At a Glance

· Personalised travel checklist for all destinations worldwide

· Expert advice on compulsory and recommended vaccinations

· Emergency telephone numbers for destination country

· Ability to save all essential contact details for travel

· Currency converter

· Local information on events, weather and time difference

· Advice on correct travel insurance policies to take out

· Ability to purchase insurance policies via In-App purchase

 Want to know more? 

The Europ Assistance Group has launched TripOrganizer, a simple and practical iPhone application enabling users to prepare for their travels in the knowledge that are receiving expert advice and invaluable information on their destination and the necessary preparations to ensure their trip is a success.

The traveller, after entering their nationality, country of residence and destination, is given a personalised checklist including details of all of the compulsory and recommended vaccinations, essential official documents needed for travel (such as visas and an up-to-date passport), details of the ideal medical supplies to take along in order to deal with any incidents during the journey, and insurance to be taken out before setting off.

The app also makes it possible to locate the nearest vaccination centre on a map thanks to the application’s geolocation features, and to store travel information (such as passport numbers and hotel contact details, etc).

The TripOrganizer features a progress bar at the bottom of the screen which continuously displays the state of progress with preparations for the trip and the formalities to be completed before the departure date.

 In the event that a NetGlobers member needs to take out an insurance policy (covering emergency assistance, loss of luggage or trip cancellations for example), they can sign up for the insurance they need right away using their iPhone and credit card (In-App purchase) or via an operator using the “click-to-call” button.

It enables anyone travelling abroad to have a range of useful resources right there in their pocket including emergency telephone numbers for the destination country, a currency converter and a conversation guide. These can be accessed without a network connection to avoid roaming charges.  It also supplies all the useful information travellers need about local events during their stay, in addition to updates on weather conditions and local time in their destination country. 

Designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch it can be downloaded from the Apple Store or directly from http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trip-organizer-lite/id367809498.

Microsoft is introducing its Windows Live Messenger app for the iPhone.The Messenger iPhone app is free and includes many of the same rich Messenger features that you’d experience on a PC. You can:

· Instant Message with multiple friends, allowing users to view chat history, use emoticons, send a ‘nudge’ to a friend who isn’t responding, and share links and photos via Instant Message

· The app also includes push notification of new chats, so users can see when they receive a new IM when they’re not already interacting with the app

· Access their Hotmail account without leaving the app to read, reply to, and compose emails

· Receive email notifications within the application so users know when they have new messages

· View the updates your Messenger friends are sharing from social networks like Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and more

· Upload photos right from your phone, allowing you to create albums, add captions, and let your friends and family comment on your photos

• Download from your PC

The URL for the download from iTunes on your PC is: http://itunes.com/apps/windowslivemessenger

•  Download from your iPhone

Download from your iPhone by searching for “Windows Live Messenger” in the App Store

The world of ‘apps’ is not just the domain of young geeky males. A survey just out conducted by YouGov and Lady Geek reveals that technology and software are no longer just the preserve of geeks, with women over 55 feeling liberated by their smart-phones. The report highlighted that 39% of female smart-phone owners aged 55+ have downloaded one or more app to their smart-phone and that surprisingly, gaming was the second most popular category for the same group with nearly 1 in 5 female smart-phone owners stating a gaming app is their favourite compared to only 1 in 15 of men in a similar age band

The number 1 app for females over 55 is -you guessed it- Facebook, with 18% of survey participants in this group saying that a social networking app is their favourite. Nearly a quarter of them find out about their favourite apps by recommendations from a friend compared to around 13% of men within the same age group.

In the US, the number of women over 55 on Facebook is almost double the number of men in the same age group (Source: Inside Facebook, Feb 2009). Yet despite this growth, companies tend to ignore this ‘invisible and forgotten’ generation and pay little or no heed to what they want or need.

“We set out on a mission to understand how older women use technology and raise the agenda of these ‘forgotten’ women. We are so obsessed with youth and yummy mummies in this country we forget that a third of our population is over 50. The women we spoke to loved what ‘apps’ could do for them whether it be ‘snacking’ on a 10 min Bejeweled game or updating their Facebook page with new photos. A revolution is going on within this older group but no-one seems to notice or pay any attention to these women. These women represent a significant financial opportunity as they have high amounts of disposable cash” says Belinda Parmar, founder of Lady Geek, an independent company which helps technology companies understand women.

I know there a some weird and wonderful iPhone apps out there but an iPhone app secially developed to zap your zits and rid you of your wrinkles while you chat on the phone! WTF!?

Dr Greg Pearson’s AcneApp uses 420 nanometer blue light and 550 nanometer red light to help kill bacteria and promote collagen growth and the best bit, it only costs around £1.20 and apparenlty works on your skin whily you chit chat you day away, errrr result. He told the New York Times: ‘This would have to go through a lot more clinical study before I could quantify its efficacy.’ but that he was ‘fascinated by the concept that users would potentially be able to treat their acne while talking on the phone.’

However, as you can imagine critics of the new app incluing an NY dermatologist Dr Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, are sceptical about the AcneApp really working, stating: ‘In studies we’ve done, data has shown that both blue and red light have a low efficacy range in acne treatment.’ As well as the possible harmful effects of ultraviolet rays while the iPhone or iPod Touch is being used. 

 Mmmm what do we think girls? is this app hot or not?

- With over 64,000 downloads – 40,000 in the six weeks after its launch- the Guinness Premiership iPhone application, in association with Land Rover, is proving to be one of the most popular sport applications both in the UK and internationally. It provides the latest rugby news, fixtures, scores and results about one of the world’s most competitive leagues as soon as the action happens and has, to date, been downloaded in 42 countries worldwide including Singapore, United States and Saudi Arabia. Fans and iPhone users have welcomed the access to live news, hailing it as: ‘the best sports news app’ and ‘a must for rugby fans.’Designed with fans in mind the app is globally available on the iPhone and iPod touch ensuring that rugby fans all over the world have free access to the live facts and figures. The app is free and available to download now. Visit: www.guinnesspremiership.com/iphoneapp.php to download it and enter a competition to win a VIP experience at the Guinness Premiership Final.

A must if your other half loves rugby and his iPhone! The app is free and available to download now.

Visit: www.guinnesspremiership.com/iphoneapp.php to download it and enter a competition to win a VIP experience at the Guinness Premiership Final