When Apple added the new Food & Drink and Catalog categories in the App Store, it showed that Apple was still working on App Store organization, but also highlight how much work App Store organization still needs to be done. As the mother of a young child, I've been waiting a long, long time for one category in particular -- a Kids category.

Shopping for kid apps is incredibly difficult in the App Store right now. In fact, Google Search provides better results than the App Store itself. Occasionally, Apple will feature a temporary Kids section, like they do for special events and holidays, but it never sticks around for long, and has never been made a permanent category.

Apple markets the iPad as being a great device for children. They show off how iPads help special needs children. They're actively trying to get iPads into schools. They feature children using iPads in commercials and promo videos. They've also recently replaced iMacs with iPads at the kid's table in Apple Retail Stores, and those iPads are filled with kids apps, and nothing else.

The Education category in the App Store is filled with many apps designed for kids, but that only exacerbates the the problem. It doesn't help parents who are looking for general, not education-specific kids apps, like coloring books, games, puzzles, books, etc. And it makes it even more difficult for high school and college students to find what they need in a sections flooded with apps for young children.

The App Store needs a complete makeover. Apple bought Chomp and is making changes to the way search results are returned, but unless this fall's iPhone 5 event brings with it an entirely new, entirely improved App Store interface and discovery experience, more and better categories are one of the few short term improvements we can get.

It would be great to see Apple introduce a Kids category. In a perfect world, subcategories by age and by type would also be nice -- apps for very young children and as different from apps for pre-teens as games are from educational apps. But even a general Kids category would make it much easier for parents to find fun apps for their kids, easier for developers to get attention for their apps, and clean up the current Education category for students who are looking to learn something more difficult than their ABC's and basic arithmetic.

I'm a parent and I want to buy more apps for my child. A kids category could make that much, much easier for me and for all parents.

Siri not only makes for a great digital assistant but a great weather forecaster as well. With a little help from Siri, you can make sure you're never caught without your umbrella, raincoat, or snow shovel again.

• How to check current weather conditions with Siri
• How to view a weekly weather forecast with Siri
• How to check the weather in a different location with Siri
• How to check sunrise and sunset times with Siri
• How to ask Siri other weather related questions

How to check current weather conditions with Siri

How do you find out about the weather? Just ask Siri.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to check the weather. For example, "What's the weather like today?"
3. Wait for Siri to present you with a weather widget showing today's forecast (as well as a 7-day forecast immediately underneath.

How to view a weekly weather or future forecast with Siri

If you care more about the entire weekly forecast, or a specific day of the upcoming week, you can ask Siri to show you that instead, and highlight it for you as well.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to tell you what the weekly weather looks like. For example, "What is the forecast for this week?" or "What's the weather like this coming Friday?"
3. Wait for Siri to present you with the weather widget, which will show you either the entire week, or the entire week with the specific day you asked about subtly highlighted.

How to check the weather in a different location with Siri

If you're traveling or simply care more about the weather someplace else than you do at home, Siri can give you the same information for another area.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to tell you the weather in another location. For example, "What's the weather like in Chicago?" or "Will it be hot in San Francisco today?"
3. Wait for Siri to present you with the standard weather widget, but for the location you specified.

How to ask Siri other weather-related questions

You can also ask Siri more practical questions, like "do I need a rain jacket today". They'll call up the same weather widget, but they let you ask what you're specifically interested in finding out.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri if you need anything special to prepare for the weather. For example, "Do I need a coat today?" or "Will I I need an umbrella tomorrow?"

3. Wait for Siri to tell you if you need it or not. Siri will also present you with the basic weather widget, so you have all the information you need.

How to check sunrise and sunset times with Siri

Want to make sure you're up at the crack of dawn, or that you make it home before dusk? Siri can tell you that as well.

1. Hold down the Home button to activate Siri.

2. Ask Siri to tell you when the sun is setting or rising. For example, "What time will the sun set tonight?" or "What time did the sun rise this morning?"
3. Wait for Siri to respond with the sunset or sunrise time for the day you specified. Siri will also give you the weather widget, just because.

How to get more help with Siri

If you still need help with setting up or using Siri with your iPhone Calendar, or any other Siri feature, head on over to our Siri Forum and ask away!

• How to set up, configure, secure, and start using Siri
• How to call, message, and email your contacts using Siri
• How to set alarms and timers using Siri
• How to set reminders and update task and to-do lists using Siri
• How to find places and businesses on the map, and get directions using Siri
• How to create, view, update, and cancel calendar events using Siri

Apple has posted on open letter on their website, addressing concerns over their recent removal of the EPA's EPEAT certification from 39 Mac-related products, and announcing Apple would be returning to the EPEAT certifications. Senior Vice-President of Hardware Engineering, Bob Mansfield, writes on Apple.com:

It's important to know that our commitment to protecting the environment has never changed, and today it is as strong as ever. Apple makes the most environmentally responsible products in our industry. In fact, our engineering teams have worked incredibly hard over the years to make our products even more environmentally friendly, and much of our progress has come in areas not yet measured by EPEAT.

And:

We think the IEEE 1680.1 standard could be a much stronger force for protecting the environment if it were upgraded to include advancements [Apple has made]. This standard, on which the EPEAT rating system is based, is an important measuring stick for our industry and its products.

While the EPEAT standard is old and doesn't even consider the majority of Apple's business, namely iPhones and iPads, even given Apple's previous statement on the removal, Apple's removal of EPEAT had caused problems for government and private organizations that require the certification as part of their procurement process.

It's odd that Apple would leave and return so quickly and publicly, but it did cause a massive amount of attention, and that could have been the intent. It's possible Apple caved to pressure, but it's also possible EPEAT and Apple came to some kind of understanding.

A quick perusal of Apple.com shows EPEAT hasn't only returned, but is now listed on the Retina MacBook Pro page, which didn't seem possible previously. That may indicate Apple managed to come out of this exchange ahead of where they were before.

As to the open letter, Apple has struggled at times with response-driven public relations, and quick move like this, at the executive team level, could show they're improving in that regard. Or it could show Apple needed a way to reclaim and redirect the attention quickly.

The author of the letter, Bob Mansfield, has previously announced his intention to retire from Apple, but his service to company and reputation lend weight to an open letter, without putting it on Tim Cook's desk, and without leaving it for his successor, Dan Riccio to stumble over on day one.

So ends a quick and curious news cycle. Anyone running out to buy a newly re-EPEATed Mac or peripheral?

Source: Apple.com

There's a story going around today about a new hack that appears to allow users to bypass iTunes and steal in-app purchases "for free". I put "for free" in quotation marks because, as Ally pointed out in her editorial on app theft, there's no such thing as free. This time, however, the cost could be something more than money. The way I understand it, the hack in question uses a proxy, requires you to install a bogus certificate, and change DNS settings. That allows the transaction to be intercepted before it reaches iTunes, and that's what lets it cheat developers out of payment. It's also what could let the hacker collect all your information instead.

And that's dangerous.

There's a reason good guy hackers like the iPhone and Chronic dev team urge people not to steal apps -- it hurts everyone. A hack designed expressly to steal in-app purchases, by definition, isn't run by a good guy. The hacker in question is also asking for donations -- for money in exchange for helping you cheat developers out of the money they worked hard for and earned.

As proofs of concept, as a way to discover vulnerabilities that get passed on to Apple so they can be fixed, hacking and hackers can be extremely beneficial to hardening security and making all of our iPhones and iPads safer to use.

This isn't that.

This is stealing, and while it will certainly cost developers money, it could cost you a lot more. Worse than that, it's the perfect way to trick people into giving you access to their devices and credentials. Maybe this particular hacker isn't interested in abusing that, but how do we know? How do we know no one else will use the same hack to steal device and transaction information?

The easiest way to steak anything from anyone is to ask them for it.

No way in hell am I trusting anyone to essentially man-in-the-middle my iTunes connections, and no way in someplace even darker and hotter am I helping them do it.

Cry FUD if you want, but for me, saving $0.99 on Smurfberries isn't worth exposing my data or account.

UPDATE: Matthew Panzarino and Matt Brian of The Next Web have done some digging into how the hack works and how both developers and Apple could better secure the process.

UPDATE 2: Lex Friedman of Macworld has given the hack a similar look.

UPDATE 3: Jim Dalrymple of The Loop got a response from Apple PR, who say they're investigating.

The iPhone offers one of the best mobile browsing experiences on any smartphone platform. The built in Safari browser is great, and will only get better with iOS 6 features like iCloud tabs, image uploads, and smart banners. Still, it isn't, won't, and will never be for everyone. That why alternatives like Chrome, Atomic, and Mercury are so popular. But which one is the best? And which one is the best for you?

That's what we're here to find out!

Note 1: App Store browsers can't use their own HTML or JavaScript rendering engines. For security and control reasons, all App Store apps have to use Apple's UIWebView to render pages, and they don't have access to the faster, yet less secure, Nitro JavaScript engine Safari uses. This means App Store web browsers will all display websites pretty much the same, and none of them will load JavaScript pages faster than Safari. However, the interfaces and features they offer can make them compelling anyway.

Note 2: We're only looking at full, native alternate browsers in this shootout. Proxy browsers like Skyfire and Opera render content on their own servers and then send that content to your iPhone. There are pros and cons to both approaches, but they're different enough that we'll look at them separately, in their own shootout.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Interface and usability

Google's Chrome for iPhone is just like its Mac and Windows counterpart when it comes to look and feel. There's nothing complicated to confuse you, and everything you need to move around and navigate is right there. Just start typing an address in the search bar or type in a search term to search Google and your on your way. Unfortunately, If you want to access a JavaScript bookmarklet (like Instapaper) you'll have to start typing it in the omnibar as well.

Along the top you'll find a back button, address bar, options button, and tabs button. Tap the option button to add a bookmark, refresh the page, access existing bookmarks, open a new tab, view opened pages on other synced devices, and more.

Tap the tabs button next to the option button to view all currently open tabs or add a new one by tapping the new tab option in the upper left. Tabs will show up in a clean list view. Scroll through all open tabs and just tap on the one you'd like to re-open. You can click the little "x" in the corner of a tab to completely close it out.

Chrome for iPhone doesn't have any overwhelming menus to fiddle around with. The options most users need regularly are easy to find.

Atomic browser for iPhone isn't as simple as Chrome but it does manage to pack quite a punch. Upon launching the app you'll notice you have a lot more buttons and options to work with.

While more buttons in some apps means confusion, this isn't the case with Atomic. All options are well labeled and explained so even beginner users will know what they're looking at. Unlike Chrome which has no buttons along the bottom, this is where you'll find most of your options in Atomic.

By default you'll see a button for tabs, add/share/print, downloads, settings/advanced features, and toggle fullscreen. You can edit these buttons within settings and choose what buttons you'd like to appear along the bottom. If you never use the downloads section, just remove it within settings and replace it with an option you find more useful.

The nice thing about Atomic is that it offers the features that advanced users will want but does it in a way that isn't confusing to mainstream users. Everything is accessible enough that anyone that manages to stumble across a setting will know what it does, but if you don't choose to use advanced settings, they stay out of your way.

Mercury browser for iPhone is strikingly similar to Atomic browser and that isn't a bad thing. Just like Atomic, you'll find most of your toggles and settings along the bottom of the screen. The top of the screen will show your address and search bar as well as your tabs. From the top you can do things like add a bookmark to favorites by tapping the star icon, refresh the page, or open existing bookmarks.

Anything else you need to do can be done via the bottom bar. You've got your standard share/browser options button, a settings button, a fullscreen toggle button, and a button that gives you an almost fullscreen browser which replaces the button bar with a subtler set of controls and only shows tabs along the top instead of a full address bar.

Overall, Mercury does a very nice job of laying out toggles and settings. The ability to toggle between a couple different view modes is a nice option for when you're frequently changing web pages and want some options present but still want to enjoy browsing with as much screen real estate as possible.

If you've become accustomed to the sleek design and interface you get with the desktop version of Chrome you'll love the iPhone version. While Mercury and Atomic both provide great interfaces, Chrome is still a step ahead.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Tabbed browsing

Chrome, Mercury, and Atomic all allow you to enjoy a tabbed browsing experience on your iPhone. The challenge with tabs is to make them accessible without wasting any of the precious, tiny screen real estate.

While Atomic and Mercury approach tabs the same way the classic desktop app approaches them, Chrome does things differently and makes a completely separate section for tabs. Instead of having to scroll horizontally through tabs or use what little screen space there is to work with, Google has managed to not only make great use of space a fun, interactive, eye-pleasing experience for using tabs.

Once you tap into the tab section in Chrome you'll see a card-style layout that presents a preview of the web page and the title. You can flip between tabs, scroll through them horizontally, and close them out quickly and fluidly. Being able to see a preview of a page is awesome for times when you've got multiple pages open on the same website. A cramped tab view doesn't allow you to see enough of the title to know which one is which but the way Chrome handles tabs solves that problem via the preview feature.

When it comes to tabbed browsing on the iPhone, Chrome does it the best.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Bookmark syncing

Most users will probably have quite a few bookmarks saved within their desktop browsers. While Safari offers native sync for bookmarks through iCloud, it doesn't really help you much if you use other browsers on your desktop such as Chrome or Firefox (unless you use a 3rd party service such as Xmarks to fill in the gap). This is where some of our alternate browsers can better fit your workflow.

Chrome allows you to sync up with your Google account to bring bookmarks down from your desktop Mac or Windows PC fairly easily. Under sync, simply sign into your Google account and all your bookmarks will be zapped down to your iPhone pretty much instantly. If you use Chrome as your main browser on your desktop computer, this process will be painless, quick, and super simple. If you don't, you can still use Xmarks or another type of service to bring them into Chrome.

Chrome for iPhone actually takes bookmark syncing one step further and adds page syncing as well. If you've got Chrome open on one of your computers you can actually sync those same tabs to your iPhone. If you want Chrome to open your desktop tabs from your computer on your iPhone automagically you can do this by enabling the Chrome to Mobile option within sync settings. I've used this feature numerous times if I had a bunch of tabs open on my computer at home or in the office and needed to head out. I can quickly pick back up what I was doing on the go effortlessly. It's a great feature and something that a lot of multitaskers will really enjoy.

(Safari will be getting this feature with iOS 6.)

Atomic also will allow you to sync bookmarks through their own process, but it's not nearly as clean and easy as what Chrome offers. You'll need to create a password and navigate to an Atomic-specific website on your computer and upload your bookmarks for syncing.

Mercury offers better support when it comes to bookmarks syncing than Atomic, but it's still not as painless as Chrome. Through settings in Mercury, you can choose to import bookmarks manually or you can use Firefox Sync in order to bring down your Firefox bookmarks. You'll still need to access them on your computer and enable Firefox Sync in order to add your device but after that it's pretty painless.

Chrome has a much better syncing solution when it comes to bookmarks than both Atomic and Mercury.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Gesture support

When it comes to gesture support both Atomic and Mercury give you tons of options for setting gestures based controls. Chrome doesn't offer any at all.

You can access gesture options in the settings panel of both Mercury and Atomic. You can choose between two-finger gestures, shake gestures, and more. With the iPhone's limited screen real estate I don't really see gestures being a huge advantage -- or deal-breaker -- for most.

However, both Atomic and Mercury are universal apps that also run on the iPad, and that's where the multitasking gestures really make navigating the web much easier. If you plan on using either of these browsers on your iPad as well, you should weigh in gesture support and the fact that Chrome doesn't have any.

Tie between Mercury and Atomic as they both offer great gesture support.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Additional features

The ability to sync and view open tabs in Chrome, and access them between desktop and iPhone, is a great feature. Another great feature of Chrome is the voice search. Just tap the microphone in the URL box to start dictating instead of typing. Voice search supports multiple languages so odds are whatever language you need will probably be there.

Chrome also offers an Incognito mode for browsing, which is basically a private browsing session. So if you need that feature, Chrome will have you covered. Chrome will also cover all the basics like searching a page, viewing the desktop version of a site, e-mailing and sharing a page.

Atomic and Mercury both offer a ton of extra features for advanced users such as ad blocking, browser identification, download abilities, and more. If you're looking for something that will give you tons of options and you don't mind giving up a bit of ease of use, Atomic or Mercury will be a better choice.

Atomic also offers Dropbox integration so if you're looking for something with that feature, Atomic is currently the only alternative browser out of the three that will offer it.

When it comes to additional features, Atomic and Mercury both offer roughly the same feature set, but Atomic offers more in terms of advanced settings.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Cost

A higher price tag doesn't always mean a better app or experience, and cheap or free are sometimes worth even less than you pay for them. When it comes to alternative browsers, however, it's hard to compete with free-as-in-Google.

Chrome is a great app and it's available for free in the App Store. Atomic and Mercury will both cost you $0.99 for the Pro versions. All three apps offer iPad support without an additional purchase as well. If you aren't sure which one is right for you yet, Atomic and Mercury also offer free lite versions so you can grab those and take them for a test drive before deciding.

Given the fact that the full version of Chrome is free and universally compatible with iPhone and iPad, Chrome will be the best option for users who want the cheapest solution.

Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Conclusion

Chrome, Atomic, and Mercury are all great alternative solutions to Safari, but they're aimed at completely different users.

If you want complete control over your browser like you do on a desktop computer, you'll want to check out either Atomic or Mercury. Both offer tons of options and allow you to customize your browsing experience exactly the way you'd like. For Dropbox users, however, Atomic's Dropbox integration puts it ahead.

If you want a browser that has a better layout than Safari and allows you easy access to bookmarks and other open tabs across all your desktop computers, Chrome is it. There may not be gesture support or a ton of customization options, but it works flawlessly and has a beautiful interface.

That, and the free price tag, make Google Chrome our favorite alternate browser for iPhone.

Chrome - Free - Download Now

Atomic - $0.99 - Download Now

Mercury - $0.99 - Download Now

For today only, the iMore Store has the Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $14.95! That's a huge 50% off! Get yours before they're gone!

Carry your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 in style with the Qmadix Snap-On Cover with Holster. The durable Snap-On Cover protects your device while allowing full access to all functions.

Features:

• Form-fitted
• Impact resistant
• Protects from dirt and scratches
• Textured rubberized exterior provides secure grip
• Snap-On allows for easy access to the kickstand
• Durable ratcheting swivel clip allows for use in the vertical or horizontal position
• Easily slide your device in and out of the holster sleeve.

Get the Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

Apple is famous for it -- clear, distinct, focused product lines and messages. Saying "no" more than they say "yes". Georgia and Rene discuss focus: what it is, why it matters, and how to get better at it, from breathing techniques to stress management to the difference between eliminating and overcoming distraction. This is ZEN and TECH!

• Our podcast feed: Audio | Video
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Hosts

• Georgia (@GeorgiaTiPb)
• Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie)

Contact

You can reach all of us @ZENandTECH, via email at podcast@zenandtech.tv, or leave a comment below!

Thanks everyone, you're the best community on the web and we love having you with us!

Disclaimer

While Georgia is a therapist, she's not YOUR therapist. Everything said or implied on this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. And shouldn't be taken in any way as a replacement for proper, professional care.

Credits

Music is Peace on Earth by wellman.

The BBC) (British Broadcasting Corporation) has launched a new, free, UK-only app called BBC Olympics that will provide up to 24 live event streams, schedules, results pages, and all the latest news from the Olympics 2012.

Phil Fearnley, General Manager BBC News & Knowledge, said: "For the first truly digital Olympics, we needed to ensure that everyone could access our quality coverage wherever they were, across multiple devices. The free BBC Sport Olympics app for UK Android and iOS smartphones ensures that everything you need to keep up-to-date with the action is right there at your fingertips. Even when you're out of range of 3G or wireless, we'll still be able to deliver the latest news to you offline.

In addition to full, live streaming, you can catch up on any highlights or coverage you may have missed. A comprehensive Games Guide keeps you informed and up-to-date even on the go. Every athlete, nation, and event is indexed, so you can get detailed facts, stats, and other information whenever, and wherever you like. BBC Olympics for iPhone also provides text commentaries, all the latest news and results, and more.

Extra functionality allows stories to be saved for offline reading, ensuring the latest information is accessible even when mobile reception is unavailable. Additionally, iOS users can personalise the app by adding their favourite Olympics sports to the customisable tab bar, enabling quick access to the latest live action.

Unfortunately, due to TV licensing agreements, the app will only be available in the UK. If you are looking for a way to follow the Olympics from outside the UK, NBC has two new apps that will provide you with all the coverage you need.

Free - Download Now

The London 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled to start on July 27th and will see around 204 nations competing. Over ten thousand athletes will compete against each other in 302 events across 26 different sporting categories. If you don't want to miss a any of the action make sure you have this app installed on your iPhone. There is a video showing how the app works but for some unknown reason, the BBC saw fit to produce it using Flash!

Source: BBC

Amazing Alex is a "new" game by Angry Birds maker Rovio. I say "new", because it has actually been in the App Store before -- as Casey's Contraptions. Rovio purchased the physics-based puzzle game and rebranded it as Amazing Alex. It promises 100 levels of challenging fun, the ability to create and share your own levels, and the frequent, free updates that have made Angry Birds an enduring hit.

The premise of Amazing Alex is that you must help the imaginative whiz kid Alex create amazing chain reactions with the various toys and objects in his room. This includes shelves, balls, books, laundry baskets, springs, balloons, buckets, rope, scissors, and more.

Each level has some objects already on the scene and other objects in a drawer at the bottom of the screen to choose from. It is up to you to use these objects in a way that will achieve the goal of the level. The goal is indicated by circling the objects that must be moved and an arrow pointing to where they need to go. In the beginning levels, Amazing Alex will guide you through the levels by outlining where the objects should go and even show you how to drag them there. This means the beginning levels are actually extremely easy and borderline boring, but it doesn't take long for the levels to get challenging.

In addition to completing the general goal of the level, there are also up to three stars that can be collected. Many times, you have to re-think your construction and get creative in order to get all three stars.

As you progress through Amazing Alex, you will earn new items that will be added to the My Levels section of the game. This is where you get to create you own levels. Once you've created a level, you can upload it to the web where others can go to download it.

To download user-created levels, go to the Downloaded Levels section of Amazing Alex and tap the green Web icon. You'll be taken to a website in Safari where you can browse through levels. When you've found one you like, just tap on it and you'll be taken back to Amazing Alex and the level will be added to your Downloaded Levels section.

One of the other cool features of Amazing Alex is that your solutions to levels will be shared with your friends on Game Center. Unfortunately, Amazing Alex was released with a bug that was preventing this feature from working, but Rovio has since then released an update fixing the issue. However, because of the bug, I have yet to see a solution from a Game Center friend since most of my friends played through many levels without being able to share their solutions. I am able to view my shared solutions, though.

The good

• Great graphics
• Fun
• Addicting
• Challenging
• Requires creativity
• Share solutions with Game Center friends
• Create your own levels
• Download user-created levels

The bad

• Because of initial Game Center bug, I have not been able to experience solutions shared by others

The conclusion

I'm totally addicted to Amazing Alex. So much so that this review is coming a little later than it should've been! Rovio was smart to snag this one up and I look forward to the regular updates that I've grown to love and expect from Angry Birds.

$0.99 - Amazing Alex - Download now

$2.99 - Amazing Alex HD - Download now