But enough about that, let’s talk about how great of a game it is. The Tap Zoo game by Pocket Gems, Inc. sets you on an island where you start out with one animal. Your goal is to make a unique and profitable zoo by collecting different types of animals each of which provide you with coins every couple minutes, hours, days depending on the animal. While you try increase you worth as a zoo, you are given missions and adventures which reward you with achievements, experience points and more coins. Tap Zoo allows you to gain experience points, level up, and buy many types of items including decorations, trees, shops, animals, land, rangers, etc.

You zoo can be organized in any way and hold many animals. Your island can increase by buying more land with coins you earn from the animals. Tap Zoo allows you to have up to 4 of the same animal meaning you can have 4 monkeys, 4 lions, 4 snakes, etc. While maintaining your zoo and taking care of your animals, you will eventually notice that the zoo can get dirty with food and trash on the ground. By tapping on them, you can clean it up and make some extra buck while you are at it.

The game allows you to buy more animals with coins, stars, or cross breed to make new ones.  Overall, you can see your rating by letter grades ranging all the way to A+. To increase and maintain your grade, you can look at a detailed breakdown of what areas contain low or high grades. Be sure to invite your friends because Tap Zoo has a social feature which allows you to visit other zoos and heal their sick animals for coins. We find it great for scoping out the competition and get inspiring ideas on how to decorate and organize your fam.

In-app purchasing in the game means that you can buy items to use in the game for real money. So keep that in mind if you want to advance through the game quickly, get certain animals or increase your land. Stars can only be obtained through in-app purchasing. There also seems to be hundreds of animals with more coming with every update and the one thing that is enjoyable with this game is that it can be played on any device whether iPad, iPhone, or Android. Since it is connected to the server, you need internet connected either wifi or 3G, 4G speeds to play, but you can switch between different devices to maintain your Zoo and play this game anywhere you go. You can even save, load, and transfer the game to a new device so the worry of losing data or starting over is no more.

This app comes available for all iOS platforms (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) and all Android devices.

You can download the game in both app stores here: Android app store  and iTunes app store

Method 1: Searching for events in the iPad Home Screen:
1) Press the home button to get to the home screen
2) Swipe left to enter the search screen
3) Search for the event name or details to the event. The search bar in the home screen can search the iPad’s built-in apps including Calendar, Mail, Music, Video, Notes, Contacts, etc.

Method 2: Searching for events in the Calendars app on the iPad:
1) Locate the search bar in Calendar located at the top right.
2) Enter the event details or event name to search.
3) A drop down will appear.

These methods also work for iTouch, iPhone, and other iPads.

Other Text Message apps you can try:

Color Text Messages (99 Cents)

Color Texting

Pimp My Text

The Battery Boost Magic App is a useful app to help users diagnose and track their battery usage, helping you understand and enact better usage practices to extend your iOS device’s battery life. It is not a magical tool that will make your iPhone or iPad use less battery performing tasks, or make your screen miraculously more efficient. For conscientious users who already close down unwanted apps, watch background data syncing religiously, and reduce their screen brightness; this app will not help much, if at all. However, at 99 cents, users who previously did not systematically manage their iPad or iPhone, will find this app does help extend your iOS devices battery life.

Perhaps the most useful tool Battery Boost Magic App provides is the battery meter which gives readings at 1% increments and tracks the battery drain for your apps and hardware features. For example, you will know what percentage of the battery your screen or Wi-Fi receiver uses, and which app drains the most battery. Other measurements you fill useful in analyzing your battery drain is 3G talk time, 2G talk time, Wifi Internet web browsing, audio listening, and GPS consumption. This is not a comprehensive list as the app measures over 10 other device usage measurements. This is by far the most important tool to improve your battery life as you can now take steps to improve your device usage.
Other features you might find useful is the battery charge management system. Battery Boost Magic manages your charging cycle allowing you to charge to 100%, trickle charge, or top-off charge. However, if you want to extend your battery life cycle; that is, the number of times you can charge and discharge your battery before it degrading, we do not recommend using the top-off charge.  To extend your iPad’s battery life, and that of any device that uses lithium-polymer batteries, you should minimize how often your system is charged to 100%. This is why many other mobile systems such as Android, stop your battery from charging when its hits 90%, and rarely allows you to charge up to 100%.

One last feature we found helpful to novice battery managers is the collection of Battery tips with visual illustrations. Again, current battery wizards will find these tips common sense, but if you are new to the art of battery life extension it is well worth the 99 cent app cost.

You can download the app here or search for it in the app store:

Battery Boost Magic App

The benefits of Apple’s Remote app are you can choose any playlist, song, or album like you were sitting in front of iTunes or your Apple TV. Remote allows you to control every aspect of the Apple TV and iTunes interface including sound volume. The app provides a QWERTY keyboard to search for titles and has quick action finger controls to play, forward, rewind, etc.  Additionally you can manage and create playlists as well as update your Genius playlists. Remote also allows you to send music to AirPlay speakers through iTunes.

How to setup the Remote App

Before we begin, make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes. Remote requires at least iTunes version 10.1 to work. Download the remote app clicking here or search for it on your iOS device’s app store.

Pairing the Remote App with iTunes

1. Launch iTunes on your computer.
2. Turn on Home Sharing in iTunes by clicking “Advanced,” then click on “Turn on Home Sharing.”
3. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your computer is connected to.
4. Launch the remote app on your iOS Device.
5. On the Remote Setting screen, turn on “Home Sharing.” You must sign onto the same Home Sharing account you signed in from iTunes on your computer.

Pairing the Remote App with Apple TV (2^nd Generation or Later)

1. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your Apple TV is connected to.
2. On your Apple TV, choose “Settings” from the main menu.
3. Select “General”
4. Selected “Remote”
5. Select “Remote App”
6. Enable your Home Sharing account.
7. Open the Remote app on your iOS device.
8. Select Apple TV from the Remote app “Settings” screen.

You should now be paired with your Apple TV. You can now browse and play iTunes’s libraries that are listed in the Computers section of your Apple TV.

Pairing 1^st Generation Apple TV

If you have a 1^st generation Apple TV or running an earlier version of iTunes, pairing with the Remote app must be used with a pin-based method

1. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your Apple TV is connected to.
2. Launch the Remote app on your iOS Device.
3. Tap “Add an iTunes Library.” You will find this on the Remote app’s setting screen. The app will display a 4 digit pass code.
4. Go to your Apple TV.
5. Select “Settings” from the main menu.
6. Select “General”
7. Select “Remotes”
8. Choose the name of your iOS Device on your Apple TV.
9. Enter on your Apple TV the 4 digit pass code from your iOS Device’s Remote App. You can use the volume up/down key on the infrared Apple Remote (The physical remote) to change the numbers. To switch from digit placement use the track next/back keys on the physical remote.
10. Choose “Done.”

To enable Music Sharing, follow these steps.
1)      Launch iTunes on your computer
2)      We need to open the iTunes preferences. If you have a Mac choose iTunes, then click on “Preferences.” If you have a Windows PC, click on the “Edit” menu, and then click on “Preferences.
3)      Click the “Sharing” Tab.
4)      Click on the “Share my library on my local network” checkbox.
5)      Select whether you want to share your entire library or
6)      Add a password (optional) by clicking on “Require Password.”
7)      Cick OK.

Anyone on your home network should now be able to access your iTunes library. If you enabled a required password, only your iTunes name will appear.

What makes this 3D globe really cool is that you can see the earth as if you were sitting out in a spaceship, real time! The real life animation shows cloud cover and weather in parts of the earth where there is day light. This weather graphic is updated every 3 hours from satellite data. My favorite graphic provided by the 3D globe is the picture of the earth at night. The evening view shows a darkened globe with specks of light emanating from the surface.

Day View

Night View

Living Earth HD in my opinion is a showcase app, truly representing the power and simplicity of the iPad. With the app you can quickly scroll through a list of your favorite cities as well as have the app access your GPS or WIFI location services to find where you are currently. You can observe sunrise and sunset on all parts of the globe. The app provides current temperature and other weather data as well as forecasts for the coming week. For those who want to use this as an alarm or night stand, the Living Earth HD app has an auto-lock override feature. This keeps the display on while docked for a nightstand or desktop clock.

Alarm Clock View

The built in Alarm Clock is fully functioning with different alarm rings and even a snooze button. You truly do not need to purchase another alarm clock app.  For the music aficionados the app allows you to play music as an Alarm ring.  The Living Earth HD app integrates with your iPad or iPhone’s Music player allowing you to select any songs in your Music library.

Notes: The normal price for this app is $1.99, but at the time of this publish date, the developer is having a sale of just 99 Cents for Living Earth HD.

Get it at the app store with the links below:

Living Earth HD – World Clock and Weather

Weather View

Settings View

Portrait View

How to add an event on the iPad Calendar:

There are three ways to add an event on your calendar:

Method 1:Tap the plus icon (+) to add an event
1) Tap + located at the bottom right of the screen.
2) The “Add Event” menu will pop up.
3) ) Fill out your event information and tap “done”.

Method 2: Touch and hold an empty area of the calendar to add an event
1) Touch and hold an empty area of the calendar
2) Next, drag the two points to adjust the duration of the event
3) In the “Add Event” window, fill out your event information and tap “done”.

Method 3: Create a search in the home search menu.
1) In the home screen, swipe left to access the home screen search.
2) Type “event” or “new event”
3) “New Event” will pop up in the search dropdown menu. It should next to the Calendar app icon.
4) Once selected, a new event will be created with the time stamp.
5) Enter the “Edit” menu to create event information.

How to delete an event on the iPad Calendar:

To delete an event, you must go in the “Edit” menu to remove the event.
1) Tap on the event  you want to delete and select “Edit”
2) Scroll towards the bottom until you see a “Delete Event” button. The button is colored red.
3) Once selected, a second delete button will pop up for confirmation that you want the event removed.

How to update an event on the iPad Calendar:

Updating an event is similar to adding an event in the “Edit” screen
1) Tap on the event you would like to update.
2) Select “Edit” and select information to change
3) For adjusting time or duration of the event, you can adjust the two points on the calendar or change it manually in the Edit menu.

How to move/adjust events on the iPad Calendar:

Moving an event from one date or time to another is accomplished through dragging and dropping.
1) Start by selecting the event you want to move.
2) Touch and hold and you will see it pop out.
3) Drag to adjust your selected events to the desired position.

If you are looking to set up a Home Sharing network, you will need to have 1) Latest iTunes, 2) and Apple ID, and 3) a home Ethernet or Wi-Fi internet network.

If you have the requirements listed above, follow these steps to set up your Home Sharing Network:

1. Launch iTunes on your home computer
2. Click on the “Home Sharing” icon. You will find this on the left hand pane in iTunes under your list of Devices.
3. If you do not see the Home Sharing icon, you will have to activate it on iTunes. On your menu bar select “Advanced.” Then click on “Turn on Home Sharing”
4. This is not a necessary step, but if you want to avoid duplicate files change “All Items” to “Items not in my library” in the “Show” drop down menu.

Other Notes & Known Limitations:
• When you enable Home Sharing, the Home icon representing your computer disappears.
• Additionally, you fill find the Settings and Import button missing if you are trying to share music. Music Sharing operates differently and will be the subject of another article.
• Home Sharing will transfer the media file and the ID3 tag, but custom iTunes metadata such as ratings and play history are not transferred.
• Apple recommends you manually transfer files if your iTunes libraries have a lot of identical files.
• There is a Show Duplicates function in iTunes to help you eliminate duplicate faster.

There are two simple methods to restore, or reinstall that missing app. The easiest method is going through your iPad or iPhone’s app store (Method 2), but you should beware of the bandwidth cost if you are using a 3G data plan and not near a Wi-Fi connection.  For example, popular apps such as Numbers and World Atlas HD are over 100 megabytes.

Method 1: iTunes Sync

You can undelete and restore an iPad app by syncing with iTunes. This method is ideal for reinstalling large apps and those apps you just deleted. For iPad apps that you deleted weeks or months ago, you can still use the ITunes sync, but you may have to go through the iTunes App store and download the app again. The reason I say “might” is that you could have permanently deleted the app; that is, sent the app file to your computer’s recycle or trash bin. Every time you delete an app through iTunes, the program asks you if you want to send the file to the recycle or trash. If this is the case you will have to download the app again. Otherwise, restoring an app might be as simple as checking a box. So let’s begin….

Step 1: Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPad with the USB cable. (You can do this via iTunes Wireless sync as well but it might take a bit longer depending on your Wi-Fi connection.)

Step 2: iTunes should now sync your iPad and restore your missing app provided it is saved in iTunes. Try locating the app on your iPad once the sync is finished. If you cannot find the App go on to step 3.

Figure 1: iTunes Apps Library

Step 3: Keep your iPad connected to your computer. Let’s first go over the navigation on iTunes. (See Figure 1: iTunes Apps Library.)  On the left hand pane of iTunes you will see your iPad name listed under Devices. At the very top of the left hand pane, above the list of devices, you will see your iTunes libraries such as Music, Movies, Apps, etc.

Click “Apps” under Libraries on the left hand pane. This will now display all Apps in your iTunes library stored on this computer. This is NOT the comprehensive list of apps you purchased, so do not be alarmed if you do not see the app you deleted in this library. We just have to download the App from your iTunes store if it’s not there. If you see the missing App you want to restore in your Apps library, just go ahead and go to step 4.

(Tip: You can change the appearance of your list of apps from small icons with detailed information to large icons like Figure 1. Just click any of the 4 view style buttons. You will find these buttons on the upper right hand corner of the screen, to the left of the search bar.)

Downloading a missing app: Let’s go your iTunes store and download that missing app. (See Figure 2: iTunes Store for illustrations).

–First click “iTunes Store” on the left hand pane of iTunes.
–Then click “App Store,” found right under the Apple Logo on the top of the iTunes store.
–Next click “Purchased,” under the “App Store Quick Links” on the right hand side.

Figure 2: iTunes Store

Find your App: If you followed the steps above you should now see a comprehensive list of all the apps you have purchased.  (See Figure 3: iTunes Store App’s Purchased.)  Simply find the missing app you deleted and download it again.  To help you find your desire App, lets’ go over some of the features of this portion of the Apps store.

You will see a navigation bar right above your list of apps. On the left hand side you can used the search bar (labeled “Search Purchased Item”). In the middle you will see a toggle switch that allows you to switch between iPhone and iPad apps. (iPod Touch apps are found under iPhone Toggle.) On the right hand side you will a “Sort by” feature that sorts by name or date purchased.

Apps that are currently in your iTunes Apps Library will be denoted with a “Downloaded” button directly under the app name. Apps you have purchased that are not in your library will have a cloud icon. Click this cloud icon to download. You will be prompted for your iTunes account password.

Figure 3: iTunes Store Apps Purchased

Step 4: If you are at step 4, we have now determined that the App wish to reinstall is located in your iTunes App Library.  (See Figure 4: iTunes iPad Apps for Illustration)  Let’s get that app back to your iPad. On the left hand pane, click your iPad Name under Devices. Now click “Apps” right under the Apple logo on the top center of iTunes. You will see a menu bar with “Summary, Info, Apps, etc.”

What you should see now if you clicked everything correctly is a list of apps with check boxes under “Sync Apps.” On the far right side of the right hand pane, you should also see a screenshot of your iPad.

Make sure that the “Sync Apps” check box is marked. To restore deleted app, find the app you wish to undelete in this list, and check the empty box to the left of it. Click “Sync” to transfer this app to your iOS device. You will find the “Sync” button at the bottom right hand corner.

To help you find your app you can sort by name, kind, iPad, etc by clicking the drop down menu located right below “Sync Apps.”

One more tip, this is an excellent time to rearrange the icons on your iPad home screens. Simply drag and drop the App icon’s and hit “Sync.”

Figure 4: iTunes iPad Apps for Illustration

Method 2: App Store on your iOS Device

This is the simplest method to restore apps on your iPad or iOS device. Just make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi network if you wish to save 3G bandwidth. (See Figure 5: iPad App Store for illustration)

Step 1: Tap the “App Store” icon on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone.
Step 2: Tap “Purchased” located on the bottom of the iPad screen.
Step 3: You will now see a list of all the apps you have purchased. Tap the cloud icon to download the app you wish to reinstall.

You can toggle between iPad and iPhone apps by tapping the appropriate icon. This toggle switch is on the upper left hand corner of your iPad screen. There is a search bar on the right hand corner. Additionally you can choose to see all your apps, or just the ones “Not on this iPad” by tapping the appropriate icon on the top of the screen.  You can also sort by App Name or Most recent by bringing up the “Sort by” drop down menu. The left and right arrows found on the corners of the app screen allow you to switch from one page to the next.

Figure 5: iPad App Store