ZDNet App Wrap: February 18, 2013

Platform: Windows Phone 8

Price: Free

Take a look out your window; I think a blue moon has arisen because we found not only a new Windows Phone application, but one that actually seems nifty and maybe even useful.

Using the dictation capabilities of Windows Phone 8, this app inserts events into your calendar when you speak the event in the way that the app expects — this isn't going to rival Siri.

The app is currently on special.

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

What one person thinks is Mac users being better people is another person's proof that Apple fans are more readily separated from their money.

And what better way to increase both points of view than to give iOS users the ability to back projects, directly from their iPhone!

Platform: Android

Price: AU$1.93

If you cannot wait for an Ubuntu Phone , then this may be the customisation for you.

This app adds an Ubuntu-like Launcher to the left or right side of your Android's screen, and allows some of the customised settings that one expects from a launcher bar.

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

Yes, we covered the app last week , but remember that painfully slow reservation system we mentioned? Having just reinstalled the app, our reservation is number 813,196. Last week, they completed 150,000 reservations.

If waiting for a month for an app to be useful is your thing, then get cracking on this one.

Platform: Android

Price: Free

The glut of university-backed apps continues, but where fun was had at last week's example, this week's is an initiative that is worthy of praise.

Did you know the number of your university's emergency contacts when you were a wee student? Well, now there's an app for that.

Platform: Windows Phone

Price: Free

Why does the Windows Marketplace experience grate so much? Look no further than this app.

On the surface, it looks like the Aussie startup has doubled its app selection and moved into iOS and Windows Phone apps. But look at the actual site of the company (scroll down after it loads to see more than a search box), and where is this app mentioned?

If this were an official app, I would expect it to be promoted on the company's website somewhere.

And this is one of the gentler applications present in Windows Masquerade-place. There's nothing wrong with the app's functionality, but it should not be named the same as an API, website, and service that is fairly well-known.

Do yourself a favour and download the official app instead.

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

Oh, the days of scouring for locations of inner-city convenience stores at 4am on a Sunday morning to recharge your phone's prepaid credit.

Now look at what is on offer: An app!

Balance checks, credit top-ups, and the ability to recharge up to 5 prepaid accounts.

Kids have it easy these days, and they will be lesser people for it, without the character-building early morning visits into 7-Elevens to buy phone credit.