ZDNet App Wrap: 7 November 2011

There are always cool new apps coming out, so it's hard to keep up. <i>ZDNet Australia</i> brings you a taste of some of the apps that have surfaced or been updated recently.

By ZDNet Australia team , Contributor on Nov. 6, 2011

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(Credit: Nuance Communications)

Dragon Recorder

Price: Free
Platform: iOS (iPhone)

If you've already got Dragon speech-recognition software on your computer, you can now use your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to dictate memos, transfer the file to your computer and have it transcribed by the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software.

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(Credit: Google)

Google +

Price: Free
Platform: Android, iOS (iPhone)

The Google+ app for Android has had a complete overhaul from the ground up, with a new interface and everything. You can view your stream, check in and make posts, as well as take photos from within the app and post them directly to your wall. You can also swipe the screen to the left and right to view people on G+ who are geographically close to you by using geolocation.

The iOS app also got an update, but nothing nearly as good.

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(Credit: android.co.rs)

Cameras Australia

Price: Free
Platform: Android

Cameras Australia lets you watch the photos from traffic cameras in Sydney, Victoria, Queensland, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania. The cameras refresh every minute or two, depending on the camera provider. You can share the images with your mates, too.

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(Credit: Meat and Livestock Australia)

Beef Essentials

Price: Free
Platform: iOS (iPhone)

In time for summer, Meat and Livestock Australia has entered into app action with Beef Essentials, which helps you cook your meat to a perfect turn. The app uses a timer to tell you how long to cook and when to turn. It also has a diagram of a meat carcass, so that you can see what part of the cow you're eating. The app can also queue multiple cuts of beef for when people like their meat cooked differently.

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(Credit: Tether)

Tether

Price: US$30.54 (Android), US$29.99 (BlackBerry)
Platform: Android, BlackBerry

If you've ever looked at Tether and thought that US$50 is just too damned much, then this will be great news for you: it's had a price cut down to around the US$30 mark for Android and BlackBerry. It's a one-time price, and it allows you to use your smartphone as a portable modem, sharing internet with other devices. Just remember to give the free trial a run first, just in case there are any problems — because, while BlackBerry users seem to love it, Android customers are a little less satisfied.

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(Credit: Tourism Australia)

Trade Events Mate

Price: Free
Platform: iOS (iPhone and iPad)

Attendees of Tourism Australia events can use this app to access program information on industry events, such as the floor plan for a convention, and prepare for event appointments on their iPhone.

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(Credit: BlackBerry)

BBM Music

Price: Free
Platform: BlackBerry

BlackBerry Messenger Music — a free app that allows you to make a social network out of music streaming — has finally launched. You get access to 50 songs from the catalogue, and you can exchange 25 songs per month and then share these songs with your friends. The more contacts you have, the more music you have access to — a pretty good idea, and at a fairly good price compared to other music streamers, but how good it is depends on how many of your mates have BlackBerry phones. If not many do, then it's pretty weak.

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(Credit: Garmin)

Garmin Fit

Price: $0.99
Platform: iOS (iPhone), Android

If you've got some time over lunch at the office, Garmin has an app that you can try. It lets you see your stats (such as current speed, distance travelled and calories burned) while you're running, cycling or walking, and you can review and share them later. You can also choose a soundtrack.

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