Best Apps for iOS, June 2012

Shop Ethical! 2012

Find out where your products really come from.

There is a lot of mis- and dis-information out there regarding the origins of your food and clothing (I believe they call it ‘marketing’). This app hopes to cut through that by naming the corporations that own that ‘local’ brand. Additionally, the app also rates those corporations on how ethical their standards are.


Of course, it’s up to you to make a decision based on said corporation’s track record (I don’t care about GM ingredients, for instance, but a corporation will get marked down in the app for not having a policy on it) but, as the ratings are always justified and backed up with history and sources, it’s a cinch to make up your own mind.

With the ability to search for any of the 3,800 listed products, or to browse by product type, you will almost always find the item you’re about to buy. You’ll be surprised at how many perceived ‘micro breweries’, for instance, are actually owned by foreign corporations.

Now $4.49 is arguably a little expensive, but it seems like some serious effort went into compiling this app, and I feel that it’s important to start investigating the origins – and the ethical history – of what you’re buying. After all, the most effective way to whip a company into line is with your wallet.

$4.49 > Outware Mobile > Link

Lost on Campus

Lost on Campus does what you would expect it to do: it provides you with a searchable map of 26 Australian campuses, complete with a ‘You Are Here’ pin and estimated travelling times – very handy during exam time, when you have to venture across to those freaky buildings on the other side of campus.


In addition to amenities and rooms, you can check opening hours for campus shops and leave comments on places (e.g. 'Coffee sucks') and can check in on Facebook/Twitter (to tell your friends just how much the coffee sucks).

Free > Student Services Australia > Link

Pinterest

Pinterest is a social bookmarking site (similar to FFFFOUND! or Tumblr, and infringing-ly so to Pinspire) that allows you to collect interesting images from the web and display them in a single place. As the original links remain attached to your posts, it’s a great way to view your recipe ideas, decor or drawing inspirations in one place, while maintaining the associated information.


The app allows you to browse yours and others' pinboards by category, however, you require the use of a Safari Bookmarklet (from iosbookmarklets.com) to post to your pinboard.

Free > Cold Brew Labs > Link

Where’s My Water?

This water physics game may be released by Disney (and thus targeted at kids) but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good fun.


You must direct the water from the leaking pipes into Swampy’s bathtub (he’s a bathing-obsessed alligator) by cutting channels through the dirt. You must avoid obstacles like bombs, divert the water to the correct switches to open doors and complete other puzzley requirements. Bonus points are awarded for collecting all three rubber duckies.

All in all, it provides simple, casual gaming fun, with an increasing challenge.

99c (trial available) > Disney > Link