ZDNet App Wrap: February 18, 2013

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  • Fleksy - Happy Typing

    Fleksy - Happy Typing

    Platform: iOS

    Price: Free

    This app represents the pinnacle of an own goal on the part of Apple. The optionally-invisible keyboard has great prediction, and would be useful for sighted and sight-impared people alike, but it is trapped inside its own app.

    That's right, you need to open this app if you want to use a decent predictive keyboard, then copy the text to an app that isn't Mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

    Inside the app, a dialog appears that says:

    Unfortunately, due to iOS limitations, it's not possible to replace the standard keyboard. Here's how you can let Apple know you really like Fleksy.

    [Button to email Apple] [Button to review on App Store]

    We can continue hoping that Apple will allow apps like this to blossom, but history suggests that we'll be waiting a while.

    Photo by: Syntellia

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • Say Your Appointment

    Say Your Appointment

    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.

    Photo by: Dominic W

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • Kickstarter

    Kickstarter

    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!

    Photo by: Kickstarter

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • Unity Launcher

    Unity Launcher

    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.

    Photo by: Omkar Deshmukh

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • Mailbox

    Mailbox

    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.

    Photo by: Orchestra

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • UniSafe

    UniSafe

    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.

    Photo by: Safer Community Program

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • "Rome2rio"

    "Rome2rio"

    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.

    Photo by: Grant Holliday

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

  • Optus Recharge Now

    Optus Recharge Now

    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.

    Photo by: Optus Mobile

    Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

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This week the App Wrap features Fleksy, Say Your Appointment, Kickstarter, Unity Launcher, Mailbox, UniSafe, "Rome2rio", and Optus Recharge Now.

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Fleksy - Happy Typing

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

This app represents the pinnacle of an own goal on the part of Apple. The optionally-invisible keyboard has great prediction, and would be useful for sighted and sight-impared people alike, but it is trapped inside its own app.

That's right, you need to open this app if you want to use a decent predictive keyboard, then copy the text to an app that isn't Mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

Inside the app, a dialog appears that says:

Unfortunately, due to iOS limitations, it's not possible to replace the standard keyboard. Here's how you can let Apple know you really like Fleksy.

[Button to email Apple] [Button to review on App Store]

We can continue hoping that Apple will allow apps like this to blossom, but history suggests that we'll be waiting a while.

Caption by: ZDNet Australia team

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