Productivity

Here's how to translate a foreign language into your own language.    

Here's a handy app - Group Text. No more typing in contacts one-by-one to send a text message to more than one person at a time. Instead, create a group in Group Text (like Family or Work). Then, when you want to send a text to the group, simply select the group's list and bingo! One text message to everyone in the group at one time! Easy and quick. $2.99

Features:

DashPad allows you to use multiple widgets on the iPad in a multi-tasking environment. You can check the time, write a sticky note, search Google, calculate and look up a phone number in a dashboard environment. The program runs in Mobile Safari - in other words, you must be connected to the Internet to use DashPad.

Finally, a PDF reader and annotation tool that’s different: iAnnotate PDF integrates your notes right into the document, not as a layer on top of the document. You can read these annotated documents with any standard PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader or Preview.

Electronic engineers and enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive collection of electronics calculators and fundamental electronics reference materials will want to take a closer look at a new iPad application called Electronic Toolbox HD.  Based on a previous release of the utility for the iPhone, Electronic Toolbox HD contains over 20 different categories from a resistor color code calculator to a comprehensive (though not exhaustive) list of integrated circuits (ICs) and their corresponding chip diagrams.  The application covers a spectrum of electronics features:

I like MobileMe, especially for the FindMyiPhone feature (which I've used a few times) but it could use some competition, especially in terms of price.  Ironically, before I became a full-time iPhone app developer, I worked for a software firm in the printing industry.  We partnered with Ricoh and in that capacity, I beta tested their quanp service.  Similar to MobileMe's iDisk feature, you can upload and share photos and files such as PowerPoint and PDF documents.

iBooks 1.1 out with PDF support – mini-review & full (!) comparison & feature chart

You may already have noticed that iBooks 1.1 has been released some 4-5 hours ago for iOS4-based iPhones and iPod touches (and, of course, the iPad).

Well, to make a long story short, I’ve expected more. FAR more. Unfortunately, the PDF support in iBooks 1.1 doesn’t really live up to my expectations – some of the third-party PDF readers (e.g., GoodReader, iAnnotator etc.) are way more powerful.

There are only three areas where I can only recommend iBooks 1.1:

• Night-time reading: third-party apps that do support “decreasing” the backlight just make whites darker (that is, decrease the contrast of the page).