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The best iPad apps
If you've got yourself a shiny new iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 or iPad Pro, you'll want to start downloading the best iPad apps straight away. And if you already have an iPad Air or older iPad, you might want to update it with some new apps.
It's the apps that really set iOS apart from other platforms – there are higher quality apps available on the App Store for the iPad than any other tablet. So which ones are worth your cash? And which are the best free apps?
Luckily for you we've tested thousands of the best iPad apps so that you don't have to. So read on for our selection of the best iPad apps – the definitive list of what applications you need to download for your iPad now.
If you are looking for games, then head over to Best iPad games – where we showcase the greatest games around for your iOS device. Or if you're rocking an iPhone 6S head over to our best iPhone apps list.
1. 1Password (Free)
Although Apple introduced iCloud Keychain in iOS 7, designed to securely store passwords and payment information, 1Password is a more powerful system. It can also hold identities, secure notes, network information and app licence details. Your stored data can then be accessed on more than just Apple's platforms. The core app is free, but you'll need to pay $9.99 / £7.99 to get access to all its features.
2. Madefire Comics & Motion Books (free)
The iPad has given new life to comics, providing the perfect digital home for them with its big, sharp, colourful screen and Madefire Comics makes the most of it by stocking motion comics. As the name suggests these include movement rather than just static panels and often feature music and sound effects too, bringing you into the story like never before. With big names and an ever growing library Madefire is essential for comic fans.
3. Air Video HD ($2.99, £2.29)
Even the most expensive iPads in Apple's line-up don't have a massive amount of storage, and space is rapidly eaten up if you keep videos on the device. Air Video HD acts as an alternative: stream movies from a PC or Mac, auto-encoding on-the-fly as necessary. There's also full support for offline viewing, soft subtitles and AirPlay to an Apple TV.
4. Elevate (free)
We could all use a bit of brain training from time to time and Elevate is a great way to do it. It aims to improve your writing, reading, speaking, listening and maths skills through a variety of daily challenges, which keep your brain active and test you in entertaining ways. A beautiful interface makes it a joy to use and the core app is free, but extra features can be added with a subscription.
5. BBC iPlayer (free)
BBC iPlayer is a must-have download for iPad users. The slick interface makes it easy to browse or watch recent shows and current broadcasts. You can choose from two quality settings and toggle subtitles, stream to an Apple TV via AirPlay, or download shows to your iPad, so you can watch them on the move.
6. Byword ($5.99, £4.49)
Word processing is something the iPad fares remarkably well at — if you have the right app. Byword is a no-nonsense distraction-free editor that just lets you get on with writing. There's Markdown support, helped along by a custom keyboard row, and also a live word/character count. For anyone publishing to the web, a single $4.99/£3.99 IAP provides integration with the likes of WordPress and Tumblr.
7. Comic Life ($4.99, £3.99)
Comic Life provides a creative way to tell a story or present some of your favourite photographs. The many templates provide a starting point and theme, and you can then import photos, add captions, and design special effects. Comics can be sent to friends in a variety of formats, or to your Mac or PC to carry on working in the desktop version of the app.
8. Day One ($4.99, £3.99)
Journalling is one of those things that people always think will fall out of fashion, but it never quite does. Day One has plenty of advantages over a paper-based diary, though; wrapped up in a beautiful interface is the means to add images, weather data and music info, along with formatted text. Individual entries can be 'published' to share with people, and of course everything you create is fully searchable.
9. Diet Coda ($19.99, £14.99)
Panic's Coda is a hugely popular Mac app for coding websites, and the iPad app is no slouch either. Diet Coda provides a touch-optimised means of editing files, which can either be done live on the remote server or by downloading them locally first. Syntax highlighting, clips and a built-in Terminal make this a great app for any web designer on the go.
Drum machines are always a lot of fun, but many of those available for iOS are rather throwaway, their options exhausted within minutes. DM1 is pretty much the exact opposite, packed with a huge number of drum kits, a step sequencer, a song composer and a mixer. Inter-App audio, Audiobus and MIDI support also ensure what you create doesn't end up in a percussion-rich silo.
11. Dropbox (free)
Dropbox is a great service for syncing documents across multiple devices. The iPad client works like the iPhone one (hardly surprising, since this is a universal app), enabling you to preview many file types and store those marked as favourites locally.
12. eBay (free)
Use eBay for iPad and you'll never touch eBay in a web browser again. It's fast and efficient, beautifully showcasing important details and images in its main results view. Gallery images can often be displayed almost at a full-screen size, which is particularly useful on an iPad with a Retina display. Speedy sorting options are also available.
13. Evernote (free)
Like Dropbox, Evernote (a free online service for saving ideas – text documents, images and web clips – that you can then access from multiple devices) works the same way on the iPad as it does on the iPhone. It benefits from the iPad's larger screen, which enables you to see and navigate your stored snippets more easily, but it's handy knowing you'll be able to access all your notes on any other device, or any future device you might buy, like the iPhone 7.
14. Fantastical 2 ($9.99, £7.99)
Apple's own Calendar app is fiddly and irritating, and so the existence of Fantastical is very welcome. In a single screen, you get a week view, a month calendar and a scrolling list of events. There's also support for reminders, and all data syncs with iCloud, making Fantastical compatible with Calendar (formerly iCal) for OS X. The best bit, though, is Fantastical's natural-language input, where you can type an event and watch it build as you add details, such as times and locations.
15. Flipboard (free)
Initially, Flipboard looked like a gimmick, trying desperately to make online content resemble a magazine. But now it can integrate Flickr and other networks, beautifully laying out their articles, Flipboard's muscled into the 'essential' category – and it's still free.
16. Airbnb (free)
Airbnb makes travel affordable and social, as rather than staying in a hotel you can stay in someone's house. Options range from crashing on someone's sofa to renting a private island, or if you have a spare room you could even rent your own space out. The iPad app is one of the best ways to browse it too, letting you search and book using an attractive image-heavy interface.
17. GarageBand ($4.99/£3.99)
Apple's GarageBand turns your iPad into a recording studio. It includes a range of smart instruments, MIDI editing and song arrangement so you can make music anywhere. It's not free any more, but you get access to all of its instruments and sounds for one fairly low fee.
18. GoodReader ($4.99, £3.99)
GoodReader is the iPad's best PDF reader. You can annotate documents, extract text, and now also rearrange, split and combine documents. The app previews various other files as well, can create and extract ZIP archives, and is capable of connecting to a wide range of online services. Alongside Dropbox, it makes a great surrogate Finder/Preview combination — a must-have for iPad power users.
19. iBooks (free)
Going head-to-head with Kindle, iBooks is a decent ebook reader, backed by the iBookstore. As you'd expect from Apple, the interface is polished and usable, with handy cross-device bookmark syncing, highlighting, and various display options. It's also a capable PDF reader, for your digital magazine collection.
20. IM+ (free)
Although the iPad enables a certain amount of basic multi-tasking, anyone who constantly juggles a number of instant messaging services will soon be tired of leaping between apps. IM+ is a good solution, enabling you to run a number of IM services in a single app, and there's also a built-in web browser for checking out links.
21. iMovie (free with new device or $4.99, £3.99)
You're not going to make the next Hollywood hit on your iPad, but iMovie's more than capable of dealing with home movies. The interface resembles its desktop cousin and is easy to get to grips with. Clips can be browsed, arranged and cut, and you can then add titles, transitions and music. For the added professional touch, there are 'trailer templates' to base your movie on, rather than starting from scratch.
22. Kickstarter (free)
After a stint on the iPhone, Kickstarter has now arrived on Apple's slates and it's the perfect fit for it, giving you a big window into thousands of projects which you can back with a tap. Browse by categories and sub-categories, select how to sort projects or just search for a specific one. Just be careful. Last time we launched the app we emerged six hours later and hundreds of pounds poorer. We eagerly await delivery of our smart socks.
23. iStopMotion ($9.99, £7.99)
There's something fascinating about animation, and iStopMotion is a powerful and usable app for unleashing your inner Aardman, enabling you to create frame-by-frame stories. There's also time-lapse functionality built-in, and the means to use the free iStopMotion Remote Camera with an iPhone on the same network.
24. iTunes U (free)
If you're still convinced the iPad is only a device for staring brain-dead at TV shows and not a practical tool for education, check out iTunes U. The app enables you to access many thousands of free lectures and courses taught by universities and colleges, thereby learning far more than what bizarre schemes current soap characters are hatching.
25. Journeys of Invention ($9.99, £7.99)
Touch Press somewhat cornered the market in amazing iOS books with The Elements, but Journeys of Invention takes things a step further. In partnership with the Science Museum, it leads you through many of science's greatest discoveries, weaving them into a compelling mesh of stories. Many objects can be explored in detail, and some are more fully interactive, such as the Enigma machine, which you can use to share coded messages with friends.
26. Kindle (free)
Amazon's Kindle iPad app for reading myriad books available at the Kindle Store is a little workmanlike, and doesn't match the coherence of iBooks (you buy titles in Safari and 'sync' purchases via Kindle). However, Kindle's fine for reading, and you get options to optimise your experience (including the ability to kill the naff page-turn animation and amend the page background to a pleasant sepia tone).
27. Korg Gadget ($39.99, £29.99)
Korg Gadget bills itself as the "ultimate mobile synth collection on your iPad" and it's hard to argue. You get 15 varied synths in all, ranging from drum machines through to ear-splitting electro monsters, and an intuitive piano roll for laying down notes. A scene/loop arranger enables you to craft entire compositions in the app, which can then be shared via the Soundcloud-powered GadgetCloud or sent to Dropbox. This is a more expensive app than most, but if you're a keen electronic-music-oriented songwriter with an iPad, it's hard to find a product that's better value.
28. Launch Center Pro ($4.99, £3.99)
The idea behind Launch Center Pro is to take certain complex actions and turn them into tappable items — a kind of speed-dial for tasks such as adding items to Clear, opening a URL in 1Password, or opening a specific view in Google Maps. Although the list of supported apps isn't huge, it's full of popular productivity apps; and should you use any of them on a regular basis, Launch Center Pro will be a massive time-saver and is well worth the outlay.
29. Microsoft Word for iPad (free/subscription-based)
It was a very long time in coming, and there were fears Microsoft would make a half-hearted effort to get Word on to the iPad. In the end, we actually got a surprisingly powerful, touch-optimised, high-quality word processor and layout app. The subset of tools you get from the PC version is more than sufficient, and for free you can use the app as a viewer. For editing, you'll need an Office 365 subscription (from $6.99/£5.99 monthly), and this will also give you access to Excel and Powerpoint, along with office apps on other platforms.
30. Movies by Flixster (free)
One for film buffs, Movies figures out where you are and tells you what's showing in your local cinemas – or you can pick a film and it'll tell you where and when it's on. The app is functionally identical on iPad and iPhone, but again the extra screen space improves the experience.
31. Notability ($3.99, £2.99)
There are loads of note-taking apps for the iPad, but Notability hits that sweet spot of being usable and feature-rich. The basic notepad view is responsive, but also enables you to zoom and add fine details. Elsewhere, you can type, import documents, and record audio. Notes can be searched and, crucially, backed up to various cloud-based web services.
32. Numbers ($9.99, £7.99)
We mention Microsoft's iPad efforts elsewhere, but if you don't fancy paying for a subscription and yet need some spreadsheet-editing joy on your iPad, Numbers is an excellent alternative. Specially optimised for Apple's tablet, Numbers makes great use of custom keyboards, smart zooming, and forms that enable you to rapidly enter data. Presentation app Keynote and page-layout app Pages are also worth a look.
33. Paper By FiftyThree (free)
There's a certain train of thought that apps shouldn't ape real-world items, but we dismiss such talk. They just shouldn't ape real-world items badly! Paper by FiftyThree gets this right, with beautiful sketchbooks in which you can scribble, then share across the web. Books and the pen tool are free, and other tools are available via In-App Purchase.
34. PCalc Lite (free)
PCalc Lite's existence means the lack of a built-in iPad calculator doesn't bother us (in fact, we'd love to replace the iPhone Calculator app with PCalc Lite as well). This app is usable and feature-rich – and if you end up wanting more, in-app purchases enable you to bolt on extras from the full PCalc.
35. PicFrame ($0.99, 79p)
PicFrame is a simple app, but one that's beautifully honed and a delight to use. You choose a template and then import photos, which can be zoomed or adjusted via filters. Additionally, captions can be overlaid and the frames tweaked until you have the perfect composition. Once you're done, your creation can be shared on social networks or via email, and saved to your camera.
36. Pocket (free)
Pocket and Instapaper have long battled it out for 'article scraper' king, but Pocket trumps its rival in appealing to iPad-owning cheapskates. Instapaper requires a purchase for iPad goodness, but Pocket is free. It's also very fast, offers tagging, includes a great original article/plain-text toggle, and has a vaguely Flipboard-like visual grid-based index.
37. Sequential (free)
We've elsewhere mentioned Comics, but Sequential has a slightly different take on the medium. It's an altogether more upmarket affair, aimed at graphic novels and collections of sequential art that are supposed to be taken seriously. Therefore, this isn't so much everything but the kitchen sink, but a repository for a carefully curated selection of some of the best comics ever created.
38. Autodesk SketchBook (free)
We tend to quickly shift children from finger-painting to using much finer tools, but the iPad shows there's plenty of power in your digits — if you're using the right app. Autodesk SketchBook provides all the tools you need for digital sketching, from basic doodles through to intricate and painterly masterpieces; and if you're wanting to share your technique, you can even time-lapse record to save drawing sessions to your camera roll. The core app is free, but it will cost you $3.99 / £2.99 to unlock the pro features.
39. Sky Guide ($1.99, £1.99)
Augmented reality is still in its early days, but Sky Guide shows off the potential of merging the virtual with the real. Using your iPad, you can search the heavens in real-time, the app providing live details of constellations and satellites within your field of view. Away from the outdoors, Sky Guide doubles as a kind of reference book, offering further insight into distant stars, and the means to view the sky at different points in history.
40. Skype (free)
In theory, we should be cheerleading for FaceTime, what with it being built into iOS devices, but it's still an Apple-only system. Skype, however, is enjoyed by myriad users who haven't been bitten by the Apple bug, and it works very nicely on the iPad, including over 3G.
41. Skyscanner (free)
Skyscanner's website is pretty good, but the iPad app's another great example of how an app's focus can really help you speed through a task. You use the app to search over a thousand airlines, and it provides straightforward competitive journey lists and comparison graphs. If you're planning a flight, it's an indispensable download.
42. Snapseed (free)
Apple's Photos app has editing capabilities, but they're not terribly exciting — especially when compared to Snapseed. Here, you select from a number of effect types and proceed to pinch and swipe your way to a transformed image. It's a fun tool, but there's plenty of control for anyone determined to get their photos just so.
43. Soulver ($4.99, £3.99)
Soulver is more or less the love child of a spreadsheet and the kind of calculations you do on the back of an envelope. You write figures in context, and Souvler extracts the maths bits and tots up totals; each line's results can be used as a token in subsequent lines, enabling live updating of complex calculations. Drafts can be saved, exported to HTML, and also synced via Dropbox or iCloud.
44. TED (free)
TED describes itself as "riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world". The app pretty much does as you'd expect – you get quick access to dozens of inspiring videos. However, it goes the extra mile in enabling you to save any talk for offline viewing, and also for providing hints on what to watch next if you've enjoyed a particular talk.
45. Adobe Slate (free)
Need to make a newsletter, invitation, or report? Then you need Adobe Slate. The app lets you combine text and images into a visual story that flows like the best digital magazines. It's simple to use, letting you effortlessly create a professional story and it's easy to share too, giving you a link which allows your readers to open it on phones, tablets and computers.
46. Traktor DJ ($9.99, £7.99)
Traktor DJ wisely dispenses with skeuomorphic representations of deck-spinning; instead of virtual vinyl on your iPad, you get waveforms, providing visual cues regarding what you're playing. The app is efficient and simple to use, enabling you to define cue points and loops, along with dropping in effects; helpfully, Traktor DJ also attempts to tempo-match songs from your iPad library. It's a very different approach to iPad DJing, but one that works wonderfully.
47. TuneIn Radio (free)
Output your iPad's audio to an amp or a set of portable speakers, fire up TuneIn Radio, select a station and you've a set-up to beat any DAB radio. Along with inevitable social sharing, the app also provides an alarm, AirPlay support, pause and rewind, and a 'shake to switch station' feature – handy if the current DJ's annoying and you feel the need to vent.
48. Wikipanion (free)
The Wikipedia website works fine in Safari for iPad, but dedicated apps make navigating the site simpler and faster. Wikipanion is an excellent free app, with a sleek iOS 7-style design, an efficient two-pane landscape view, and excellent bookmarking and history access.
49. Yahoo Weather (free)
With weather apps, you're frequently forced to choose between lashings of data or something that looks lovely. Yahoo Weather combines both, offering a stunning interface that happens to be rich with information. The maps are a touch weak, but other than that, this is an essential weather app, especially considering Apple doesn't provide an iPad equivalent itself.
50. YouTube (free)
When the YouTube app presumably became a victim of the ongoing and increasingly tedious Apple/Google spat, there were concerns Google wouldn't respond. Those turned out to be unfounded, because here's yet another bespoke, nicely designed Google-created app for iOS. The interface is specifically tuned for the iPad, and AirPlay enables you to fire videos at an Apple TV.
51. Coda for iOS ($9.99, £7.99)
Every now and again, you get an app that ticks all the boxes: it's beautiful, audacious, productive, and nudges the platform forwards. This perfectly sums up Coda for iOS, a full-fledged website editor for iPad.
The app's graphic design borrows from the similarly impressive Transmit for iOS, all muted greys and vibrant icons. It's a style we wish Apple would steal. When it comes to editing, you can work remotely or pull down files locally; in either case, you end up working in a coding view with the clout you'd expect from a desktop product, rather than something on mobile. Naturally, Coda is a fairly niche tool, but it's essential for anyone who regularly edits websites and wants the ability to do so when away from the office.
52. MindNode ($9.99, £7.99)
Mind-mapping is one of those things that's usually associated with dull business things, much like huge whiteboards and the kind of lengthy meetings that make you hope the ground will swallow you up. But really they're perfect whenever you want to get thoughts out of your head and then organise them.
On paper, this process can be quite messy, and so MindNode is a boon. You can quickly and easily add and edit nodes, your iPad automatically positioning them neatly. Photos, stickers and notes can add further context, and your finished document can be shared publicly or privately using a number of services.
53. Earth Primer ($9.99, £7.99)
When you're told you can control the forces of nature with your fingertips that probably puts you more in mind of a game than a book. And, in a sense, Earth Primer does gamify learning about our planet. You get a series of engaging and interactive explanatory pages, and a free-for-all sandbox that cleverly only unlocks its full riches when you've read the rest of the book.
Although ultimately designed for children, it's a treat for all ages, likely to plaster a grin across the face of anyone from 9 to 90 when a volcano erupts from their fingertips.
For most guitarists, sound is the most important thing of all. It's all very well having a massive rig of pedals and amps, but only if what you get out of it blows away anyone who's listening. For our money, BIAS FX is definitely the best-sounding guitar amp and effects processor on the iPad, with a rich and engaging collection of gear.
Fortunately, given the price-tag, BIAS FX doesn't skimp on set-up opportunities either. A splitter enables complex dual-signal paths; and sharing functionality enables you to upload your creations and check out what others have done with the app.
55. Status Board (free)
We love our iPads, but during the day tend to spend our time glued to glowing laptop and desktop displays. There's always the sense the iPad could be doing something. With Status Board that something is acting as a status display for you or your business. You drag and drop customisable panels, including clocks, weather forecasts, calendar details and website feeds, thereby giving you constant glanceable updates for important info.
A one-off IAP (£7.99/$9.99) unlocks further options that are mostly perhaps more suited to business environments (graphs, tables, HTML, photos, countdowns and text); and in either case support for HD displays enables you to present your status board really large, should you feel the need.
56. Pixaki ($6.99, £4.99)
With visible pixels essentially eradicated from modern mobile device screens, it's amusing to see pixel art stubbornly refusing to go away. Chunky pixels are, though, a very pleasing aesthetic, perhaps in part because you know effort and thought has gone into the placement of every single dot. For our money, Pixaki is the only app worth considering for iPad-related pixel art.
It's simple and elegant, with straightforward tools, an extremely responsive canvas, global and document-specific palettes, and multiple brush sizes. Extra points, too, for the opacity slider's handle being a Pac-Man ghost.
57. Foldify Dinosaurs ($3.99, £2.99)
We're big fans of the Foldify apps, which enable people to fashion and customise little 3D characters on an iPad, before printing them out and making them for real. This mix of digital painting, sharing (models can be browsed, uploaded and rated) and crafting a physical object is exciting in a world where people spend so much time glued to virtual content on screens.
But it's Foldify Dinosaurs that makes this list because, well, dinosaurs. Who wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect of making a magenta T-Rex with a natty moustache? Should that person exist, we don't want to meet them.
58. Audiobus ($4.99, £3.99)
Although Apple's Inter-App Audio, baked deep into iOS, has gained traction, it's Audiobus that leads in terms of app compatibility. The audio-routing system enjoys support from over 600 products, covering a huge range of DAWs, synths and guitar apps. With the multi-routing IAP ($4.99/£3.99), you can create complex chained effects and other sophisticated set-ups.
And if you've multiple iOS devices, Audiobus Remote (also $4.99/£3.99) provides a second screen for your session, simplifying recording, sample triggering, preset selection, and more.
59. SidTracker64 ($12.99, £9.99)
When someone talks about bringing back the sounds of the 1980s, your head might fill with Human League and Depeche Mode, but if you played games, you'll instead think of Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway, chip-tune pioneers whose music graced the C64, leveraging the power of the MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID (Sound Interface Device) chip.
SidTracker64 is a niche but wonderfully designed iPad app that's a complete production package for creating SID tunes. It's unashamedly retro in terms of sound, but boasts a modern design, with powerful editing and export functionality. If you're only into raw chip-tune noises, Audiobus and Inter-App Audio are supported; but if you're an old-hand, you'll be delighted at the bundled copy of Hubbard's Commando, ready for you to remix.
60. Scanbot (Free + $4.99, £3.99 IAP)
There are quite a few scanners available for iOS, but Scanbot is the one you should keep on your iPad, primarily because it does a whole lot more than just scanning. That's not to say it doesn't do that bit well, because it does; scans are crisp, clear, optionally automatically cropped and straightened, and shareable to a wide range of services.
But pay the IAP and you gain access to smart file-naming, the means to add new pages to existing scans, and text recognition. This not only enables searches of filed scans, but also the automated extraction of key information- phone numbers; URLs; email addresses- into a smartly conceived actions menu.
61. Assembly ($1.99/£1.49)
Illustration tools are typically complex. Sit someone in front of Adobe Photoshop and they'll figure out enough of it in fairly short order. Adobe Illustrator? No chance. Assembly attempts to get around such roadblocks by turning graphic design into the modern-day touchscreen equivalent of working with felt shapes — albeit very powerful felt shapes that can shift beneath your fingers.
At the foot of the screen are loads of design elements, and you drag them to the canvas. Using menus and gestures, shapes can be resized, coloured, duplicated and transformed. Given enough time and imagination, you can create abstract masterpieces, cartoonish geometric robots, and beautiful flowing landscapes. It's intuitive enough for anyone, but we suspect pro designers will enjoy Assembly too, perhaps even using it for sketching out ideas. And when you're done, you can output your creations to PNG or SVG.
62. Chunky Comic Reader (Free)
There's a miniature revolution taking place in digital comics. Echoing the music industry some years ago, more publishers are cottoning on to readers very much liking DRM-free content. With that in mind, you now need a decent iPad reader for your PDFs and CBRs, rather than whatever iffy reading experience is welded to a storefront.
Chunky is the best comic-reader on iPad. The interface is simple but customisable. If you want rid of transitions, they're gone. Tinted pages can be brightened. And smart upscaling makes low-res comics look good. Paying the one-off 'pro' IAP enables you to connect to Mac or Windows shared folders or FTP. Downloading comics then takes seconds, and the app will happily bring over folders full of images and convert them on-the-fly into readable digital publications.
63. Metamorphabet ($3.99/£2.99)
You're probably dead inside if you sit down with Metamorphabet and it doesn't raise a smile — doubly so if you use it alongside a tiny human. The app takes you through all the letters of the alphabet, which contort and animate into all kinds of shapes. It suitably starts with A, which when prodded grows antlers, transforms into an arch, and then goes for an amble. It's adorable.
The app's surreal, playful nature never lets up, and any doubts you might have regarding certain scenes — such as floaty clouds representing 'daydream' in a manner that doesn't really work — evaporate when you see tiny fingers and thumbs carefully pawing at the iPad's glass while young eyes remain utterly transfixed.
64. Tweetbot 4 ($9.99/£7.99)
It's been a long time coming, but finally Tweetbot gets a full-fledged modern-day update for iPad. And it's a good one, too. While the official Twitter app's turned into a 'blown-up iPhone app' monstrosity on Apple's tablet, Tweetbot makes use of the extra space by way of a handy extra column in which you can stash mentions, lists, and various other bits and bobs.
Elsewhere, this latest release might lack a few toys Twitter selfishly keeps for itself, but it wins out in terms of multitasking support, granular mute settings, superb usability, and an interesting Activity view if you're the kind of Twitter user desperate to know who's retweeting all your tiny missives.
65. Fugue Machine ($9.99/£7.99)
This music app is inspired by layered composition techniques used in some classical music. You tap out notes on a piano roll, and can then have up to four playheads simultaneously interpret your notes, each using unique speeds, directions and transpositions. For the amateur, Fugue Machine is intuitive and mesmerising, not least because of how easy it is to create something that sounds gorgeous.
For pros, it's a must-have, not least due to MIDI output support for driving external software. It took us mere seconds to have Fugue Machine working with Animoog's voices, and the result ruined our productivity for an entire morning. (Unless you count composing beautiful music when you should be doing something else as 'being productive'. In which case, we salute you.)
66. AmpliTube Acoustic ($9.99/£7.99)
iPads have opened up a world of creative possibilities for guitarists by way of apps that ape all kinds of amps and stomp boxes. But AmpliTube Acoustic does something new. The clue's in the title – this is a tone studio created for acoustic guitars, and designed to be used with the iRig Acoustic clip-on microphone.
Highlights include a particularly lovely 12-string simulator, and the 'bass maker', which adds low-end to your strumming. Of course, electric guitarists can also use the app, for clean tones and effects, and developer IK Multimedia has, as usual, issued a limited freemium version that acts as a demo of sorts.
67. Ulysses for iPad ($19.99/£14.99)
There are plenty of great distraction-free writing apps for iPad, but Ulysses for iPad adds serious management and editing clout to the mix. The idea is you use the app for all your writing – notes; in-progress text; final edits; and export. Items in your library can be manually sorted, grouped and filtered; text can be processed to PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, HTML and ePub.
But what's most astonishing is how the app's interface mirrors its Mac counterpart's, and yet still feels entirely at home on the iPad. (And for iPad Pro users hankering after a top-notch writing app to use in Split View, look no further.)
68. Retype ($2.99/£2.29)
Typography is something that doesn't come naturally to everyone. And so while there are excellent apps for adding text to images, you might want more help, rather than spending hours fine-tuning a bunch of misbehaving letters. That's where Retype comes in. You load a photo or a piece of built-in stock art, and type some text. Then it's just a case of selecting a style.
The type's design updates whenever you edit your text, and variations can be accessed by repeatedly prodding the relevant style's button. Basic but smart filter, blur, opacity and fade commands should cement Retype's place on your iPad.
69. Workflow ($3.99/£2.99)
Even though the iPad is an immensely powerful mobile device, there's no getting away from it sometimes being fiddly for performing complex tasks; this is all the more frustrating if said tasks are something you must do regularly. Fortunately, Workflow is here to help.
It includes over 200 actions that work with built-in and third-party apps, enabling you to fashion complex automation that's subsequently activated at the touch of a button. To help you get started, the gallery houses dozens of pre-built workflows, and for added flexibility, you can access those you create or install from inside the app, via the Today widget, or by way of a custom Home screen app-like shortcut.
70. Scape ($11.99/£8.99)
Pop music is about getting what you expect. Ambient music has always felt subtly different, almost like anything could happen. With generative audio, this line of thinking became reality. Scape gives you a combined album/playground in this nascent genre, from the minds of Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers.
Each track is formed by way of adding musical elements to a canvas, which then interact in sometimes unforeseen ways. Described as music that "thinks for itself", Scape becomes a pleasing, fresh and infinitely replayable slice of chill-out bliss. And if you're feeling particularly lazy, you can sit back and listen to an album composed by the app's creators.
71. Sidefari ($0.99/£0.79)
Although modern iPads enable you to view two apps side-by-side, no-one at Apple apparently considered an equally compelling use-case: viewing two windows from the same app. This is a common requirement when browsing the web, comparing content across sites – or just when trying to do two things at once!
You could of course install a third-party browser to use alongside Safari, but Sidefari is a more elegant solution. It's essentially a wrapper around Safari View Controller, the in-app browser Apple enables developers to use in their own apps. Plonk it alongside Safari in Split View and you sort-of have two Safaris, and can fling links between them by way of the Share sheet (in Safari) and Safari button (in Sidefari).
Sidefari has limitations, notably a lack of tabs and no means to directly edit whatever's in the address bar. But there's a history for quick access to recent sites, and compatibility with installed content blockers. Moreover, it's easy to use and reliable, thereby justifying its tiny price tag.
72. Procreate ($5.99/£4.49)
There are loads of sketching tools for iPad, but it feels like Procreate is the one really forging ahead, bringing artists a well-balanced mix of power and accessibility.
If you want to keep things simple, Procreate gets out of your way. The toolbar doesn't distract, and the only on-screen controls are handy sliders for brush size and opacity; but even these can all be auto-hidden after a user-defined period, leaving the entire screen to display your masterpiece.
Whether drawing with a finger or a stylus, Procreate proves responsive and feels surprisingly tactile. The tool selection is straightforward but offers real depth, not least in how you can really delve into brushes and mess about with their characteristics.
But the app has also taken to heart the fact it's running on a touchscreen. To straighten a stroke, you simply hold its end point for a second. Undo and redo are merely a two- or three-finger tap away. And the strength of layer effects is determined by swiping across the canvas, in a pleasing and precise manner.
73. Plane Finder ($3.99/£2.99)
If you're the kind of person who watches a plane fly overhead and wonders which airline it is, where it's going, and where it's been, you should download Plane Finder immediately. On launch, the app figures out where you are, loads a map, and gets to work showing planes zooming about the place.
If you live near an airport, this will evoke a combination of excitement and terror once you realise just how many steel tubes with wings are being hurled across the sky.
Plane Finder absolutely revels in this plane-based geekery. An augmented reality mode has you wave your iPad in front of your face to track the positions of planes in 3D. (Go outside for best effect – it's a bit weird having plane info splattered across office walls.)
There's a time-travel mode, so you can watch a previous day's flights in fast-forward. And filters and alerts help you drill down into any specifics you happen to be interested in.
There's even a practical edge to the app, with arrivals and departures boards when you tap on an airport, although we will admit in that case it's probably a bit quicker to just visit the relevant website.
74. Molecules by Theodore Gray ($13.99/£10.49)
Depending on your age and media preferences, Molecules by Theodore Gray might appear to be the future of books, a modern take on a CD-ROM, or something that's escaped from a Harry Potter movie.
At its core, it is, of course, a textbook. But this is a textbook that begs to be explored, primarily due to dazzling your senses with dozens of animated photographic objects that you can interact with.
This is a trick publisher Touchpress has used before, but it never really gets old. Spinning objects beneath your fingers adds a playful side to a subject that could be considered quite dry; this is further enhanced by videos you can drag to scrub through, and molecule simulations.
The simulations are perhaps the smartest aspect of the app, not because they're the most visually exciting, but because of what they represent. In dragging their component parts around and seeing how molecules react to changes in temperature, you're suddenly very aware these aren't static building blocks, but are always alive and in motion.
A printed tome can only hint at such things, but this digital volume brings a level of intrigue and immersion paper simply cannot match.
Touchpress doesn't do cheap apps – but it works hard to deliver titles that warrant the higher price and on the whole, they usually delight.
Source: techradar.com


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On this date in 1871, the Qing executed Ma Hualong (or Ma Hua-lung), one of the principal leaders of a 15-year Muslim revolt in northwest China.
Ma was the fifth leader of the Jahriyya, a Sufi order whose founder Ma Mingxin had himself been executed during disturbances in the early 1780s.
By the time of Ma's ascendancy, the Jahriyya were a major force in Gansu, Shaanxi and Ningxia.
Neither Ma nor any other single person led the Dungan revolt. ("Dungan" was a 19th century term for the ethnicity that's now known as the Hui.) Rather, a cascading series of ethnic riots led in 1862 — while the Chinese army was absorbed elsewhere with the bloody Taiping Rebellion — to a patchwork of rebellious leaders and movements, operating independently and often viewing one another as rivals.
The Jahriyya was the closest thing to a unifying element among discontented Muslims. According to this volume, though Ma struck a pose of moderation and loyalty, in the Chinese court's eyes, the disturbances "depend[ed] on Ma Hua-lung." For the Qing, Ma's nearly impregnable position at Jinjipu (Chin-chi-pao) and his diplomatic finesse were the lynchpin.
Dispatched to put down the revolt, General Tso Tsung-tang had the prestigious Ma as his primary target: with him gone, the rest of the rebels could be divided and conquered at leisure.
Unable to take Jinjipu by storm, General Tso besieged it unto near starvation, forcing Ma to surrender himself. Notwithstanding his attempts to take all the blame for the revolt on his own shoulders,
Ma was executed, together with twelve members of his immediate family, by the "slicing process"; some eighty of the lesser Muslim leaders were beheaded. Chin-chi-p'u was depopulated, and the surviving Muslims were sent, en masse, into exile or slavery.
Just a drop in a bucket for a conflict with 8 million-plus dead.
The Jahriyya order still exists to this day. And so too, of course, does General Tso — on Chinese restaurant menus.
On this day..
- 1921: George Bailey, the first Englishman hanged by female jurors - 2020
- 1950: Rosli Dhobi, Sarawak patriot - 2019
- 1423: William Taylor, Lollard - 2018
- 1942: The massacre at the Pit - 2017
- 1962: Kelly Moss, restless of spirit - 2016
- 1401: William Sawtre, Lollard heretic - 2015
- 1886: David Roberts, dutiful son - 2013
- 1942: Jakub Lemberg and family - 2012
- 2006: Ali Afrawi and Mehdi Nawaseri - 2011
- 1974: Salvador Puig Antich and Heinz Ches, the last garroted in Spain - 2010
- 1585: William Parry, Vile and Base - 2009
- 2005: Han Bok-nam, whose death was illicitly filmed - 2008


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Aspen Heiress Murder Case Ends With Guilty Plea
William Styler pleads guilty to killing Nancy Pfister with a hammer.
— -- The mysterious murder case of a prominent Aspen, Colorado, native came to abrupt halt Friday when one of three people who had been held on murder charges pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
William "Trey" Styler III, 66, who has been in a wheelchair since his arrest on March 3, held his cuffed hands in his lap as he listened to the charges read against him relating to the Feb. 24 bludgeoning death of Buttermilk Ski Area heiress Nancy Pfister, 57.
"I am guilty, your honor," he told Pitkin County Judge James Boyd.
Styler, a former anesthesiologist from Denver who had rented Pfister's home, first confessed to district attorney investigators June 16. He earlier had been charged with first-degree murder.
The district attorney said there had been intense disagreements with Pfister over whether Styler and his wife had been paying the $4,000 monthly rent fee. Pfister cut short a trip to Australia, she said in a Facebook post, to deal with renters who were not paying up.
Styler hit Pfister in the head with a hammer while she slept and hid her in closet at her Buttermilk home, prosecutors said.
Pfister was wrapped in white and green trash bags and the sheets from her bed, ABC News has learned. Her bed was clean except for one bloody hand print on the headboard.
RELATED: Charges Dropped in Murder of Aspen Socialite Nancy Pfister
RELATED: Three Suspects in Slaying of Aspen Socialite Appear in Court
RELATED: Third Person Arrested in Aspen Socialite Killing
After Styler was wheeled out of the courtroom, first-degree murder charges against a second suspect, Kathy Carpenter, 56, were dismissed. Carpenter, who entered the courtroom in street clothes, left the building with her mother. Ninth Judicial District prosecutor Sherry Caloia said Carpenter was not off the hook. She told reporters after the hearing that the case against Carpenter was still open.
Not so for the case against Trey Styler's wife, Nancy Styler, 62, who had also been charged with first-degree murder and other crimes. Earlier this week, Nancy Styler was released and, unlike Carpenter, the case against her was closed. She will never be charged for Pfister's murder.
Nancy Pfister's sister, Suzanne Pfister, and the victim's daughter, Juliana Pfister, were in the courtroom and visibly shaken.
"It's second degree murder. I don't understand that," said Juliana Pfister when she was asked to approach the bench. "It upsets me. There are such things as an eye for an eye."
Another sister, Christina Pfister, listened to the hearing by phone and addressed the court with dismay about the fact that Styler would be held in a medical unit,
"I saw Mr. Styler walking around just fine before he was arrested," she said, "and I am not interested in him being comfortable."
Carpenter's attorneys also were frustrated because their client, a friend of Nancy Pfister's for seven years, spent 96 days in jail without bail.
In an hour-long news conference after the hearing, Greg Greer, an attorney for Carpenter, told reporters that Carpenter was arrested based on a word investigators thought they heard her say in the 911 call.
Said Greer, "She's unemployed. She's homeless now because she called 911."
When asked about the fact that the case was still open, he said, "We'll see."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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The latest convoluted governmental crisis comes from the concept of "sequestration." (When did we all sign up for the Convoluted Governmental Crisis of the Month Club?)
For lawyers, it means making a jury reside in a hotel until the trial is over. In this context, well, I don't know what the hell it means.
According to Gary Mihoces of USA Today, one thing it means is that flyovers at sporting events will end. And the plug would be pulled at least through September 30, if not longer.
If any portion of the defense department budget is going to be slashed, the act of flying planes over a crowded stadium would be the one to get rid of. It's not something that makes our actual or potential enemies soil their shorts, and as a recruiting tool its value is questionable.
Really, any kids who would be attracted to the military because they think it's cool that planes skim the top of a stadium in tight formation may not be the best candidates to carry loaded M-16s.
While it's a neat effect, it's a waste of tax dollars. And there's a risk -- regardless of how small -- that those planes will touch wings and one of them will land in the south end zone seats. Not doing flyovers reduces the risk of a major catastrophe to zero.
If this sequestration thing gets rid of similar useless spending, maybe it's not a bad thing, after all.


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Dear Editor:
On Saturday, August 10th, my husband, Jim, and I answered the front door to find a salesman from a private energy company who attempted to have us agree to choose that company as our provider. He was armed with a binder displaying a PSEG bill on the cover and brandished a company badge. We declined, but he stuck his foot in the door. He was politely told to leave but refused to do so. He insisted that he could enter the vestibule of our house, shouting that we "did not own the building", that it was "public space"! Of course, Jim became quite upset and raised his voice demanding that the salesman leave the property. As I ran back into the house to call the police, my husband reported that he had been threatened that if he were "not such an old man he would be flat on his back". The salesman continued to refuse to leave even as the police showed up.
Reports were taken and my husband pressed harassment charges. The police officer presented the blank page of his summons book and assured him that he could sign the document without his having filled it out; that he (police officer) would do the paperwork back at the station. We offered to meet him there, and then sign a full report, but the officer was insistent that he would report the very words my husband used. This made us uneasy, but Jim signed it. And, by the way, the policeman assured us that our vestibule, which is inside a locked door, is public property, and that the sales person had a right to enter and to roam the hallway knocking on doors. The doorbell is on the outside of the locked front door. Two weeks ago, as I was working at home, I answered the door for a salesman for the same company. He also refused to leave, I screamed for help; he stuck his foot in the door, and started to push the door in. I managed to resist (don't know how) and got the door closed, called the police. Same story, but I was not even-headed enough to file a complaint. Let this be a wake-up call for all residents. These people will not stop their harassment. Beware of opening the door, or buzzing-in anyone. These people have tactics to make you think they are from one of your service providers.
Joan Abel


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Kingston University planning and conservation students claim they could be left without places if a proposal to close their department is approved.
Staff in the department emailed students yesterday to tell them of the plans, which would see the School of Surveying and Planning in Penhryn Road closed from the end of this academic year.
Staff were told at 4pm on Wednesday, they said.
Planning and historic conservation courses would be closed this summer, while surveying and other courses would move to other university departments, according to the email.
The number of lecturers could also be cut. Students claim 10 would lose their jobs while five would move.
The email signed 'staff in the School of Surveying and Planning' said: "Colleagues within the School of Surveying and Planning are determined to do everything they can to both safeguard the education of ongoing students and to retain what a recent external review of the school described as an efficient model."
The email said the plans have not been ratified by the university governors or the academic board.
First-year planning student Rachel Stanislaus, 18, said she was "shocked" to receive the email.
She added: "What they have said is they will try and help us to find new places.
"It is not something you expect when you sign up to do a degree.
"You make life changes. You move out to a different area, which you are getting used to."
And Latoyah King, 20, a first-year building surveying student, said: "They have put it as a proposal but it sounds like it is already happening.
"We're being squeezed in somewhere else.
"They are trying to put it as, 'This will enhance your education,' but they are just cutting back."
Nick Beers, a building surveying undergraduate who has launched Twitter campaign @KUSaveOurSchool said: "We were told at four o clock yesterday that the school of surveying and planning was going to be disbanded.
"It doesn't fit in with the dean's vision of the faculty. He wants to make it a 60s art school.
"I think 14 members of staff could lose their jobs, and our teaching experience will be massively disrupted."
Kingston University has not yet commented. Attempts were being made by the press office this morning to contact the dean of the faculty for comment.
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- Citizens Police Academy Class
Citizens Police Academy Class
"The CPA is 30- hour program intended to enhance understanding and cooperation between the citizens of Big Spring and Howard County and the personnel of the Big Spring Police Department," said Brian Gordon, Administrative Lieutenant of the BSPD.
The Academy is designed to give participants a "tip of the iceberg" overview of the tasks, responsibilities and procedures of the men and women serving in local law enforcement. It is an opportunity for citizens to hear from officers in various functions of police work such as: Dispatch, Records, Animal Control, Recruiting and Training, Patrol Operations, Criminal and Narcotics Investigations, Crime Scene Processing, Crime Stoppers and SWAT functions. Robust question and answer sessions are encouraged throughout the program. Few questions are considered off-limits, and participants receive the most honest, straightforward answers available, from the people most qualified to give them.
Many of the sessions are hands-on exercises that provide the participants with opportunities to step into the role of the police officer and handle various situations officers are called upon to deal with daily. "Participants also spend a working shift riding in a patrol car with an on-duty officer to gain a first hand perspective of a day in the life of a local Cop," explains Gordon. Historically, this is one of the aspects of the program enjoyed by all of the participants.
The program will also introduce participants to the Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) group. Representatives of this group will attend and assist with the classroom activities. According to Marvin Boyd, President of VIPS, "We are an active group who assist the BSPD with activities such as traffic control for parades and other activities, the house watch program and monitoring handicap parking violations." Graduation from the CPA will qualify participants to join the VIPS group. Boyd encourages all past and future graduates of the CPA to consider joining the volunteer group. "We have a real need for additional volunteers so we can provide more assistance to our Law Enforcement Officers," states Boyd.
Since its inception in 1994, the CPA has provided a forum wherein citizens and police can exchange information and viewpoints. "We have found that this exchange benefits the participants, the officers and instructors, the Department and the community in general," Gordon said. The community comes to a better understanding of the often-conflicting expectations and requirements placed on law enforcement and law enforcement comes to a better understanding of the expectations of their community.
"Over the years, as a result of this exchange, the department has modified some of its practices and procedures to better meet the needs and desires of the citizens. In turn we have seen an increased acceptance of our role in the community and have enjoyed a more open dialog with its members," adds Chad Williams, Chief of Police.
For information or questions regarding the Citizens Police Academy, please call Administrative Lieutenant Brian Gordon at (432)264-2561 or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Lenovo has posted pictures of its own wearable smartband, hinting that the company could be preparing to launch the product soon.
The Chinese PC maker has a posted a company product page for its "Smartband SW-B100", which is designed as a fitness tracker. It can record calories burnt, steps taken and a user's heartrate, in addition to syncing with a smartphone through an app to provide more complete health data.
Users can also customize notifications and reminders on the smartband, and even use it to unlock a Windows PC without typing in the password, according to the product page.
The smartband can work with Android and iOS mobile devices. It will come in two colors, blue and orange.
Lenovo is joining other PC makers in trying to break into the wearables market. Earlier this year, Acer announced its Liquid Leap smartband and Asus has unveiled a smartwatch, called the ZenWatch.
Analysts, however, expect Apple's upcoming smartwatch to make the biggest splash in the market when it goes on sale early in 2015. In this year's second quarter, Samsung led in the wearable band market with a 30.4 percent share, according to research firm Canalys. Fitbit was second, while Jawbone was third.
Canalys is forecasting that basic wearables, such as fitness trackers, will reach shipments of 15 million units next year. The market for more advanced wearables, such as multi-functional smartwatches that can run apps, will grow even more to 28.2 million shipments in 2015.
Lenovo, although best known for PCs, has been breaking out of its core business, and focusing more on mobile devices. In July, the company showed off its own smart glasses prototype.
Later in August, Lenovo's CEO said the company was working on other wearable products that it would launch next year at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.


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Nearly a year after promising to impose harsher sanctions on the most egregious rule-breakers, NCAA leaders endorsed a proposal Thursday that would make schools subject to the same crippling penalties handed to Penn State.
The measure includes postseason bans of up to four years, fines that could stretch into the millions and suspensions for head coaches. A final vote on the sweeping overhaul won't occur before the board of directors' October meeting.
"Coaches come to me and say, 'I feel like a chump. I'm trying to do things the right way and I have peers who laugh at me because I don't play the game and bend the rules the way they do,'" board chairman Ed Ray said in a statement released by the Indianapolis-based NCAA. "That's got to stop … Most coaches are terrific people who love their student-athletes, try to do it the right way, try to have the right values and succeed. They're very frustrated. This has got to stop. I think most coaches are saying it's about time. We want a level playing field."
The plan calls for changing the current two-tiered penalty structure of major and secondary violations to a four-tiered concept, increasing the size of the infractions committee from 10 up to 24 in an effort to speed up the enforcement process and holding coaches individually accountable for any violations that occur in their program.
But it's the penalties that will make school leaders take notice.
A program found to have made a "serious breach of conduct" with aggravating circumstances could face postseason bans of two to four years. In addition, the program may have to return money from specific events or a series of events or the amount of gross revenue generated by the sport during the years in which sanctions occurred — fines that could cost a school millions of dollars.
If this sounds familiar, it should. After the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal at Penn State, the NCAA barred the university from playing in a bowl game or the college football playoff until after the 2016 season and levied a $60 million fine — the rough equivalent to a year of gross revenue from the football program.
Coaches, too, would face new guidelines. They would be presumed responsible for any violations committed by their staffs. If they cannot prove they were unaware, the head coach could be suspended from 10 percent of the season to the full season.
Some think it's about time.
"I do think tying the infraction much more closely to the punishment in terms of time and who is involved is big and hammering things on fair play is important, too," Indiana athletic director Fred Glass said. "Without knowing the specifics, I do think it's a positive."
The board also approved a provision that would publicly identify individuals responsible for the violations if there is a finding of lack of institutional control or failure to monitor.
The changes are the next step for university leaders nearly a year after they met with NCAA President Mark Emmert at a two-day retreat in Indianapolis. Afterward, presidents said they unanimously supported stronger sanctions and promised to make significant changes over the next 12 to 18 months.
Ray, the Oregon State president, and former Penn State President Graham Spanier were two of the leaders who spoke after the meeting. Also in attendance was University of Miami President Donna Shalala, whose football and basketball programs were accused of major violations just a few weeks later. The Miami investigation is ongoing.
With so many major scandals over the past 20 months, NCAA leaders not only wanted to put teeth in the sanctions — they want them in place before the end of this year.
"Our intention is to make this real in October," Ray said. "We want the membership to have a final review. We will listen to compelling arguments for additional changes, but this is the recommendation with all the feedback we've gathered since our first report in January and second detailed report in April."
Ray's committee also approved a measure that will allow BCS officials to expand the bowl limit so they can create a four-team playoff. That measure was expected to be a formality after the BCS voted to expand the playoff system.
And the board approved a new selection process for bowl games if conferences with bowl tie-ins do not have enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the spots.
Under the new measure, if a bowl cannot be filled by the conference affiliations, the open spots would be filled through a six-tier tiebreaking process that will consider wins versus Football Championship Subdivision teams, teams with seven losses, teams making the move to the FBS that go 6-6 and any 5-7 team with a top-five score on the Academic Progress Rate.
Some think it will give teams more to play for.
Others aren't so sure.
"For me, personally, I'd be disappointed with that," Indiana center Will Matte said. "I think teams earn the right to go to bowl game, and I think that (getting in at 5-7) cheapens that a little bit."
The board also reiterated its support to provide athletes an annual stipend of up to $2,000 to cover the so-called full cost of attendance but did not vote on the measure. The stipend originally was approved last fall, but was halted in December because too many schools were opposed to it.
In other actions, the board:
—Chose Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch as chairman of the board and Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon chairwoman of the Executive Committee.
—Voted to support a change in constitutional language that would allow schools from outside the U.S. to join the NCAA. The move virtually assures that Simon Fraser University of Burnaby, British Columbia, will become the first non-U.S. member when the Division II Presidents Council votes next week.
—Heard a proposal to rewrite the massive rulebook manual. No vote will occur until at least January.


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Christian Lacroix's newest floral fantasy — complete with hand-painted flowers, ferns, and fireflies bursting with color and exuberant elegance.The collection will grace your table and capture the attention of your guests. The beautiful assortment of colors blend together to create a stunning table scape.
Fruit Bowl 12.6" in diameter x 6.5" high. For this new porcelain collection developed by Vista Alegre, Christian Lacroix has imagined a decoration with tropical exuberance.
ENHANCED WITH GOLD AND PLATINIUM. HAND-PAINTED ELEMENTS. Dishwasher Safe.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.
your first order when you sign up for our mailing list.


text:
The New England Patriots barely moved the needle late Tuesday afternoon when they traded defensive back Justin Green to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for defensive end Ben Bass.
Just minutes later, the Pats made a bigger splash by acquiring the No. 51 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a source informed of the move, the Patriots will acquire defensive end Jerel Worthy from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a conditional late-round draft pick.
Per agent Chafie Fields, the transaction is pending a physical. Worthy has yet to practice this summer due to a back injury, but said Tuesday that he's "getting anxious" to "get back out there."
Worthy missed all but 14 snaps last season because he was slow to recover from a late 2012 ACL tear. He entered training camp on the roster bubble due to an influx of talent on the defensive side of the ball in Green Bay.
A poor fit for Dom Capers' two-gap scheme, Worthy managed just 2.5 sacks in a part-time role as a rookie.
NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock had a first-round grade on Worthy coming out of Michigan State. Billed as a boom-or-bust prospect, he was viewed as an interior pass rusher with first-step quickness offset by an inconsistent motor.
If Worthy's body cooperates, he has a chance for a rotational role behind Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly and first-round draft pick Dominique Easley. For the price the Patriots are paying, this is a worthwhile project for Bill Belichick.
UPDATE: The trade was finalized Wednesday, per the NFL transaction wire.
*The latest Around The League Podcast highlights the winners and losers from the first week of preseason action. *


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Volunteers were busy cleaning up a pond near Beaulieu, Hants in 2009 when one of the volunteers, sales executive Marc Oakland, shifted a tree branch and saw humanity's worst fear come to the surface.
Marc had discovered a Dalek head, which had clearly been in the pond for quite some time since it was covered in weeds and mold.
According to pond warden Tony Brown "We made a very thorough search of the rest of the bottom of the pond and there were definitely no alien remnants lurking", but it's possible that someone, or something, got to Tony before the interview and told him to say that so citizens of the UK wouldn't panic.
Only time will tell if the Daleks are on their way to exterminate us all, but one thing's for certain- Marc now has a really cool Doctor Who related souvenir to hang on his wall!
-Via Telegraph UK
Eventually, the Doctor will get sick of saving us.


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The North Portland Library – one of the only Carnegie libraries in the city – is throwing its 100th birthday party on Feb. 1, and book-huggers are encouraged to bring by historic memorabilia for the special event.
Library manager Patricia Welch hopes to put together a time capsule to depict the institution's history, and she is calling on the local community to pitch in with stories, ideas or anything they may have to celebrate the gorgeous red-brick building at 510 N. Killingsworth St.
"People love the library," Welch says. "Every time I come into this building I feel the love, because only in a town where people love their libraries so much, would the public agree to step up and fund this beautiful library."
The ornate, Jacobean-style brick edifice was built through the civic improvement project of industrialist Andrew Carnegie that saw the construction of landmark libraries across the country.
The North Portland Library itself pre-dates the current building, as Portlanders in Albina first gathered 500 books in a reading room in 1909.
In 1911 that collection was merged with another to form the first North Portland Library.
But just one year later, local residents donated the land for construction of the current building after Carnegie donated $60,000 -- to build a total of four libraries in Portland.
After construction, library staff worked through close neighborhood contacts – including the water bill collector and the gas company – to build community around their programs and booklists.
In the mid-1950s, the county library system moved to expand into six larger, full-service libraries, and the North Portland Library we know today – with some 30,000 books – evolved.
The library's BlackResourceCenter opened in 1987, putting North Portland Library on the map for anyone interested in reading up on racial equality sand Civil Rights, among many other related topics.
Library-lovers today often enjoy the original art of beloved painter Charlotte Lewis, who died in 1999. One of many key cultural figures in Portland, Lewis especially loved the North Portland Library and started the annual Kwanzaa celebration there in 1993.
Welch says she was surprised some few years ago when she got the library's piano tuned for the first time in years.
"I thought it was an old player piano until I got it tuned," she said. "This is the library that has Steinway piano donated from the community."
If you have library memorabilia, call the branch at 503-988-5394 or just stop by.
For more information about the North Portland Library and all the system's offerings go to www.MultcoLib.org.


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I've been going around town these few days for quite many errands, met the same sort of people and seen the same stuffs at stores, I just feel everything so ... so... 'old'. Boy, I'm weird. There are not even 3 weeks past 2007! But good thing is, that feeling discourages me from going crazy on sales.
Good food is timeless, and boundless.The cicerchiate is balls of fried dough joined into ring shapes by cooked honey. My husband when he was a little boy used to have it on the New Year's eve with his Italian uncle and aunt. My husband spoke no Italian so he called it honey balls. Chinese has our own new year (usually in late Jan or early February), interesting thing is, some of our traditional sweets their preparation and taste are so much alike to cicerchiate, like "smiley dates" (fried round sweet dough) and "crunchy rice" (popped rice grains bound by caramelized sugar). Go try it, it properly brings you a reminiscence of some sort.
On the left, the pre-fried dough. Please note that due to the time spending on photo-taking, the dough has dried up a bit. On the right, I think I cooked the honey too much on the high heat so such a dark color is created.
I mixed candied squash and candied kiwi in this cicerchiate, which are produced in Alimente, Spain
Recipe of Piccole Cicerchiate (yield two mini "towers", about 9 cm in diameter)
- 150 g plain flour
- 1 - 2 tbps mild flavored olive oil
- 1 + 1/2 eggs
- a good dash of sweet wine, like Marsala
- a pinch of salt
- a bit of lemon zest
For binding:
- about 125 g honey of your choice
- 1/4 cup chopped candied fruit
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts of your choice
- colored sprinkles
- In a big mixing bowl, combine flour, oil, eggs, salt, wine and lemon zest, knead well. You should give the dough many rests (cover) between kneadings so that the gluten in the dough has enough time to relax; you will manipulate the dough better. The dough should be tender and slightly moist (not wet).
- Divide the dough into 6 smaller portions, roll each to be a long thin log, about 1 cm in diameter. Again, in between rolling give your doughs a plenty of rest (cover).
- Cut the log into tiny balls, in the size of chickpea.
- Pre-heat 2-inch-deep oil, fry the balls (don't overcrowd) for a few minutes over medium or medium-high heat, adjust the heat from time to time. We aim for slightly golden color. Drain the fried doughs and set them aside.
- In a medium-small pot, cook the honey (watch out, once it gets to boil it will rise up quick and overfill) for a few minutes to thicken up a bit. Skim the foam. Drop the fried balls in and cook for another minute or 2. Mix with candied fruit and nuts. Turn the heat off.
- Pile the honey balls in your desired container, pre-wet by water if yours isn't made of silicon. I let mine totally cool in refrigerator before un-molding.
- Decorate the cicerchiate with sprinkles if desire.


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The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended), enables citizens to request certain information held by the Executive Branch of the federal government. FOIA does not permit access to records of the Congress and legislative branch agencies or the judicial branch, or to donated historical materials (including the Nixon Presidential Historical Materials).[1]
Access to executive branch information is not allowed if it falls within one of FOIA's nine statutory exemptions.


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Sandy Carter, Vice President, SOA Strategy, Channels and Marketing, IBM was kind enough to talk to Developer.com and Gamelan.com about how BPM (Business Process Management) fits into an SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) Strategy.
Q: Business Process Management (BPM) appears to be moving to the forefront in IT circles; can you please explain the growing interest?
A: There are two key drivers to the increased interest in BPM within IT circles. First, there have been many advances in BPM-related IT products in everything from modeling tools to process choreography and workflow technologies. The recent popularity of service oriented architecture (SOA) within IT circles has also helped drive increased interest in BPM. Second, and more importantly, BPM is getting increase focus from business executives who often are the project sponsors and budget owners. This drives IT executives to also focus on BPM to support their line-of-business executives.
Q: Is BPM new?
A: No! BPM as a business management discipline has been around for a long time. Many followers of BPM point to the early days of the Industrial Revolution as the advent of mass production as the starting point for BPM. The next "wave" for BPM occurred in the 1990s when Business Process Reengineering was en vogue with companies driven by many of the strategy consulting firms and the research of Michael Hammer. We are actually in the 3rd generation of BPM and the technologies have matured and the adoption of SOA has brought renewed interest in BPM.
Q: How does BPM complement an SOA strategy?
A: BPM and SOA are really two sides of the same coin and they derive many benefits when brought together. SOA is the engine room for BPM; it provides a flexible IT architecture that is easily and quickly adapted to changing business requirements and allows a company to fully leverage IT investments through reusable components. BPM is the 'gearbox' for SOA; it provides business direction on how the IT assets are to be brought together to support and execute business functions.
Q: Can you do BPM without SOA?
A: It is possible to do BPM without SOA however companies who choose to do this will quickly run into a steep curve of diminishing returns. Without the flexibility and adaptability that SOA provides, BPM initiatives will continue to drive complexity into the IT systems as the systems try to keep up with fast-changing business requirements.
Q: How should an organization approach a BPM strategy?
A: Organizations often start with BPM by using process modeling as a way to gain a better understanding of core business processes. Once the current state is documented, the business can begin the cycle of process improvement by designing and implementing changes to the process and measuring the new process performance.
Some companies are also starting out by monitoring basic activities in and across their environment to gain a better understanding on the current state of the business. Ultimately, BPM is about improvement and understanding where problem areas exist so employees can then go an fix them, is also a good way to start.
Q:What skills should a developer possess in order to support the company's BPM efforts?
A: BPM leverages existing developer skills and tools to build process driven solutions. Development focuses on 'assembling' components into process flows rather that creating new code.
Essentially, a developer should have a general understanding of process flow activity and the linkages of steps and activities required to complete work is also a valuable skill. More sophisticated BPM implementations may require systems and process integration and a developer who combines the business perspective with the general technical knowledge will achieve greatest success.
Q: How can companies take advantage of existing BPM and SOA best practices and resources?
A: Considering that reuse is a critical component of SOA, it makes sense for companies and communities to share services as they help execute specific business processes. For example, IBM offers the SOA Business Catalog that is a comprehensive resource to find reusable IT services based on IBM and Business Partner Software. The IBM SOA Business Catalog allows customers to search for information on SOA assets or IT "services," combinations of software code, intellectual property and best practices, used to solve specific business problems.
Taking the SOA best practices a bit further, companies should also take advantage of industry-specific expertise. We refer to these as roadmaps and IBM created them to help companies succeed through the various stages of SOA evaluation and deployment.
Each of the SOA roadmaps contains a business blueprint, which helps customers map the business side of an SOA strategy, and an industry specific framework, which includes core technology used to execute the business blueprint. The SOA Roadmaps focus on critical business process areas within a given industry. Some examples include online booking for the insurance industry, member enrollment and benefits/eligibility for healthcare, payments for banking, personal shopping for retail, service provisioning and service delivery for telecommunications and supply chain collaboration for industrial.
The business blueprints begin with detailed research that outlines industry challenges and how those industries can benefit from SOA. Each piece of research examines specific business scenarios, describing how those processes are typically executed today and how they could be improved with SOA. The business blueprint also recommends an SOA entry point to make it easier for businesses to know the best place to start to deliver the most immediate business benefits. IBM's SOA entry points make it easier for customers to approach and initiate SOA project. The three business entry points include people, process and information. The two technical entry points include connectivity and reuse.
Q: What are the tangible business benefits that can be derived from BPM?
A: BPM is about value chain analysis and finding where you can derive value in your core business processes. So where is value derived in BPM itself? Through the following actions:
Understanding – By documenting and analyzing your current processes you can find which processes contain value, which ones are pure 'utility,' which ones are redundant, and which ones are unnecessary. You can derive immediate value just from knowing where to start and what to leave alone.
Collaboration – Using your business process documentation as a common base of communication, begin a dialog between business and IT owners to work together to improve the business process design and align the IT resources to your business strategy. Time and time again we hear from clients that they have communication problems between business and IT. Business requirements are misunderstood, IT's value is unclear. BPM provides value in bridging that gap between the business and IT.
Automation – Use technology to your advantage to automate processes, manage workflow, and provide structure around how your business operates. This will help you drive increased revenue, lower operational costs, and lower error rates due to human mistakes.
Optimization – By monitoring how your process performs over time, you can harvest data that can be used to drive the continuous improvements cycle and optimize your process performance. Each iteration of process improvement will drive increased value to the business. Additionally, using monitoring as a way to alert you to small problems before they become big ones.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with us Sandy!


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2. The following outlines the process for compliance this office is requiring.a. Prior to pouring concrete the footing/foundation will be pinned and clearly marked by a professional Surveyor/Engineer. b. A formal letter from the individual or company who pinned the site is also required. The letter must be on company letter head, and signed. The letter should indicate the Map/Lot, address/location of where the work was completed and a brief statement indicating work completed; referencing the site pinned meets all required setbacks as outlined on the plot or site plan that was submitted for the project.
3. If a Code Enforcement official arrives for a scheduled inspections and the site is not pinned, and the letter has not been received the footings will not be inspected, which could delay your construction schedule, plan accordingly.
4. This policy has been in place for some time now, and is typically stated under the Zoning and Planning conditions of a permit. For all projects that have had Planning Board/Staff Review approval this condition is also noted on your approved site plans.
Show All Answers
Each application for a building permit shall include:• Plot Plan - drawn to scale showing and stating the dimensions in feet of the lot; location and size/dimensions of all buildings proposed, existing, moved, or demolished on such lot, indicate distance from lot lines to buildings; show street(s), alleys or right of ways on or adjacent to the lot; wetlands and any other water bodies, indicate with an arrow the direction of North (N) • Statement of the use intended to be made of any buildings and the lot itself even in event of demolition• Scope/description of work to be completed• Drawings/Plans;- New Structures/Dwelling units require a full set of Architectural drawings, and an 8-1/2 x 11" copy - Smaller scope projects require a drawing/sketch with details and dimensions/materials to be used• Copy of deed (if property is bought or split within two years)• Bill of sale (if bought within two years)• Square footage of all the work to be completed on a provided "square footage sheet"
Additional documents or requirements that may be requested and or needed.• Wastewater disposal system documentation i.e. Septic design or Sewer District, (connection approval)• Water Test indicating water is potable on the property if project is a new single family dwelling in a subdivision• Height and/or Elevation Certificate completed by a licensed Surveyor/Engineer• A letter stating that the Foundation was pinned by a licensed Surveyor/Engineer• If the property is in a Flood Zone a DEP Permit and/or flood permit may be required• Sprinkler Systems requires two sets of plans from the designer of the system if it is part of a subdivision• Demolition of a building will require all taxes to be paid on the structure prior to demolition approval• If installing LVL or Steel Beams, Truss rafter systems, engineering specifications are required• Sheds, if manufactured (store bought), a copy of design specifications• For subdivisions, owners/contractors must refer to the site plan notes for additional requirements
If you are not sure what will be required for your project, please call the Code Office at 207-646-5187.
The information above is based on the most frequently asked question to the Code Enforcement Office


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Press Statement
Michael R. Pompeo
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 1, 2018
Devoted husband, loving father, steadfast friend, exemplary patriot: this is how I will always remember President George H. W. Bush. Whether he was serving in the skies over the Pacific during World War II, protecting America at CIA headquarters, or leading our nation in the Oval Office, President Bush was one of America's most consequential and dedicated public servants. In his private life, he was a devoted family man who exuded kindness and respect to everyone he met. I am privileged to have known him as a friend, and I will always treasure the special bond we shared of having led the world's finest intelligence service. Though our hearts are heavy today, we take comfort in knowing he is no longer apart from his beloved wife Barbara. My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of my State Department colleagues, are with the entire Bush family.


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Hey, the mail guy is stuffing envelopes and packages through the mail slot everyday, and every Monday we're going to share... We're callin' it Mailbag Mondays.
Vodka from Blue Angel Vodka, zines from Pigeon Press including: Matt Furie's Boy's Club #4 and Lisa Hanawalt's most excellent I Want You #2. We also received a couple of prints from Oakland based photographer Brad Wenner along with two more zines this time from London's David Shillinglaw and Mike Bauer. ~let's look inside. |
Blue Angel Vodka has sponsored a few art events we've been too and tastes great... But doesn't good vodka lack taste?... Wouldn't it better to say that it doesn't taste like anything and does a wonderful job of getting you drunk... lacks in the impurities that make you feel like crap the next morning.
Because American Vodka is, by law, neutral in taste, there are only very subtle distinctions between brands. Many drinkers feel that the only real way of differentiating between them is by alcohol content and price.
Maurice Kanbar, SF native who created Skyy Vodka, is behind Blue Angel... and pretty sure that's either illustration from Mike Giant or a horrible horrible bite.
Matt Furie with another Boy's Club #4.
Brooklyn based Lisa Hanawalt created I Want You #2... So much funny inside these pages. Highly recommend.
A whole lot of funny.
A look inside a lil' zine and small book from London's David Shillinglaw.
Oakland photographer Brad Wenner mailed a couple prints. Going to hang the red shirt girl at home tonight. Really like that one... Check his site for more great photography.
Lastly, Mike Bauer mailed in this great little zine.
You can view more of Mike's work here.
Thanks to everyone who made our mornings happier with gifts. If you have something you'd like to share with our audience, feel free to send to the above address.
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