Layout is an iPad photography app that lets you create custom collages of your photos. I know what you're thinking -- "another collage-making app? The App Store is flooded with them!" I thought the same thing when I saw that Layout was featured by Apple. Turns out that Layout was worthy of that feature with its ability to access all your photos from not only your Albums, but also Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram. Layout also has a unique approach to collage creation and includes a slew of photo editing tools that can be applied to each individual photo of your collage.

When you first launch Layout, you are presented with a very helpful, interactive tutorial that you can access again later from the Settings menu. In this tutorial, you'll learn how you can divide up your canvas by simply swiping your finger horizontally or vertically, move the dividing lines by dragging them, swap the positions of photos by simply dragging one photo on top of another, and about all the cool tools that are available from the radial menu that pops up when you tap a photo.

Some of these tools include the ability to add captions to each photo, add a photo, delete the photo, evenly space out dividers, automatically zoom in on a face, enhance the photo, and split the frame.

When adding a photo, Layout not only gives you access to your Albums, but allows you to log into Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram to access photos on those networks. For me, this is huge. I have so many photos on these networks that are not stored locally on my iPad. If a photo you are adding to your collage is associated with a caption on one of these networks, then it will automatically be added as a caption to that photo in your collage. I actually find this to be annoying and wish there was a way to disable this action as default.

After you've added a photo to your collage, you edit it from the enhance button available on the radial menu. From the Photo Editor, you can enhance, add effects (filters), add stickers/clip art (this must be downloaded, but is free), change the orientation, crop, make adjustments to brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness, freehand draw, fix redeye, whiten teeth, and remove blemishes. Yes, Layout basically has a full-blown photo editor built in.

Lastly, you can adjust the thickness and color of the boarders in your collage. If you're not happy with the color choices on the color wheel, you can use the color picker on one of your images so that border exactly matches the selected color.

Once you're done with your creation, Layout lets you share your collage to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Camera Roll, Email, or Print.

The good

• Interactive tutorial
• Use photos from Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram
• Photo editor
• Color picker for frame colors
• Divide canvas with a simple swipe
• Automatically zoom on faces
• Add captions to each photo

The bad

• Cannot disable automatically adding captions
• No confirmation before logging out of Facebook, Flickr, or Instagram -- it's easy to accidentally logout

The conclusion

Layout is now my go to iPad app for creating collages. I've used my fair share of collage apps, and Layout has the best mix of usability and features that I've seen yet. However, I understand that many people like making collages with more variety of dividers than just vertical and horizontal. If that's you, move along, as Layout does not allow such complexity.

$2.99 - Download Now

The much anticipated sequel to Tiny Wings has just hit the App Store. It features a whole new game mode called "Flight School", 15 new hand-crafted levels, and a few new additions to the bird family.

The great news is that Tiny Wings 2.0 is not a new app, which means previous Tiny Wings players get this update for free! Get it now!

$0.99 - Download Now

The greatest iPhone and iPad podcast in the 'verse returns tonight, live at 6pm PT/9pm ET/5am BST! Get your snacks in order because we have a ton of iOS to talk about. Oh, and we'll be announcing the winners of not one but TWO $600 Apple Store gift certificates.

Seriously. You don't want to miss this.

I'm not going lie -- blogging is one of the best jobs in the world, and blogging about Apple is one of the best jobs in blogging. You get to dive deeply into all the technology, apps, and accessories you love, and you get paid to do it. But here's the thing -- it's not easy. Almost anyone can write a post. Very few can write creatively, quickly and consistently day in, day out. If you're one of those few, we'd love for you to join the iMore and Mobile Nations team and write for our millions of readers.

We're looking for people who can work with iMore's editors to find and craft absolutely the best stuff to post about, and post about it in absolutely the best looking, most readable and relatable way possible. We don't want to cover everything, we want to cover what matters the most.

• News writer: You love everything that's interesting about Apple and know how to sort the real stories from the rubbish rumors. You don't just regurgitate but you have a knack for context and a talent for finding fresh, creative angles. You can explain what a story is, what it means, and why it matters in a way that's compelling for fellow geeks yet accessible for mainstream readers. You're a machine, but one with a ton of heart.

• App writer: Whether it's the latest To-Do software or the sequel to the hottest game ever, you can quickly digest it, figure out what's great, what's not so great, and write it up powerfully and succinctly. You're comfortable approaching and talking to developers, and are able to sort through the deluge of new and update apps that hit the store, ditch the duds, and find the gems that'll make our readers lives better, or just more fun. You understand embargoes, NDAs, and deadlines, but most of all, you love apps and love helping others get the most out of them. (Massive bonus points if you're also adept at music, productivity, business software, and/or hardcore gaming.)

• Accessory writer: You always have the latest iPhone and iPad and are constantly on the lookout for the best cases, chargers, stands, keyboards, stylus pens, and everything in-between and above and beyond. You have a great eye for detail and can rapidly assess fine points and flaws alike. You understand the difference between cost and value, and can determine not just whether something is good or not, but for what kind of user. You're happy talking to manufacturers and their PR reps, and are capable of producing high quality, hands-on videos and photography.

• How-to writer: You're the person friends and family ask "how do I--" and you're the person who invariably has the answer. You're a teacher, trainer, tester, and tinkerer all rolled into one, and you're able to break down complex tasks into easy to follow steps. You're not just there to provide directions, but to help people get more our of their devices and apps. You're excellent at finding hidden features and creative workarounds alike, and even better at sharing what you find. You know how to leverage a community for help, and how to help a community right back.

No experience is necessary, but the more experience you have, the better. Blogging is awesome, but it's an incredible amount of work. You need to want to be great, to take enormous pride in your work, to never settle for second best, and to never, not ever miss a deadline.

If we've just described you, and you just know you'd be a perfect fit, here's what to do:

• Send an email to news@imore.com with one of the following Subject lines:
  • News writer application
  • App writer application
  • Accessory writer application
  • How-to writer application
• Include your basic information:
  • Who you are
  • Where you are
  • Your contact info
  • What kind of schedule you can work
  • Why you want to write for iMore
• Include 2 to 3 samples:
  • Original work only
  • Short, informational features only (not looking for editorials or features here).
  • Written in the iMore style
  • Plain text only, no attachments
  • (Seriously, attachments will cause your email to be filtered out before we get it.)

Please do follow directions exactly, it's vitally important in blogging. We won't be able to get back to everyone, but if you look like a good fit, we'll get back to you asap.

iMore is looking for a few great writers. Are you one of them?

Amazing Alex is the new game from Rovio -- they make Angry Birds, maybe you've heard of it? -- and it's coming to the App Store tomorrow, July 12. It's a physics puzzler, which is right in Rovio's wheelhouse, and if it's anywhere nearly as compelling as Angry Birds, it will no doubt cost lots of us lots of sleepless nights.

There will be 100 levels and the ability to make and share your own levels, as well as the type of free updates Rovio made famous with the various Angry Birds apps.

The trailer is up top, and the game is only 24hrs away. (Tiny Wings 2 and Tiny Wings HD arrive the same day -- plan your weekend accordingly!)

Tweetbot, our favorite iPhone and iPad Twitter app for power users, has just hit the Mac. But here's the thing -- it's not for sale yet, it's a free alpha version. Alpha is what comes before beta, and way before Mac App Store release. It means there'll be bugs -- and they'd welcome you to report them -- and there won't be Mac App Store specific features like iCloud sync or Mountain Lion Notification Center. But there will be a lot of what makes Tweetbot the iOS app many of you know and love. Tweetbot's developers have explained all the details on the Tapbots blog. Here's the intro:

Tweetbot for Mac is finally available! However it may not be quite as you had hoped. Developing for the Mac is no easy task, especially a full-featured Twitter client. However, we've gotten to a point where while not complete, it is useable. We've decided to release it as a public alpha to a) motivate us to finish faster, and b) get feedback to help us build the best Mac incarnation of Tweetbot we can make. You can love it or hate it, but rest assured it will only get much much better from here.

The final release version will be a paid app, though no price has been decided yet. It'll almost certainly be less than you spend for a drive-through meal, so no doubt it'll be more than worth it.

I've been testing out Tweetbot alpha builds for a while now and though there are definitely the type of issues you should expect from alpha builds, it's also working better for me than the slowly rotting Twitter for Mac app (which no longer does autocomplete, has massive gaps in the tweet timeline, and needs to be force-quit to get around weird non-existent drafts issues).

With the Twitter.com website as backup, I'm not worried, but if you're adverse to betas, you should be even more wary of relying on alphas. On the other hands, if you like Tweetbot and want to get in on the Mac version early, hit the link below and get your download on.

(Note: Tapbots' servers will no doubt be slammed at first, so if you can't get to them right away, just wait a while and try again.)

Free - Download Tweetbot for Mac alpha now

For today only, the iMore Store has the Talon Hard Shell Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $4.95! That's an unbelievable 75% off! Get yours before they're gone! Heck, at this price, get a bunch!

Help keep your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 protected with the Talon Hard Shell Case while not sacrificing the slim look of your device!

This Hard Case from Talon is designed specifically for the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 and has cut outs for all of the devices features while leaving the screen exposed for full functionality.

Features:

• Slim, Low-Profile Design
• Cut outs for all iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 features
• Screen uncovered
• Available in a variety of colors
• 2-Piece Snap-On Design

Get the Talon Hard Shell Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

Over the last few years here at iMore, I've taken iPhones and iPads through the car wash and the dishwasher. I've tried to send them into orbit on model rockets and to the deep blue depths beneath toy race boats. I've sledded on them and wailed on them. I've even worn them in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fights and taken them on trips back to the future.

But I've never actually lost one. Not until now.

Georgia's iPhone 4. 2010 - 2012. Rest in pieces.

(I'll be back with a review of the case in question in a day or so, once I've gotten over my grief and trauma. In the meantime, thanks to everyone who's sent me Twitter love, it's appreciated!)

This is your LAST CHANCE to enter! iMore is giving away TWO U.S. Apple Store gift certificate for $600 each so that, this fall when iOS 6 arrives, you have the latest and greatest device(s) possible to load it on. So that you can have the iOS 6 device(s) of your dreams!

Time is running out, so make sure you enter NOW!

How to enter

ENTRY ONE: Head on over to our YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/imorevideo and subscribe, then leave a comment on the video for the iMore show 300. Make it something sassy, something sweet, something funny, something insightful, something daring, something delightful -- make it something uniquely you.

ENTRY TWO: Head on over to our Welcome to iMore 2.0 post and leave a single comment telling us what new features you want to see on our brand new iMore platform!

That's it!

Details

The giveaway is under way and the TWO winners will be announced live on the iMore show on July 11, 2012.

Get your mom entered. Get your brother entered. Get every single one of your friends entered. There's only a few hours left!

Earlier in the year, Apple posted a recruitment video on its website aimed at providing prospective employees with an idea of what to expect when working for Apple. The video, which was discovered by 9to5Mac gives a nice insight into what goes on behind the scenes at Apple's HQ.

The video takes you through Apple's engineering labs, let's you see how the Apple website team examines web pages, discusses the backstory on Apple's work on new battery chemistry, tells the true, and interesting, backstory on the creation of the iPad 2′s Smart Cover, and more.

The video is done in a typical Apple style with catchy background music interspersed with staff interviews. All the interviews are extremely positive and give you the same message; it's great to work at Apple but it is also very hard work too. A couple of quotes in the video summed it all up perfectly, "There is no such thing as good enough; it has to be the best." The other one that stood out was "The difference between a good product and a great product is attention to detail."

There is no doubt that Apple lives by this philosophy, no other company appears to spend the time developing and testing products. Apple products not only look the best but also offer the best functionality too. The Smart Cover that is shown in the video is a classic example, engineers involved in its design became experts in magnetics just so they could make the best possible product; now that's going the extra mile!

The complete video is embedded below, if you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes at Apple, it is definitely worth watching. Could you see yourself working at Apple?

Source: 9to5Mac

Apple has responded to concerns surrounding their request to remove the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) certification from 39 of their product lines. A statement issued to The Loop reads, in part:

Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the US government, Energy Star 5.2.

As was mentioned when the story broke, EPEAT is not applicable to iPhone or iPad, so while certain organizations are barred from purchasing non-certified computer equipment, non-iOS, non-consumer products make up a relatively small portion of Apple's customer and revenue base.

Apple does lead the industry in environmental disclosure, and they maintain their own recycling program. Given their success, however, Apple also faces amongst the toughest scrutiny in the industry. So it remains to be seen whether Apple plans to stick with Energy Star, wait for an updated EPEAT, or simply go their own way.

Read the rest of Apple's statement, and some spot-on analysis from Jim Dalrymple via the link below.

Source: The Loop