The Hermitage

iPhone/ iPod Touch Conversion Apps: 27 Tested and Reviewed!

2009-12-12T23:13:00.005-06:00

This past week I've been very busy testing and reviewing 27 iPhone/ iPod Touch "Unit Conversion" apps. Click here to see the best I found.

Since I bought my iPod Touch, I've been downloading every free one I could find, and a couple that were $0.99 but looked worth it. By Thanksgiving I had over two dozen installed, but very little idea how good most of them were. So, I made a grid chart of desired features, including accuracy and number of categories, and evaluated all the conversion apps I had.

I just posted my big overview grid as a blog entry. I also posted a grid listing what categories each app includes. I strongly suggest that you download my grids to your computer and open them with your Adobe PDF Reader if you want to view them. You'll have more control over the zooming and scrolling that way.

Another (bigger) project would be to compile a list of what units each app has in each category. I'm not currently inclined to undertake such a project!

Over the past week I've been posting detailed reviews of all of them to Apple's App Store. As of a day or two ago, all of them have been published. Here is a link to my reviews:

App Store Reviews by "SpaceOwl3000"

Please leave a comment if you have any thoughts that you would like to share!

Finally, feel free to contact me on Twitter: @owl3000

Thanks!

iPhone/ iPod Touch Conversion Apps: Overview of Accuracy and Features

2009-12-12T22:57:00.000-06:00

Conversion Apps Overview

iPhone/ iPod Touch Conversion Apps: Categories Grid

2009-12-12T22:56:00.000-06:00

Conversion Apps Categories

Add More Screens to iPod Touch/ iPhone

2009-11-14T23:27:00.005-06:00

I have 19 visible screens (pages) on my 2nd Gen iPod Touch. The trick to getting more than 11 screens is rather simple, but there are a number of details you must be aware of. I've detailed the procedure below. This trick should work on the iPhone too, but I've no way of testing it.

This operation may be attempted by anyone, but is really more for advanced users and power users who have a good understanding of how to move apps around.

Note that I came up with this undocumented method myself, and neither Apple nor myself assume any responsibility for its failure to work or for any lost apps, lost time, or any damages, etc.

   1. [Get OS 3.x] Make sure you are running OS 3.x, because you will need the "Voice Memos" app.
   2. [Fill screens] Make sure all of your current screens are full of apps. This trick won't work if you have room on your screens for any more new apps.
   3. [Move Voice Memos] Move Apple's "Voice Memos" app to the bottom right of your final screen. You can drag it there from wherever it is, or an easier way is with the iTunes software: Connect and Sync your iPod, then click on your iPod, and select the "Applications" tab. Arrange your apps and pages as you wish, and click "Apply."
   4. [Disconnect] Now disconnect your iPod from your computer.
   5. [Hide Voice Memos] Drag any app up from your bottom row, or from the next-to-last screen to the last screen. This should push the "Voice Memos" app off into oblivion. (Don't worry, you will get it back!)
   6. [Get new app] Now open the App Store app on your iPod Touch, and download any new random app. Check out the "Top Free" apps for possibilities. Don't worry about your choice of apps, any app will do, and you can delete it in a minute. The new app will install where "Voice Memos" was.
   7. [Did it work?] After the new app has been downloaded and installed, you should find that you have a new screen inserted right after screen #1. It will probably only contain 1 or 2 apps (or more if you've had an app surplus for a while).
   8. [Reorganize] Now you can rearrange your current apps to take advantage of your new screen! (You may want to go to your last screen, and return that app you just moved a minute ago back to where it was.)
   9. [WARNING!] Now you can use the iTunes software to backup and sync your iPod Touch, but please don't use iTunes to arrange your apps, as it will hide any screens above #11. You can always get them back with this trick, but the iTunes app arranger may jumble your icon organization on your higher screens.
Any questions or comments? Please contact me here or on Twitter (@TCM_viewer)

Thanks for reading!

Read my 40+ published iTunes App Store reviews

2009-11-14T13:37:00.002-06:00

I have written over 40 App reviews in the iTunes App Store. If you want to read any of them, please click here. Thanks!