Apple released a new iTunes U app for iPhone/iPad as part of its educational event on Jan 19. iTunes U is a free app that allows you to access the educational audio/video podcast of iTunes Store on your iDevices. With the release of iTunes U app, Apple is transforming iTunes U into an educational platform allowing teachers to include course syllabus, handouts, assignments and other materials. As part of the launch, there are already over 100 courses optimized for iDevices from universities such as Yale, Duke, MIT, Stanford etc.

iTunes U on App Store

If you have a computational question, WolframAlpha will definitely give a faster and more comprehensive answer than web search results. WolframAlpha has a vast knowledge engine covers wide range of domains such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Materials, Engineering, Astronomy, Medicine, Geography, Finance etc. WolframAlpha is a Universal app for iPhone/iPad at $2.99, and requires an Internet connection for the app to work.

WolframAlpha at App Store

When you open a PDF web link under mobile Safari, the PDF document will be displayed for browsing from within Safari. It might be useful to save the PDF into iBooks for read-later such as when there is lesser Internet connection or to take advantage of the better PDF reader in iBooks.

When the PDF document is fully loaded, tap anywhere on the document to bring out the gray color toolbar bar. On the right end of the toolbar there will be buttons for “Open in iBooks” or “Open In…”.

Tap “Open in iBooks” to save the PDF into iBooks. Safari will save a copy of the PDF into iBooks and switch over to iBooks app. If the PDF size is big, it might take a moment for Safari to switch to iBooks. Tap on the “Open In…” button to choose a different app to manage the PDF document.

It is a new year, and a new App of the Week. We just can not recommend any other app this week. Hot on the heels of winning iPad App of the Year in App Store Rewind 2011 by Apple editorial, the $4.99 photo app is now free for a limited period on the App Store.

Snapseed is developed by Nik Software, a software company specialized in professional photo editing and effects. Snapseed brings pro-level photo editing to the iOS by giving you fine editing controls. Snapseed is a universal app, and we must admit it is tough to work on photos on iPhone’s small screen. But Snapseed shines when you use it on iPad.

Snapseed on App Store

Alfred is a productivity app that can do many things. You invoke Alfred with a customizable hot-keys which will bring out the command bar. Enter an app name or search term and Alfred will execute your order. Alfred is an app launcher and a search helper. Alfred can also do basic calculations, check word spellings and helps you issue system commands.

Alfred on Mac App Store

New in OS X Lion is the ability to display a message when the screen is locked. This is useful to inform your co-workers not to meddle with your Mac in your absence. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Under the General tab, check the option “Show a message when the screen is locked” and key in your note below. If you’re not able to check the option or key in the note, click on the lock icon at bottom left corner to unlock for editing.

QuickTime Player in OS X Lion has the capability to merge multiple video clips into one movie. Simply drag the clips you want to add into a movie window. QuickTime Player will automatically scales or crops the clips so they match the dimensions of the movie. You can even trim the head or tail of any clips before saving the combined clips as new movie. If your video editing is just trimming and combining clips, instead of the more elaborate iMovie, you can just use QuickTime Player to achieve the same result.

If you find the sidebar icons in Finder and Mail a little too big or small, you can change it from System Preferences.

From System Preferences > General, click on “Sidebar icon size”. A drop-down menu will give the options “Small”, “Medium” and “Large”. The default settings is “Medium”.

Words With Friends is social gaming at its best. Similar to an electronic version of Scrabble, you can play Words With Friends against a friend from your contact list, find a friend or play from a random opponent from its more than 20 million users. There is an HD version for iPad and ads supported free versions as well.

Words With Friends

Words With Friends Free

Words With Friends HD

Words With Friends HD Free

If you find the options in System Preferences overwhelming, you can selectively hide those unwanted options from displaying.

Open System Preferences app. Click and hold on the “Show All” button to reveal a drop down menu. Select “Customize…” at the bottom of the menu.

From the customize screen, uncheck those options that you want to hide, and then click the “Done” button to save the changes.