like a great tool but after trying Measures out, this interface makes conversions slightly more time-consuming than some other apps like a2zpro or Units. What most other conversion apps lack in comparison to Measures is the calculator function though. With a simple tap of the screen the scroll wheel turns into a full calculator.

Once the units are selected there is a great feature that makes swapping back and forth between them very easy. You simply shake the iPhone and the two units will switch places. There are great ideas in this app. Combined with increased user-friendly handling Measures could be the way to go for conversion apps.

rating: 6/10
app_name: Measures

MyConvert is Versatile and Extendable

Anna Axster — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:43:15 +0000

With so many conversion apps available at the app store it’s hard to choose. MyConvert by developer Lu A Oo is based on the earlier iConvert and it includes several user-requested units, which make it slightly different than some other conversion apps out there. As with the very useful a2zpro, MyConvert allows users to add and remove their own formulas. Initially the app offers 45 categories, which include the standards like length, temperature, and area, but MyConvert also offers some unusual ones like dress or hat sizes, radioactivity, or video time code. Especially the dress and shoe size conversions come in quite handy for anyone who travels and needs to stock up on some clothes. A currency converter is included with 35 conversions showing rates from the European Central Bank.

In comparison to other converters MyConvert lacks in user-friendly handling but the option to select between favorites, recently used units and all categories is useful. MyConvert is a good converter and rides the solid middle ground of the utilities apps.

app_name: MyConvert
rating: 6/10

a2zpro – Making the Most of User Integration

Anna Axster — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:16:39 +0000

a2zpro is the successor to a2z from UK iPhone app developer Westernits and it is a truly innovative tool as far as conversion apps are concerned. Upon every opening of a2zpro the exchange rates are updated for the currency converter, which provides 154 categories with live data from Yahoo!. The currencies work slightly different than in other apps since the user selects the currency and amount and the other 153 conversions are shown underneath (no from-and-to selections are needed and the page is not limited to only a few units). Furthermore a2zpro includes the unusual category of Blood Sugar, which might come in handy for some users.

While a2zpro offers slightly less units per category when first installed, this app allows users to add their own categories, which can then be uploaded to the Westernits server, where other users can browse and download additional units. This is a beneficial and functional option, which allows each user to create their own personal converter according to their conversion needs. Another great tool is the ability to shift categories on the lists, allowing more user-defined use. With a2zpro being free and offering this much user integration there really is not much left to be asked for. Great app!

app_name: a2zpro
rating: 9/10

Converter Brings A Wide Array of Units

Anna Axster — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:54:28 +0000

Converter, by developer Unitconvertr, is a simple and easy-to-use conversion tool that supports 172 units across 15 categories and turns out to be a more colorful and elaborate version of the free conversion app Units. While converter does not support a currency conversion it includes some units that most others lack. Frequencies, Bits and Bytes, Torque and Volumetric Flow are categories that are not found in most other conversion apps. Furthermore some categories offer unusual units, like mach or speed of light in the Speed category. While not everyone might find the use for these conversions it can be fun to check them out. The only downside of this app is the lack of a currency conversion, which seems to be standard in other conversion apps. But overall Converter is a great app, which allows fast and user-friendly handling.

app_name: Converter
rating: 7/10

Units – Same Name, Different App

Anna Axster — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:16:19 +0000

Units, like its namesake, is a handy conversion app but while the name is the same, the features are very different. First off Units costs $0.99 while the app is free and the price does not equal better quality. Units by developer Crossroad Solutions supports most units anyone would need but the user-friendliness lacks behind its free competitor Units.

Don’t get me wrong this is a useful and accurate app but Units is more complicated and time-consuming to use. The main page looks like a calculator and when changing to a different unit the user has to change the mode as well as the “from” and “to” option. The three user-assignable buttons come in handy but a list on the main page instead of the extra steps would make using Units much faster. Still, Units is a good app but slightly long winded.

app_name: Units
rating: 3/10

Units – The Useful and Free Converter

Anna Axster — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:52:06 +0000

Units by UK developer TheMacBox is a great and easy-to-use conversion app, which provides most units that anyone who is not a professional engineer would ever need. The main page of the app allows you to select the desired unit, leading the user to the next page, which shows several conversions at once with the option to edit the list of conversions for some units like currencies. In addition to the conversion lists Units also provides a ruler for both centimeters and inches. It’s simple, straight-forward and free. What more could one want?

app_name: Units
rating: 9/10