Clean off the lenses on your spectacles – this is not an apptical illusion. The weekly rundown of cool new apps is here for your downloadable pleasure. Promptly open your app store and check out the mobile mates you don’t want to be missing…
Sphere (TourWrist) 360 Degree Panorama Photography | Free | iOS
Formerly dubbed TourWrist, Sphere is the more cleverly named, more adaptable and diverse virtual tour guide. If you’re itching to visit a new destination, but you’re too destitute or time-starved to get there in person, Sphere will transport you to that other land; costing you only a couple minutes of your time. You can explore the Turkish countryside from a hot air balloon or see what it’s like to become a one hit wonder on the American Idol stage. If you’re one of the lucky sots who’ve actually escaped the city limits, turn your own camera roll into immersive spheres and shove it in your friend’s faces. Take that, Toto! We’re not in Kansas anymore.
Today’s Beer | Free | Android
Everybody who’s anybody who likes to drink loves beer. (My personal and baseless bias. Sorry celiacs.) There are kegs’ worth of new beer apps on the market, but none are quite as brewtiful as this one. Pouring their hops and soul into giving the avid pintsmith a daily beer inspiration, Today’s Beer will make sure you’re always looking at the glass half full. Rotate each beer bottle 360 degrees and discover the true artistry in unique label designs and distinct bottle types. Gather full beer profiles and take a ‘pint view’ of each craft brew, displaying its true colour when poured. If you’ve missed out on a day because your hangover had you asleep for 32 hours, you can view their 7-day beer history and then promptly consult a doctor. You’ve got bigger problems.
ARKick | $2.99 | BlackBerry
Calling themselves an “Augmented Reality Sidekick” (hence the name), ARKick is you’re contextual gateway to the real world around you. Providing relevant information given your current location, this app paints an eerily accurate portrait of the life that lies ahead (without the need for mind-altering substances or the belief in reincarnation). Take a look at a first person view from your coordinates, track the distance between landmarks, chart weather patterns, and guide yourself between destinations through directions in their map view. Rate your routes and points of interest and then share them with the community of commuter savvy socialphiles in your city.