This is the first of a new weekly feature. Every Monday DigitalTimes.ie will review a few of the best apps from the free-to-enter App of the Month competition run in conjunction with ‘Newstalk Breakfast’. Joyceways was the winner of June’s App of the Month but here are a few others that caught our eye.
An new smartphone app called IndoorAtlas aims to use the earth’s magnetic field to help users find their way around vast indoor structures like stadia, airports and shopping centres. The app uses magnetic fluctuations to map indoor locations, guiding users around places that GPS can’t penetrate.
Janne Hayerinen, the app developer, told New Scientist how he built a robot that could navigate by magnetic fields after reading about a lobster with a similar ability. Now he’s taking advantage of the digital compasses found in modern smartphones to do the same for people.
Unlike other proposed indoor navigations systems based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, IndoorAtlas doesn’t require any additional infrastructure, making it suitable for locations that suffer from radio interference while also reducing maintenance costs.
It’s holiday season and an app every traveller should have on their smartphone is Word Lens – an app that can translate signs and signposts into English for those that find themselves lost and confused in a foreign land.
The app is now available on iOS and Android. There’s a free “demo” version that lets you get a feel for the app and how it works, but when you’re ready to really use it, you’ll have to spend $4.99 for the app, and that includes one language pack (Spanish, Italian, and French are currently available). Additional language packs are available as in-app purchases: each one costs an additional $4.99.
Despite the dreadful weather increasing numbers will be holidaying at home this summer and a new app from Heritage Ireland could help them save a few extra euro along the way. Ireland Discount Guide provides information about all our leading tourist attractions and delivers a handy discount on entrance fees. Available for both Android and iOS the free app shows you all the offers for the county you’re located in. There are 95 tourist attractions listed from the four corners of the island including the Guinness Storehouse, Titanic Belfast, Cliffs of Moher, House of Waterford Crystal and the Old Jameson Distillery. For example you get 10% off entry to the Guinness Storehouse and a 2 for 1 deal at the Ailwee Caves. You can click on a map to locate the attraction or call directly to book a tour.
DoneDeal.ie is Ireland’s favourite classified ads website. People can buy virtually anything here from a couch to an iPad or even a new puppy. Until now the app has only been available on iOS but Donedeal launched an Android app on June 25th. The app allows users to search by keyword or simply browse ads by section. Search results can be filtered by location, section or price. It has a great average rating of 4.6/5 from nearly 500 reviews on the Google Play store.
You may have seen Image2Talk creator Fiona Wilson on the latest series of RTÉ’s Dragon’s Den. The special needs teacher came on to promote a communications tool for her students and received the backing of all five dragons. Image2Talk is the app Fiona has developed. The app can be completely customised to meet the communication needs of individuals with communication disorder such as Autism, Aphasia, Down Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Stroke or any type of disorder where verbal speech is impaired.
Out of necessity image2talk is simple and easy to use. The app has a series of images in categories such as food, objects, places, clothes, etc. When the user taps an image e.g. an orange the image enlarges and the speaker emits ‘I want an orange’. Users can download extra images or create their own by using the camera and recording and appropriate message. Currently available on iOS the app is a must for any parents whose children have speech problems.
