1. One of the most fun and addictive apps for fashionistas is called Go Try It On. This app is great, because it allows you to try on a particular outfit and get advice as to whether it looks good on you before you step out the door. All you have to do is take a picture of the outfit you are wearing and users will post reviews. This is a great app if you want to test out different outfits for a particular event, like a homecoming gown or a prom dress.
2. If you are a frugal fashionista – always looking for the hottest styles for pennies on the dollar – there is a great app for you called The Find. If you have a particular designer in mind, all you have to do is conduct a search and the app will find all the best deals for that designer at stores in the city or town where you live – it will also give you a list of web stores too. This app will also allow you to scan a barcode when you are already at a store to see if you can get a better deal somewhere else.
3. Another great app is called Rue La La. This app is free and allows you to purchase sample sale items from the biggest designers for great bargains. Sample sales are all the rage in fashion and allow dedicated fashionistas to adorn themselves will the newest and most popular designers for much less money. With this app you have to act fast, because most of the items sell out extremely fast.
4. One of the biggest challenges for fashionistas is finding the perfect size. One of the most popular apps for finding the perfect size dress, jeans or shirt at a particular store or retail outlet is called What’s My Size. Lets say that you go into a store, but they don’t have your size -with this app all you have to do is type in the designer’s name and it will find a store in your area that does have your size.
5. Lastly, if you want to connect with other fashionistas around the world – a great way to find the newest trends and styles – there is an app called Snapette that allows you share your fashion finds with other fashion lovers and even get advice. This app, which is free, will also help answer the most common question that fashionistas have: to wear or not to wear?

Which is kind of ironic in a way, being that Apple Inc. is currently in a court case that’s centered around that very issue. Here’s the reason why. Reportedly, the United States has a quite a bit of evidence to show that Apple has been a part of what has been called a conspiracy in order to raise the prices of electronic books in various markets. And, according to a federal judge, it will be only a matter of time before that will be proven to be true. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote recently stated that there is both circumstantial evidence as well as a breach in various terms of agreements to support this fact.

And how was Apple allegedly able to pull that off? Well, it would appear that Apple conspired with various publishers across the country to raise the cost of e-books while also stripping retailers in the process. One of those retailers is Amazon and because of Apple’s agenda, it made it challenging for Amazon as well as other retails to set prices.

According to the judge, her views are currently tentative and she does look forward to hearing the testimonies from both parties’ attorneys. However, her preliminary statement—the last one that she plans to make before the June 3 trial that is expected to last approximately three weeks and will be without the presence of a jury—is one that Apple’s legal representatives is not in agreement with and look forward to going to trial in order to prove otherwise. After all, in the words of Apple’s lead lawyer Orin Snyder, that’s what trials are for. Snyder even expounded on the issue stating that by injecting e-book sales competition, it proved to actually benefit rather than harm the consumer.

Although it has not been publicly announced who all will be speaking during the trial, what we do know is that there is quite a “paper trail” on both sides of the case, including several emails from Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple regarding the matter.

And while this is a suit that was filed in April 2012, it also bears mentioning that although there were other publishers who were apart of the suit, Apple is the only remaining defendant in the case.

Apparently it will be later in the summer before a verdict is reached but no matter what the outcome, whether it’s slugbooks, romantic novels, biographies or any other kind of e-book literature, it will be interesting to see what the ultimate outcome will be.

Either way, we’re pretty sure that Apple is ready to…turn the page on this matter.

1. With the economy the way it is, some gourmet restaurants – where the menu prices are a little higher than the average – are desperately trying to find ways to get customers in their doors. One of the methods they are using is an app called Blackboard Eats. This app offers a number of discounts, at up to 30% and more, and deals, like free appetizers and mimosas, at some of the best restaurants in major cities. Not only will you save money on going to the fanciest restaurants in town, but you can also read reviews and make reservations.
2. Another app is called Kids Eat For, which can save parents lots of money. What this app does is cull all the restaurants in your area that allows kids under a certain age to eat for free. This app is great, because if you have a lot of kids, going out to eat all the time can really start to add up. This app will also list a number of other restaurants that allow kids to eat at extremely discounted rates.
3. For those people taking someone on a date this weekend, but don’t want the embarrassment of pulling out a crinkled newspaper coupon, an app called Savored factors in the discount on the final bill without you having to show anything to the waiter first. This app is great if you want to discreetly save on dining. This app has discounts at up to 40% and you can even get deals on drinks too.
4. Next, the eMeals (emeals.com) mobile application is the perfect way to plan meals for your family on a budget. eMeals is a very unique subscription service that allows people to enter in information, like family size, eating style, and even your local grocery store, and every week a totally customized meal plan will wind up in your inbox. They’ll even include a grocery list so you literally don’t have to do anything at all, except pick the items up at the market.
5. Lastly, there’s also an app for regulars. Scoutmob is an app that offers deals at up to 50% at restaurants in your area and even better perks for regulars. Just log on and find a restaurant in your area. When your bill comes around, just flash your smartphone screen to the waiter and you’ll save big, especially if you are a repeat customer.

If you’re never heard of it before, that’s OK. It’s relatively new. Basically, what Wally does is assist you with logging in the details of all of your expenses from the venue where you made your purchase and the time that you bought it. Plus, it allows you to categorize your receipts and even allows you to take photos of them. That’s because Wally also comes with an InstaScan feature that assists you with simply scanning your receipts. What’s even better is that you can backup or export your personalized data either through your iCloud and CSV email. And all of this can be done on a very easy-to use database.

As if this isn’t enough to make managing your day-to-day finances so much easier, within just a few months of its release, Wally is back in the news for some improvements that have recently been made to it.

One of the most noticeable ones is related to InstaScan. That’s because now you can disable the feature if you would like. Although InstaScan is actually off by default for new users, it can be turned on simply by using the app’s settings section. This means that if it is enabled, InstaScan will automatically scan your receipts once you take a picture of them. If it’s disabled, all you have to do is tap the app’s Scan button. Or, you can even save the photo of the receipt without using the scanning feature at all.

If you do decide to store up your photos, Wally also has a feature that provides you with the ability to save them all in the Photos app section. What makes this even more convenient is that the app will allow you to zoom in and out so that you can see the receipts that you have saved better.

These are not the only improvements that we’ve noticed with Wally. The app also has a new interface where you can add notes to an entry. The Exported Excel document now actually has a venue name. If you are someone who happened to already have the app and you were experiencing trouble with your iCloud backup, those issues are fixed. There are also several different smart links within the app between online venues, categories and aspects, along with UI enhancements and app stability improvements. Plus, if you happen to be someone who is a stickler when it comes to desiring a proficient feedback system, improvements have been made in that department too.

Of course, Wally can’t help you to choose the best kinds of investments or figure out how to sell a structured settlement, but if you’re looking for a handy (literally) way to keep up with your expenses, it’s definitely got your covered.

It brings a whole new meaning to tracking expenses and keeping up with receipts. All in the palm of your hand.

The idea behind this freebie is simple enough; you just open the application in order to get a listing of nearby farmer’s markets. Using the GPS on your smartphone the app will pinpoint your location and show you both a map view (with pins) and a list of markets that you can scroll through, with those markets closest to your current location at the top of the list. You can either select the market from the list or tap a pin on the map to see complete information, including the address, the days and hours of operation, and a feed that shows you user-posted pics and commentary that will give you an idea of what the market itself looks like and what various vendors have to offer. Of course, once you arrive you can start snapping your own pics to share with interested members of the Farmstand community.

Unfortunately, the app won’t tell you whether or not organic produce and other products are available, although you can generally assume that anything you get from a farmer’s market is going to pack less environmental impact than something you’d get at the grocery store, for the simple fact that it hasn’t been transported across the country via refrigerated big rig. However, visitors to the market may post about particular booths that offer the organic fare you’re seeking. And once you’ve gone yourself, you too can contribute to the community by taking pics of stands that feature signs touting organic wares. You can also post additional information pertaining to deals at particular stands, vendors featuring new items, or even fruits and vegetables that are about to go out of season (in case anyone wants them for canning or jamming purposes to tide them over until next year).

This may not be the cream of the crop as far as environmental data resources go. But the easy-to-use interface, simple functionality, and sharing possibilities make it one of the best ways to find a farmer’s market near your home or in nearly any area you happen to be visiting (the app currently covers locations in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). And since the community adds to and updates the markets listed, you can play your part in ensuring that anyone who is interested has access to the fresh, local foodstuffs they seek. You can attend to your own health and the health of the planet along the way, as well.

This freebie is smarter than the average bear, so to speak. While it definitely has some features that you’re sure to recognize, such as tools to track your food and activity and a barcode scanner, you’ll find that the app has a lot more to offer than similar programs you may have tried. In truth, the tracking functionality is fairly standard. It’s when you move on to the barcode scanner that this application really starts to shine. For one thing, the database of foods includes 200,000 unique items, so most of what you scan should be available. Of course, you can always add favorite items that aren’t already listed, for your own use and for the benefit of the entire Fooducate community. This is a great help since you can also use the app to create your weekly shopping list.

However, you’ll get more than the standard nutritional information when you scan a barcode. The first thing you’ll notice is that every item is given a letter grade from A to D. Those that receive an A rating are the ones that are the healthiest for you, giving you the most nutritional value for the calories you consume. So this can give you a quick snapshot of what to put in the cart and what to put back on the shelf. And just in case you’re not convinced by the letter grade, there’s also a list of ten things you should know about the product in your hand. Does your box of cereal boast whole grains and other healthy features? The app will let you know that it doesn’t contain 100% whole grains and that it actually has four teaspoons of sugar in every serving.

But the best feature by far is the recommendation section, whereby the app provides you with healthy alternatives to the products you might normally buy. So it not only educates you about the foods you scan, but it also offers alternatives that can help you to get the items you crave while enjoying better nutritional value. So if it turns out that your high protein snacks contain a ton of sugar and fat, you can try something new. In essence, Fooducate provides you not only with a way to track your progress towards health and fitness goals, but also the tools and education needed to formulate healthy eating habits for life. That’s a lot of value for a free application that you can take everywhere you go.

1. Don’t Stop at One Directory
   Some bloggers make the mistake of thinking that they can submit their blog to one popular directory and call it a day. Others may go a step further and make a handful of directory submissions. It’s just not enough. There are literally thousands of directories on the web, and if you’re not listing your blog with them you can be sure that your competitors are upstaging you. While it may not be reasonable, or even possible to submit your blog to every directory on the web, getting listed with as many relevant directories as possible will benefit you greatly.
2. Consider Making an Investment
   While plenty of directory submission can be done for free, the old saying still holds true; you get what you pay for. Making the small investment necessary to have your blog listed with paid directories can have significant benefits that you’ll never realize if you don’t open up. Some paid services can even handle your directory submissions for you, allowing you to focus on more important matters. Do as much as you can on your own, but remember that a small monetary investment goes a long way.
3. Measure Your Increase in Traffic
   Even if you’re only investing your time in this internet marketing pursuit, you’ll want to measure the fruits of your labor. Increases in traffic can be difficult to perceive if you’re not actively tracking your statistics. Make use of tools like Google Analytics to keep a close eye on your incoming traffic and see what kind of benefits you’re reaping from your directory submissions. If you’re not getting as much new traffic as you expected, you may need to expand your campaign.
4. Promote Through Other Avenues
   While directory submission is greatly beneficial for blogs of all kinds, it shouldn’t be the end of your internet marketing strategy. There are many other great ways that you can promote your website. Try to secure guest-blogging appearances on other websites to reach other audiences. Promote your blog on social media to keep all of your friends and acquaintances up to date. Always be active about promoting your blog, and never rest on your laurels.
5. Always Keep Your Blog Active
   Even if you submit your blog to ApahcInc and the rest of the web’s most popular directories, you can’t expect to increase your readership if you don’t keep fresh content coming out on a regular basis. Keep your blog active at all times. You’ll build a loyal following of regular readers, and your search engine rankings will increase. If you don’t blog actively, all your directory submission efforts will be in vain.

1. For one, video blogging offers an excellent opportunity to show customers, or people who might be interested in your business, how a specific product or service works. The can be especially important if your product has multiple parts or if your service is a little too complicated to explain in simple writing. If customers receive your product in the mail, instead of having instructions in the packaging, why not provide a link that can direct them to your vlog. In most cases, video instructions are a lot easier to understand than complicated diagrams.
2. Video blogging also offers the ability for a company to directly communicate with consumers. If you are a new business or have a new product or service and want to reach out to potential customers it is recommended to create some sort of video message from the company founder or CEO. Instead of writing a message, it is a lot more personable to broadcast a video message. In this day and age, people would much rather see a face than some unconvincing blog message from a ghostwriter.
3. Another huge benefit of video blogging or vlogging is that you can embed links in the video where people can click and purchase products or services. With a lot of the new video hosting platforms that people use for blogs, technology has advanced to the point where you can now designate active links inside the video. If you make a video featuring a new product people can click and buy directly from the video, which can hugely increase revenue.
4. Also, video blogging is excellent for a business’ social media strategy. A great way to promote your business is to create a video message or commercial, post it on your vlog, and then provide links for people to share the video on their social media platforms. This can provide a business with an amazing opportunity for viral exposure, because if the video is successful there is no end to how many times people will share it with their friends.
5. Lastly, video blogging is a great way to share general news and information about your company. With simplest of video equipment you can designate anyone within the company with a congenial and jovial personality to be the “face” of the company. Whenever there is a new product or a change in the company you can have them create a short video message and post it on the vlog. The key is to make it short and interesting so that people want to keep watching the videos. If you can create a formula to keep people coming back, you just might have a successful video blog on your hands.

The idea behind this new branch on the Appolicious tree, according to founder Alan Warms, is one of vertical expansion, by which the company hopes to provide targeted information on a specific type of apps, brought to users thanks to expert assessment. The result, AppoLearning, is a site that relies on the advice and opinions of professionals, in this case teachers, tech blogs, and so on. Through the use of specific criteria, this panel of experts will assess educational apps and score them based on suitability for particular age groups, relative value for users, and of course, educational content (amongst other things). Each app will then receive a score from 0-100 that tells users what the experts think of the application.

Notes Warms, “What an educator thinks is a great app might be very different than its popularity in the App Store.” This is a major distinction considering that user reviews may be based on little more than the unqualified opinion of someone who doesn’t realize that the app they’ve downloaded isn’t designed to run on their device. Just look at how many people complain about the screen size being wrong when they try to run iPhone apps on their iPad even though the programs clearly haven’t been optimized – just saying. Even worse, positive “consumer” reviews are often posted by friends of the developer, while negative ones may be placed by competitors. Certain game developers, for example, are notorious for having employees post anonymous negative reviews of competitor games. The point is, if you want trusted reviews, AppoLearning aims to deliver.

Of course, this is only the first step in a much larger plan for expansion. Warms has intimated that the company is also seeking to branch out into category-specific sites for travel, health, and finance apps, just for example. Considering that Appolicious has gained quite a following already, this can only mean good things for both the website and its patrons. In the meantime, AppoLearning may not supplant other learning sources like online Alpine tutors, but it is a great way for parents to ensure that the time their kids spend on mobile devices is worthwhile rather than wasteful.

1. Unique hits versus pageviews. When you are trying to calculate your conversion rate or, in other words, the amount of views it takes for someone to purchase a product or service on your site, it is crucial that you separate and evaluate the unique visitors and the pageviews. Moreover, most advertisers will want to know both types of information. Over all, having both will allow you to adjust your website to allow for better performance. Unique viewers are people with unique IP addresses who have visited your site and can be counted as single individuals. Pageviews are an overview of how many pages readers have visited on your blog.
2. Count the bounce rate. The bounce rate is the amount of people that visit your site and then leave right away. You want your bounce rate to be as low as possible. The bounce rate might be recorded in percentiles or in a time format. For instance, it might say that 35% of visitors left the site within 1 minute or some other timeframe. An ideal bounce rate would be in the lowest percentile.
3. When you do monitor your website and you see that you have a low bounce rate or a low unique visitor count, you can readjust your site accordingly to increase its performance. However, some of these issues might be caused by outside sources, like slow page load speed and hackers. You can look into signing up for a professional service, like website monitoring from SmartBear, that will monitor your site for you to catch anything you might have missed.
4. Always have three website monitoring statistical counters. There are a number of services that record everything from the amount of visitors, to what they searched for to find to your site and even the city they live in. However, each one of these counters will give you a different reading. You want to have a few different accounts monitoring your site so that you can get the broadest overview of your blog’s performance.
5. Lastly, remember that having a high performing blog takes time. It takes dedication and time. Successful blogs don’t usually happen over night, especially the ones with staying power. It is important to take your time and not rush anything, lest you make a huge miscalculation that could risk your blog’s success.