If you always carry your bulky multilingual dictionary when you set out on your trips, it is time to switch over to its digital equivalent which can be carried around conveniently in your iPhone. Worldictionary is a very handy travel tool that provides instantaneous translations and definitions of words. It comes loaded with brilliant features for making quick references on the go.

The process of recognising words and translating them is effortless and hassle-free as Worldictionary works on OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. So, when you find a word on a signboard or menu which is in a language you don’t understand, all you need to do is point your iPhone’s camera at it. The app then gives you the definition and translation of the word in a jiffy! You don’t even have to type the words or take snaps of them.

If you come across a particular word for which you would like to do some extra research, you can take a snap of the word and come back to it later, as this app can also provide translations of words in images. To ensure there are no issues in recognising the words in images, Worldictionary has a special anti-shake function for image clarity. This app is so versatile that it can recognise and translate words between 21 different languages.

Worldictionary has options to access Google, Wikipedia and YouTube from within the app. Your search records are automatically saved, making it easy to look them up later or maybe even create your own word database. This will help to increase your vocabulary of foreign words and enhance your learning. The app also supports a local dictionary for English-Chinese translation and Bing and Google translation engines.

Worldictionary can translate two adjacent words and even translate sentences. It is compatible with iPhone 4S/4/3GS, iPad 2 and the new iPad. This app is the perfect companion for those who need to make frequent business trips abroad and for travel bugs who just can’t get enough of the world.

You can download Worldictionary (£5.49) from the AppStore.

Silent Film Director is an attempt to return towards this age-old method of storytelling, by creating an environment through which you can make your very own silent film, complete with impressive video effects and appropriately vintage musical scores.

The app is remarkably easy to use, as the homepage has only two primary buttons – a third is added if you opt for the pro version. The first (“action!”) allows you to create your very own videos, or age any footage that you load into the app from your camera roll, iTunes or via FTP. The second (“show time!”) invites you to view the creations that have been uploaded by other users to the developer’s, MacPhun’s, YouTube gallery – a useful resource for gathering inspiration.

There are six effects to play with in Silent Film Director, ranging from creative entries such as 70’s Home Video, to the likes of Black & White or Sepia, together with other traditional effects that have become commonplace for an app of this nature. Alongside adding any effects, the quality of your video can also be altered. HD output is evidently the best, but the processing time is longer as a result. As previously mentioned, there are a handful of preloaded soundtracks to choose from, each designed to help create a certain tone for your video. Alternatively, you can load any track from your iTunes library.

Videos that you’ve created will be stored in your camera roll, and can be shared, via the app, through three preset methods: YouTube, Facebook or email. Although this trio of options is probably more than enough for the average user, I do feel that two particularly active social networks are missing; Twitter and Tumblr.

The in-built ‘upgrade’ button, requiring the further expenditure of sixty-nine pence to unlock additional “pro” features, leaves a rather sour taste in the mouth. However, to get the best from your videos, it’s an unfortunately necessary purchase, as activating the pro version will give you access to more transitions, the option to trim your clips and, crucially, the ability to add title cards to your production.

Encoding your creation can be a little slow, particularly if you opt for HD, but that’s to be expected. Some attempt has also been made to ease this downtime, as the app throws “fun facts” at you during the rendering process. Overall, though, Silent Film Director is a fun, quirky app that offers a highly creative experience for a relatively low cost. And given the effort that’s gone into making Silent Film Director easy to use, it’s certainly worth a purchase.

You can download Silent Film Director (£1.49) from the AppStore.

So, does this bizarre pairing work? Well, sort of.

In short, Wonderful Day does a sterling job of managing your daily tasks. The app makes great use of the built-in notifications system on the iOS platform, providing a much needed nudge away from the internet, and back towards productivity, each morning. And there’s no limit to the number of lists that you can create either, so track as many tasks as you want; each entry has its very own colour grid to represent your progress (see image, right).

The aforementioned colour game is also simple to understand: once you’ve created a task, tick it off as you complete it to receive a green dot. Fail to complete a task on any given day and you’ll receive a red dot. And you’ll want to avoid red dots as the concept behind the app, as stated by the developer, is “not to break the chain!”

Wonderful Day therefore turns daily tasks into a game by which you’ll actively want to complete them, in order to avoid a red mark on an otherwise clean sheet.

However, there’s very little depth here beyond naming an activity and ticking the days of the week that you want to receive a reminder for it, and, though easy, navigation within the app is noticeably basic. Unfortunately, this app doesn’t lend itself very well to fortnightly or monthly entries, either – only daily or weekly tasks can be tracked due to the way in which the system has been designed.

Of course, the other glaring problem with this application is that you can cheat it: red marks can be turned to green through the menu, and there’s no obvious penalty for failing to complete a task. However, the app is intelligent enough to detect when you’ve been fiddling with the time and date on your iOS device, meaning that red marks cannot be rectified in this fashion.

On top of the basic navigation system, Wonderful Day is also rather bland visually, and the blue notebook image that hugs the edge of the application (see image, left) looks rather low-resolution, detracting from the overall appeal as a result. If you’re looking for quirky menus and flashy images, then Wonderful Day certainly isn’t for you. It’s a good app to track your daily tasks, but whether Wonderful Day is worth the 69p that it retails for is another matter entirely. But perhaps that depends on your preferences, as although the graphics are basic this matches the simplicity of the app itself.

To conclude, if you already own a productivity app then you probably don’t need to buy this one. For those without, though, or for those who want a basic productivity tool that doesn’t divert your attention with colourful images and extra features, then Wonderful Day is probably worth a try.

You can download Wonderful Day (£0.69) from the AppStore.

Aftershock was a multiplayer-only first person shooter, designed to tie-in with upcoming action flick Act of Valour, and launched as a free-to-play iOS variation of the highly popular console series, Battlefield.

In a statement received by IGN, EA commented on the removal of the app from Apple’s digital marketplace: “we have decided to remove Battlefield 3: Aftershock from the App Store and are currently re-evaluating the app in response to the customer feedback we’ve received.”

The version of Aftershock that was made available in the US, albeit only for a short period, was lacking several features promised during development; namely a slew of weapon choices and a selection of maps. Instead, only one map and four weapons were made available when the app officially launched. Reportedly, Aftershock also suffered from performance, connectivity and lag issues.

Up until its removal, Aftershock was due to receive a UK release. Evidently that’s no longer likely, although EA has suggested that a “more comprehensive” version of the game, presumably including those elements missing the first time round, will be released later this year.

However, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if Aftershock was neatly tucked under the carpet never to be seen again, in an attempt to avoid tarnishing the, otherwise successful, Battlefield brand any further.

Today, Microsoft moved one step closer to full cross-platform integration, following the release of their OneNote mobile app for Android.

In a blog post, Michael Oldenburg, technical writer for Microsoft’s office division, stated: “For all of you who’ve been asking (and patiently waiting) for a version of OneNote for your Android phones, we have great news: OneNote Mobile for Android is now available!”

The software already exists on Windows Phone and iOS, with versions for both iPhone and iPad, but is now also available on Google’s mobile operating system for any user running Android 2.3 or higher.

Regardless of your chosen platform, though, functionality appears to almost identical across the board; all users can create, edit and sync notes through OneNote mobile, which is essentially a productivity suite. The tick list system is ideal for to-do lists and notes can be enhanced with the use of images, as seen above. The mobile version also brings with it offline access to your notes, alongside free technical support.

OneNote files are synced via SkyDrive, which Microsoft has significantly upgraded in the past few months to facilitate the app-centric sharing of office documents. As a result, you’ll need a Windows Live ID in order to use this mobile service.

Available as a free download, users are able to store up to 500 notes in total. Once this limit has been reached, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version (£2.99) to continue using the service as intended. Those who choose not to upgrade can continue to view, sync and delete any notes associated with their account, but will no longer be able to edit old notes or create new ones.

In other news, Google has built a mobile version of Chrome, “from the ground up”, to replace the built-in web browser on Android devices. However, at present, it’s still in beta and only available for those running Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich firmware (Android 4.0).

You can download Microsoft OneNote for Android (£Free) from the Android Marketplace.

Beyond supporting the functionality expected of an app of this nature, namely scanning quick response (QR) and barcodes, QR Pal also provides a backlog of your scanning activity, a number of social sharing options and also the ability to quickly transfer money via PayPal, by using QR codes designed specifically for that purpose. Any code that you scan will also be added to your online wallet, which you can share with others via text, email, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

As you’d expect, the scanning process is fairly simple; simply hold your device up to a QR code or barcode and allow the app to work to work its magic. It’s quick, too, as any code that directs to a webpage is instantly accessible thanks to the in-built web browser. The app is also intelligent when it comes to managing what you’ve scanned into it, automatically categorising entries based on the target content.

These features are available for all, but you can choose to sign-up for a free QR Pal account from within the app, which only takes a moment thanks to the slick interface. And whilst this may appear to be unnecessary at first, it does have the added benefit of allowing you quick access to any social networking profiles that you’ve tied to the service – a notable time-saving benefit, then, particularly as QR Pal is multi-platform. Furthermore, your profile is both backed up and mimicked online, allowing any changes you make to be universal across your account.

By signing up for an account you can also make full use of the social mini-game that’s included in the app – by which you receive points for scanning codes, and bonuses for sharing any findings across your social networks. In an attempt to get users to engage with the social side of the application, there are also monthly cash prizes available for prolific users. As you’d expect, though, you’ll need an account to participate in the draw.

QR Pal is without doubt an impressive application, particularly as it’s available for free and provides far more, feature-wise, than directly competing alternatives. However, some of the features, such as the ability to receive payments via QR code, seem almost unnecessary in 2012 – it’s a step towards a society in which we no longer need to carry physical cash, granted, but it’s unlikely to be heavily used in the immediate future. It’s also doubtful that many users will venture into the QR news tab that’s accessible via the homepage. Still, they’re both nice touches.

A free QR code generator is also offered, called QR Track. At present, it’s only available via the developer’s website, but still helps to complete the service offered by this application. Users can create a QR code, customise it with a choice of colours, and even track scanning analytics by logging in with their account.

The app has been available on the Android Marketplace for some time, but only recently launched onto the iTunes AppStore. Regardless of your chosen platform, QR Pal is available for free.

It’s the age of the internet, after all, and a staggering number of homes now have access to a smartphone of some form. In fact, many are running Apple’s flagship mobile device, the iPhone, and thus have access to all those downloadable apps that go with it – many of which make our lives just that little bit easier.

Eventbrite is the latest brand to try and simplify their online service in this way, and that’s why they’ve released the Eventbrite app. It’s a free ticket-management tool, enabling event attendees, who make use the service, to easily access their event information while the move. And it works very well.

Through the app, virtual tickets, event details, and even directions pushed via Google maps, are all readily available at your fingertips. The app syncs directly with the Eventbrite servers, too, so all that’s required is either Wi-Fi access or a data connection. You can even share event information with your friends, from within the application, via Twitter, email or SMS.

It’s also worth noting that this new Eventbrite app makes up half of a whole. It’s clearly intended to compliment Eventbrite’s pre-existing yet recently rebranded Entry Manage Tool, which, currently available on iPhone and Android, was created to allow event organisers to easily scan Eventbrite tickets using nothing more than the in-built camera available on a smartphone.

As is to be expected, you’ll need an active account to use the Eventbrite app. Yet, bizarrely, you cannot sign-up from within the app itself – probably a result of an inability to buy tickets within the app, too. Instead you’ll need register through your web browser, over at Eventbrite.com. Overcome this minor hurdle, though, and you’ll be able to track and manage any events you’re attending, ditch physical tickets in favour of an eco-friendly QR code alternative, and also view any upcoming events in your calendar.

The app is already available for iPhone users, with an Android version reportedly on the way. And considering it’s quicker, easier, and also environmentally friendly, there’s really no reason not to adopt this new method of ticket management. Assuming you have the required Apple technology, of course.

You can download the Eventbrite app (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

For the unaware, Amen is a social network with a difference. It does away with all the poking, status updates and direct messages that clutter up what’s really important: the concept of voicing that highly significant personal opinion of yours to others around the world.

And unlike similar services, such as FML or MLIA, Amen requires a user who disagrees with a statement to submit an alternative. Such rebuttals appear in the real-time, Twitter-esque network feed that makes up the homepage for social network, which can then be “Amen’ed” or “Hell No’ed” respectively, in order to spark further debate.

It’s also featured on AppCritic before, and you can check out our review of the Amen iPhone application right here.

A selection of Amen’s best and worst statements can be seen by clicking on the images below.

Designed to promote the UK utilities company, Southern Water, Pipe Dash features a number of clever mini games that require both clear thinking and fast reflexes in order to succeed.

The game spans ten levels, each featuring a unique water-themed puzzle, that’ll require you to connect a house to the national water grid, or occasionally the sewage network, as quickly as possible. But careful planning is important, too, as if you use fewer pipe pieces you’ll receive a higher score.

Speed challenges also feature, where you’re required to plug a number of pipe leaks, by tapping on them, before the time runs out.

As previously stated, the app is also chock-full of educational information, presented by a child-friendly ‘Spanner’ figure, similar to Microsoft Word’s well-known paperclip. Game instructions are also delivered in this fashion.

Further information can be found at pipedash.com, and you can download Pipe Dash (£Free) from the AppStore, here.

Available as a free download, the app offers a comparable service to that found via the company website, redspottedhanky.com, and retains the company stance against any additional booking fees. Users can also collect loyalty points through use of the app, which can be redeemed against future ticket purchases.

Alongside the ability to order tickets, list train times and compare fare prices, the Redspottedhanky app can also be used to store mobile tickets, or ‘mTickets’ as they’re known, which are presented in a scannable barcode format and are tied to the individual user’s account.

“We are proud to unveil our new mobile app, as well as making sure our customers are getting the cheapest rail fares, we are now able to offer them the ease of booking on the move through their phones,” said James Bain, director of Redspottedhanky.

“The ability to build up and spend loyalty points through our app is another reason why we expect the Redspottedhanky app to become a part of rail travellers everyday lives. Redspottedhanky is the only place where rail travellers can accumulate loyalty points and it is the only independent retailer which charges no additional booking fees.” 

Bain also stated that an update, due to be released at some point in the future, will introduce live train times to the app.

You can download the Redspottedhanky app (£Free) from the AppStore, here.