The Elevate iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app refines your communication and critical thinking skills. The methods used to cultivate your skills are engaging activities in an appealing interface. It is appropriate for professionals, but it is also appropriate for kids as young as middle school. The free download from the iTunes App Store gives you one set of tests each day, but a monthly subscription for $9.99 (or annually $59.99) gives you unlimited access.

Elevate’s introduction identifies areas to test and improve. You tap the screen “yes” or “no.” The topics include the following: articulate your thoughts more clearly, improve focus while reading and listening, improve focus while reading and listening, and improve your writing abilities.

You create an account with Facebook or email account. Facebook requires access to basic profile and list of friends. You add your age, and you receive your day’s workout.

Icons for each category of tests form a vertical line on the left side of the screen. You start with the brightest icon. Next, the object and gestures are provided. The focus of a writing test I completed was brevity. For each sentence, I eliminated the unnecessary word and was rewarded for speed and accuracy. At the end of the test, I saw where I ranked among other users and my progress in that topic. Another test incorporates speed reading and comprehension with a Tetris-inspired interface. The games are compelling and thoughtful, and the interface complements the sophistication of the challenges. You can monitor your progress by opening the left sliding menu and selecting performance.

With summer on the horizon, the premium version is a small investment to keep your kids productive and sharp. Elevate also hones professional skills that typically require a hefty investment of time and money. The premium versions are reasonably priced and cover 14 areas including listening , memory, and precision in speaking; refinement, syntax, error avoidance, brevity, and inversion in writing; comprehension, processing, connotation, contextualization, visualization, and agility in reading. If you are interested in productive games, then the Elevate iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app is it.

The Up To iPhone and iPod Touch app integrates your iOS calendar, Facebook calendar, and helps you identify upcoming events that may interest you with a simple, uncluttered interface. iOS calendar apps frequently sync and display everything, but the Up To iPhone app allows you to decide what events are important. It is a free download from the iTunes App Store.

A quick tutorial explains the gestures and interface. Your iOS calendar is the main screen, and a tap on the bottom square icon expands event options. Suggested events are in blue fields that you swipe and tap to add to your calendar. You can also pinch and spread the blue lines in your iOS calendar to reveal suggested events.

The process to set up your Up To calendar involves several steps, but it moves quickly. You authorize access to your iOS calendar. All subscribed and synced calendars to your iOS calendar are automatically authorized and available on your Up To iPhone app including Google and iCloud. You can create an email account or use a Facebook sync. Up To does not post to Facebook, but it does require access to basic profile, list of friends, news feed, and events. Next, you add categories of events that would be interesting to create your suggested event lists. The categories range from holidays, movie releases, book releases, video game releases, sports, TV shows, and concerts. It uses your location to suggest sports teams and concerts. The distance includes local events, as well as road-trip-worthy events. You may also search cities, so it would be a neat tool for travel.

The calendar is familiar and intuitive. The high and low temperature is displayed next to the date. Your events are listed. You can create events and invite attendees by touching the inbox icon. The square icon in the bottom of the screen allows you to access the suggested lists. If you follow a sports team, you can stay on top of the games with the suggested list. You may add the suggested event to your calendar with a swipe and tap to add. Or, you use the same gesture, but tap “hide” to delete it.

The Up To iPhone and iPod Touch calendar app helps you stay on top of your schedule and explore interests with ease and elegance.

The Quip iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app is a lean, mean, and intuitive document app. It takes the basic idea of Google Drive, but it adds finesse, style, and tools to build and share beautiful documents. It syncs across your devices and online. This download from the iTunes App Store packs a powerful punch – great tools and user experience – for free.

You create an account with Quip via Google. You enter your Google password and authorize access to your basic info and manage contacts. The process is seamless and quick. Your contacts are scanned, and Quip users are identified. You may invite other contacts to join Quip.

The home screen is a list of your documents. The document most recently edited is first. You tap the plus icon to create a document. You touch the person icon to invite a user. You can import documents from Dropbox, Evernote, Google, and email. You slide your finger down from the top of the inbox to reveal folders where you can organize your documents.

The process to create a document is simple, yet filled with customization options. The keyboard slides up from the bottom of the screen. The keyboard has a row of icons to identify text category, add a comment, as well as insert items like photos, charts, and documents. Text may be headline, list, or paragraph format. You type your content and insert items to build your document. The settings wheel in the upper right corner gives you the chance to share, copy, link, convert to PDF, and print. It also gives you the change your theme between five different options. A tap instantly changes the look on the upper portion of the screen.

The interface of the keyboard and the editing tools adjusts frequently to complement the action. It is quick and agile to add photos, and the option to use the most recent photo with one touch is brilliant. When you create a table, you double tap on a row and options appear to edit a table like the iOS copy and paste toolbar. Instead, you can add and delete rows and columns. For a list, the icons change at the top of the keyboard to change list style, justification, and bullet point graphics. You can add comments that are viewed in a social-network-style conversation thread. You type @, then a menu opens to add image, table, person, link to documents and web pages. Edits are called “diffs.” Red text with a line through the word is language that was removed, and green text with underline is added language.

The options to use Quip are endless and range from the mundane to business necessities. I made a grocery list with pictures that my husband could check off. If you are planning an event, you could use it to create an itemized punch list and calendar. Instead of searching through your email to remember the decision made, the chat is available instantly with Quip. It is refreshing, exciting, and leads to a highly productive life.

The Marco Polo iPhone App uses voice recognition to help you find your iPhone. Inspired by the game you grew up playing in the pool, you yell, “Marco,” and the phone answers, “Polo.” The $.99 download from the iTunes App Store is fun and helpful, but not always consistent in its performance.

The graphics of the Marco Polo iPhone App are bright, engaging, and sophisticated. The bold red background of the icon’s color fills the screen. Shades of this bright red form the top menu bar and the instructions at the bottom of the screen. The white colors on the screen are the action items – turn on and off, settings access, and change the word you shout. To change “Marco” to a different word, you simply type a new word.

The concept is simple, but patience is required to get the hang of it. I have a Southern accent, so I tend to speak slowly. Once I said “Marco” quickly, the phone responded to my call more frequently. But it still didn’t respond as often as it should. I changed the tone of my voice to a lower, more masculine pitch. After these discoveries, it works more effectively.

The Marco Polo iPhone app decreases your battery, but this issue is usually resolved in future updates and progress with the technology. The concept is a welcome step forward, and it is cool to see voice recognition used to address common problems.

Secret meets Tumblr with the Ku – creative social network iPhone and iPod Touch app. You create your thoughts, scribbles, and photos with intuitive, smart interface. Then, you share with your existing social networks and engage with the warm, witty, and inviting ku social network. The free download from the iTunes App Store is fun and engaging.

I created an account using a Facebook authorization. The Ku – creative social network iPhone app requires access to basic profile, list of friends, and custom friends lists. You authorize any additional sharing to your Facebook Timeline when you complete each ku.

You create a Ku with simple, step-by-step directions. You tap the icon with the pen, and you move to a screen with a keyboard. If you need inspiration, suggestions slide through the top of the screen. Next, you add doodles, audio, and photos, or you may choose not to add these items. You tap a color and draw on the screen. Or, you upload a photo. You add audio with a couple of taps on the screen. You can add categories like rants, funny, thoughts, wisdom, wtf, and more.

The feed is a nice blend of Secret and Tumblr. The simple square with text, doodles, and photos has social interactions listed below it. You are encouraged to build your Ku presence. Periodically, an offer to help you “become popular on Ku” pops up in your feed. Like Tumblr, blogging, and Instagram, you invite friends, follow, and interact with likes and comments.

The Ku – creative social network iPhone app incorporates additional smart, whimsical elements. The categories have fantastic graphics. Funny is a mustache, and haiku poems are marked with 575. Your profile has a concise, appealing format. You touch the settings icon just below your name to make adjustments. Four icons lead to lists of your kus, likes, followers, and following. The editor’s desk is extremely active, so they offer great options and inspirations to keep you ku-ing.

The Ku – creative social network iPhone and iPod Touch app is a fun experience. If you love Tumblr and Instagram, then you will want to try Ku.

The Personal Zen iPhone and iPod Touch app is a cool way to chill out. The developers include neuroscientists who believe playing it can help you reduce your stress level. Regardless of the scientific research, it is an unusual, yet engaging experience. Personal Zen is a perfect companion during a long commute. It is equally useful as a pleasant distraction for times where you need to fiddle with your iPhone, but don’t want to think too much.

The screen’s background is a field of grass, and a relaxing soundtrack plays. Two sprites pop up in the field. One sprite is angry, and the other is happy. Blades of grass are highlighted in a bolder color and move like a wind is blowing.

You swipe the screen and follow the highlighted blades of grass. The goal is to move as quickly and accurately as possible. You earn points for effective swipes.

When you start, the instruction is minimal. You are directed to move from negative to positive. I tried to swipe from the angry sprite to the happy sprite. I took the directions literally, but I was not swiping in the correct direction. I changed my swipes from the happy to the end of the line of waving grass, and I was instantly rewarded with points.

With the Personal Zen iPhone app, you ignore negativity. You focus only on the positive, and you swipe the screen quickly and carefully. It is unlike anything else you have downloaded from the iTunes App Store on your iPhone, and it is worth a try to see if it connects with you.

The Fiasco! iPhone app is a cool blend of Words with Friends and Tetris. This social game requires you to create words from random letters that fall from the top of the game board. Fun power-ups and simple interface make this free download from the iTunes App Store engaging.

The game board is a grid against a light blue background. When you start, squares marked with letters drop from the top of the screen. One or more squares may be available. Multiple squares may be arranged in an “L” shape or “T” shape. Like Tetris, you want to connect squares. However, with Fiasco!, you want the connected squares’ letters to spell words.

You use gesture controls to plug the letters into the best slot on the screen. You tap the screen to rotate the letters falling from the top of the screen. You swipe horizontally to move them to the preferred location. You swipe down to make the letter fall faster. As words form, you tap them to remove them from the screen and redeem your points.

The tips and tricks section of the Fiasco! iPhone app tutorial is filled with tons of cool ideas, but you can pick up on strategy without reading them. Crossword puzzlers who have a vast knowledge of short, obscure words dominate this game. You can earn more points with longer words, but that requires a crazy blend of patience and speed. If you perfect both strategies, you can use them effectively against opponents.

The Fiasco! iPhone app only works in social mode. You sign-in through your Game Center account. You can invite your existing Game Center friends, or you can play against a random user. The cool part of social gaming is playing against friends, but the un-cool part is waiting for people to take their turn. It would be nice to have a single player mode. I believe that could be another opportunity to monetize with in-app purchases.

Fiasco! is a free download with a specified number of coins. You earn coins with each word, but you must redeem them to play a game. For power-ups, you must also use your coins. You can purchase packages of coins ranging from $.99 – $24.99. You can also earn coins by connecting with Facebook and Twitter.

The Fiasco! iPhone and iPod Touch app is a fun, fresh perspective on social gaming.

Soccer fans, start the free download of the Forza Football iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app from the iTunes App Store. Yes, it is that awesome. As it downloads, read this review to introduce you to its great features and interface.

The Forza Football iPhone app begins with a lengthy step-by-step process to identify your favorite local, national, and international soccer preferences. The first screen identifies the leagues available in your country, so for US residents, you touch to select MLS, NASL, and/or NWSL. Then, you choose your favorite leagues from a thorough list of the most competitive international leagues including BPL. The third screen gives you a chance to identify your favorite international competitions like UEFA, Copa, Olympics, World Cup, World Cup Qualifiers, International Friendlies, and more. You select your favorite local teams. Then, there is a list of popular teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Finally, you select notifications.

The home screen of the Forza Football app includes the matches that reflect your preferences. You swipe horizontally between Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, and Upcoming to see each day’s list. You tap on a match to access match details. The match detail screen is wicked. You can follow the action play by play. Significant events in the game are designated with the time the action occurs on a vertical line graph. You can also scroll horizontally between the table, game statistics, lineups, and additional media. You can vote for who you think will win and the best player of each game. Another interesting match detail is the history of the rivalry, the location, coaches, and specialized info like aggregated scores.

In the upper left corner of the home screen, a sliding menu allows you to move between categories like matches, competitions, team, and settings. The competition interface provides a list of competitions. A touch to select a competition leads to a screen with round information, match history, table, and top scorers. The team interface allows you to adjust your notifications with taps on the screen. This is a handy feature, so you can elect to receive lots of updates or just a few. The team interface also provides you with the match history, stats, squad information, and tables. You can also tap on a squad member to learn more about him or her.

The media information includes some video commentary, but I still feel you will want to get in-depth commentary through other providers. A concern about the accuracy of the content did surface. Moyes is still listed as Manchester United’s manager, but he was sacked a week ago. I am, perhaps, picky in this instance since managers are frequently fired and replaced.

The Forza Football iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app is supported by an ad at the bottom of the screen, but a $3.99 in-app purchase removes ads for around 6 months. This is a moderate charge, as it is much more smooth and agile than most of its competitors.

The NYT Now iPhone app is a smart, sophisticated resource for the day’s headlines and news. It sets itself apart from online news providers’ apps with its clean interface and context-driven focus.

The NYT Now iPhone app streamlines and simplifies the full NYTimes.com experience. The editors select must-read articles to create your news feed. There are three simple icons at the top of the page. The NYTimes.com icon is your feed. The angled arrow icon is a feed of quality articles chosen by NYTimes.com editors from other sources. The bookmark icon leads to bookmarked articles for subscribers. You can tap the icon to change the feed, or you can swipe horizontally between them.

Unlike other news providers, you will not spend time choosing categories to customize. Instead, the NYT Now iPhone app gets you the day’s most important headlines and their stories. There are daily round-ups in the morning and evening to summarize the main news stories and happenings from around the world and financial markets. The synopsis and bullet points from the daily briefings provide great, concise context and perspective. In your daily briefings, articles are hyperlinked for you to dig deeper into stories.

Each news event has a title, and the content may be more than just a story. Frequently, it is just a story. However, an event may have multiple articles that are grouped in your news feed. Also, interesting videos may be featured. A great photo may frame an article, but every item has a synopsis for dimension. A cool feature is the lunchtime read. An unexpected article with the time required to read is featured in your feed.

For each news article, you will find a smooth, agile layout. The photo and author are featured at the top of the screen. The article follows free of the visual clutter of an online experience. The menu bar at the top of the screen allows you to bookmark and share to SMS, email, Twitter, and Facebook. A similar, clean interface plays featured videos.

The NYT Now iPhone app is a free download from the iTunes App Store, and you can access 10 articles free per month for free. A monthly subscription can be purchased in-app for $7.99. Currently, the first month is free. If you are an existing nytimes.com subscriber, then you will want to check your details for access.

The NYT Now iPhone app is well-crafted and tailored to those who like to be informed, but don’t want to sift through all of the internet’s noise. It is also a great interface to attract younger, new subscribers.

The Razorgator eTickets iPhone app purchases tickets to sports, concerts and a huge variety of events with simplicity and security. The intuitive interface incorporates smart features like venue layout, all-inclusive pricing, and e-ticket delivery to your iPhone. The free download from the iTunes App Store securely encrypts your debit or credit card information for swift purchase.

The Razorgator eTickets iPhone app requests location services authorization to automatically present you with options. It wisely incorporates broad searches, so selections from nearby, easy road trip locations are also available.

The home screen organizes events by date. For each event, there is a thumbnail photo, title, and location. You can also tap the search icon and type specific parameters. To expand the event, you tap the arrow in the far right corner of the screen.

The event’s screen is nicely organized and efficient. The name of the event, location, date, and time are listed at the top of the screen. Just below, the layout of the arena or venue is shared. Finally, there is a list of available tickets. For each section and row, you will find the number of tickets available and the all-inclusive price per ticket. When you tap on the list, the section of the venue is highlighted.

To purchase the tickets, you create an account with email or Facebook authorization. You must also enter a code sent via SMS text to verify your account. You scan your credit card, then manually enter expiration and certification values. The prompts specifically cite Razorgator’s commitment to your privacy and security.

When you purchase a ticket, it is automatically delivered to your iPhone. The line icon in the upper left corner of the screen opens a sliding left menu. You can access your purchased tickets and scan them for entry at the venue. The tickets are also sent to your email address, so you can print them.

The e-ticket delivery to your iPhone also encourages spontaneity. If you’re out on a great date for dinner, it would be impressive to whip out your Razorgator eTickets app to buy tickets for a late-night event. As a bonus, last minute purchases may be purchased at a steep discount.

The Razorgator eTickets iPhone app is simple, clean, and sophisticated. It provides all of the tools you need to purchase tickets with confidence and speed.