Stories By Parisa Vassei

My first experience with the Dolphin Browser was in 2010, when I was seeking an alternative browser for my Motorola Droid X smartphone. Dolphin was one that was recommended by many users in the tech forums I frequented and it soon became my go-to browser for viewing web content on my Android phone. Naturally, when I learned that Dolphin had released its sister iPad app, Dolphin Browser HD, I had to give it a shot. A year and half has passed since my first experience with the Android browser and it seems that Dolphin's developers have come a long way and achieved true success. With a whopping 10 million downloads, the #1 spot for PC Magazine's "The 40 Best Free Apps for 2011" and the #2 spot on the CNet 100, Dolphin Browser is a popular browser alternative for various platforms. Fortunately, it's even more amazing on the iPad.

Read More

Though there are an abundance of Office-compatible apps out there for the iPad, many users have been holding out for an official Microsoft Office app for iOS. While such an app is rumored to be in development, there's no guarantee as to when it'll be released. To address this demand, developers such as OnLive and CloudOn have taken advantage of cutting-edge cloud technologies to bring Microsoft Office access to the iPad. CloudOn's service was an instant success, attracting so many subscribers upon launch that it was temporarily shut down. The app is now back up and requires a Dropbox Account. Similarly, there's OnLive's Desktop app which enables users to access a Windows 7 desktop that's packed with Microsoft Office favorites like Excel, Word, PowerPoint and more. After struggling to find a solid Office competitor that requires very little modification of documents to ensure their compatibility when imported into Microsoft Office apps, I was thrilled to give OnLive Desktop a shot.

Read More

Got a new iDevice over the holidays and need a remote desktop client for it? The time is just right to get your hands on the latest release of LogMeIn for iPhone & iPad, which is available on the App Store for free. That's right! The makers of LogMeIn have abandoned their $29.99 price tag for mobile versions and are now offering basic functionality at no cost to you. So how does this app fare amongst competitors like Splashtop Remote Desktop (which I previously reviewed here)? Quite well. Read on for more details on this excellent remote desktop app.

Read More

Over the summer, I read that Skitch (recently acquired by Evernote) was in the works as a native app for the iPad and I became interested in it, since I thought it could simplify my life. As a huge Evernote fan, I had high hopes that Skitch would become another app that I'd use on an almost daily basis. Naturally, I had to give it a shot right upon its release. Unfortunately, upon initial launch, the long-awaited app had disappointed me with an error message, prompting a restart. Was this indicative of what was to follow? Read on to find out.

Read More

Chances are, you've probably wondered why your iPad lacks even the most basic alarm clock application, similar to the one on the iPhone. This small omission by Apple has created a lucrative market for developers looking to capitalize on this opportunity by producing alarm clock apps ranging from the simple to the complex. The core function of these apps, regardless of their complexity and style, is that they wake you up when it's time or that they serve as reliable reminder and notification sources. Below, I've covered the features of some of the most noteworthy native iPad alarm-clock apps out there. Many come in free and paid editions, and all are stable and functional from my experience. If you have any suggestions to add, please do not hesitate to post them in a comment below.

Read More

Twitter brilliantly exemplifies how technology can be deeply impactful on a global scale. With its sleek yet elegant design and the ability to access real-time status updates and news, it's no wonder that it has succeeded throughout the years. A recent report by The Guardian (UK) revealed a user base of 100 million active users in September. An estimated 230 million tweets are posted daily and half of the site's active users post on a daily basis. These and similar statistics were likely enough to entice Apple masterminds to consider Twitter integration in the most recent iOS update (5.0). This is wonderful for many Twitter users, but it doesn't quite cut it for the savvy, power users which is why I've consolidated a list of five truly useful Twitter clients for the glorious iPad.

Read More

A wave of cheer spread through the iOS user community when the official Gmail app was finally released on November 2. This was met shortly thereafter with a loud cry as the app was pulled from the App Store within hours. Why? Due to a broken notification system…which should imply that this new release should boast a solid notification system. Does it? Read ahead to find out.

Read More

If you live in Los Angeles, chances are you're familiar with KCRW and its eclectic sounds. KCRW is an Santa Monica-based public radio station that is most noted for its unique sounds, news, and talk segments. If you're not from LA and have a valid excuse for not having listened to KCRW, it's not too late. (If you are from LA and have yet to listen in, shame on you.) In either case, I urge you to give the station a shot next time you're eager to discover new music or immerse yourself in delightful beats. Fortunately, you don’t even have to leave your precious iPad thanks to KCRW Music Mine.

Read More

With the winter season coming up, it's no wonder that weather apps are all the rage these days. They're easily accessible from mobile devices and provide information about forecasts, winds, precipitation, and more right at your fingertips.

Read More

The iPad is a wonderful tool for note-taking, whether it’s in the classroom or the boardroom. With the ability to use its native keyboard, one of the many available Bluetooth keyboards, or one of the available stylus tools that enable you to write directly onto the screen, the options for note-taking are endless. Thankfully, many iOS developers have taken into account these options, and there are several wonderful, feature-packed applications that serve this purpose. After having scoured the App Store for note-taking apps, there are five that stood out to me. Their features and strengths, as well as weaknesses are covered in this feature. I hope you find this article informative in assisting you with finding the perfect note-taking app. Feel free to comment below to share you insights and experiences with the apps I’ve included or to recommend an an app that didn’t make my list.

Read More

When the first generation iPad launched in April 2011, many early adopters were both shocked and disappointed that there wasn’t a native iPad app for the device. 18 months and many unofficial Facebook companion apps later, Facebook has decided to launch its official native app. Many of you are probably whispering under your breath, "Well, it’s about time...". So was the official Facebook app worth waiting for? For the most part, yes.

Read More

What's not to love about Machinarium? It's an innovative point-and-click adventure game developed by Amanita Design, an independent studio based in the Czech Republic. Originally released as a PC game, Machinarium apparently taxes the iPad hardware so much that it only works on second generation devices. But we like this adaptation of the game so much that we hope they someday optimize it for use on more iOS devices.

Read More

The iPad is the perfect device for exploring interactive content such as digital magazines and e-books. While the device has the capacity to display digital content in a manner that is truly mesmerizing, many e-books seem to fall short in demonstrating the device's true potential. Fortunately, this is not one of them.

Read More

Will Google+ blow Facebook out of the social networking arena? We're not so certain. What we are certain of is that the popular social network is expanding rapidly. The network has gained a user base of over 20 million and its iPhone app is already one of the top apps in the App Store.

Read More

News Corp may be facing an uncertain future after the recent scandals, but they're offering an olive branch with the latest update to The Daily app, which went live yesterday. In fact, it's got everything we've always wanted from it.

Read More

Love Elton John? Love the piano? If you answered yes to both questions, you should check out Piano Complete: Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume 1. This universal piano app is great if you're looking to learn to play piano without having to abandon your shiny iDevice. Combining a visual teaching style with popular hits such as Bennie and the Jets, Rocket Man, and Tiny Dancer, this app makes learning a new musical skill or enhancing an existing one simple and enjoyable.

Read More

As if appearing in Seinfeld and MADtv weren't impressive enough achievements, Pat Kilbane has decided to venture into the world of publishing with his graphical horror novel (co-authored with zombie author J.D. McGhoul), "The Brain Eater's Bible". It's now available in both hardcover formats and in its ideal form, as an interactive iPad app.

Read More

There's no doubt that the iPad's large screen size is ideal for viewing digital content in "magazine" format, but what about those magazine publishers? Despite some controversies surrounding in-app subscription pricing, iPad magazines (and free companion apps) have been taking the app store by storm.

Read More

Let's be honest, the name "Friends with Benefits" made us feel that this would be a cheap, poorly-designed Facebook companion app amongst many. Thankfully, it didn't deter us from actually giving it a shot -- and we're quite glad we did!

Read More

If you're a female gamer, there's reason to celebrate. A recent study conducted by the Entertainment Software Association found that women constitute 40% of the total gamer population, and this number is sure to increase over time. Although there are numerous stereotypes regarding the typical female gamer, female gamers take interest in a wide variety of games ranging from the more "masculine" shooters to strategy games, casual games, and puzzles. If we were asked to profile a female gamer, we would say we could not, since her interests vary tremendously.

Read More