Kicking off this week’s must-have apps roundup is a brand new update to Instagram — the world’s most popular photo sharing service — that introduces an improved user interface and new features. We’ve also got a new Food Network app that every foodie should have, the official WWE app for wrestling fans, and a great educational app for the iPad that promises to teach your little ones how to write capital letters quickly and efficiently.
Instagram — iPhone (Free)
I’m sure you’re all familiar with Instagram by now, so I won’t bore you with all the details. But if you’re not already using the app on your iPhone, now’s a great time to start. Instagram version 3.0 dropped this week, and in addition to improvements to its user interface, you can now view all the photos you’ve uploaded on a map, flag inappropriate comments, enjoy infinite scrolling on photo feeds, and more.
Food Network On the Road — Universal (Free)
If you’re a foodie who’s always on the go, you need Food Network On the Road installed on your iOS device. It provides you with recommendations for restaurants and hot spots throughout the United States, and promises to be “the best way to plan your next food adventure.”
It also provides your with features restaurants from top shows, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives; The Best Thing I Ever Ate; The Great Good Truck Race; Cupcake Wars, Heat Seekers; and many, many more. Alternatively, you can find restaurants via your favorite chefs, like Guy Fieri, Bobbly Flay, and Rachel Ray.
WWE — Universal (Free)
WWE finally lays the smackdown on iOS. The official app puts WWE Universe in the palm of your hands, with breaking news, a “colossal library” of awesome videos, and thousands of photos that capture all the action from WWE Superstars, Divas, and Legends. You can also check out and save Superstar profiles, with extensive information on their careers, biographies, and social media feeds from Facbook and Twitter.
The app is AirPlay compatible, so all of its videos can be played back on your HDTV. It will also provide you with info on WWE Live Events, complete with the full schedule of events happening all over the globe.
Handwriting Without Tears — iPad ($4.99)
Sure, this may not be a must-have app for you, but it will be for your kids. In helps you turn boring handwriting practice into something effective and enjoyable. It promises to be the easiest, most efficient way to teach and practice the correct letter formation habits for writing capital letters and numbers.
Its virtual slate uses a multi-sensory approach allows children to write with ease, with the correct habits, and without reversals. The “Pick and Practice” game allows your children to practice letters and numbers in the order in which they choose, so that they can concentrate on those they need to perfect. A personal instructor coaches them throughout with formation steps, and helps them fix their mistakes.
There are three levels of difficulty that allow you to build skills progressively, and every time a letter or number is mastered, your child wins a star. Handwriting Without Tears is “a proven success in making legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for children.”
What’s Your Favorite?
So that concludes our list of this week’s must-have iOS apps. If you’ve picked up something that you think we should have included, be sure to let us know about it in the comments.
