The "New Year" app sale, is now on

As 2013 approaches, app developers are already trying to entice us to part with what little money we have left after the Christmas (holiday) period. Some apps are free, whilst some have just been reduced in price. To help guide you through these offers, below I have listed both the free and the reduced ones, that are worth having.

Free:

• NightCap
• Camera Boost
• Etchings
• Instaflash

On Sale:

• Hueless

Please note: These apps are on sale for a limited time only, so be quick and grab them before it's too late.

Turn your photos into unique works of art with Etchings

If you like apps like Popsicolor, then be sure to check out Etchings from MindSea Development.

Etchings lets you create etched illustrations from your photos, and just like Popsicolor, this interestingly unique app has recently been updated, supporting higher resolutions outputs, new effects via an in-app purchase options, and iPad support.

So what's new in this update?

• Enhanced for iPhone 5
• A luscious new iPad UI
• High resolution output up to 3300x3300
• Major output appearance and speed improvements
• A new brightness control to get the perfect result
• Four new base filters: Matcha, Sedona, Nocturne, and Lumen 
• Florence FX Pack with six beautiful new effects available for purchase 
• Preserving GPS metadata

App Store Link: Etchings; Price: £0.69/$0.99/€0.79

App Update: Etchings update adds new filters, improved output and iPad support

Press release: Halifax, Canada, December 13, 2012 — The latest version of Etchings allows users to create even more impressive works of art from any photo. The app now emulates etching and engraving techniques even more beautifully, with richer lines, higher-resolution output and many more options to experiment with. Etchings now supports eight languages and takes full advantage of the larger screens available on iPad and iPhone 5.

The incredibly supportive Etchings user community have been vocal both in their love for the unique effects the app can create as well as the new features they wanted to see. Users asked for higher-resolution output: the new version of the app can export the original image size exactly (up to 3300x3300 px). Etchings enthusiasts wanted more options for their photos, and the latest version allows the user to fine-tune the brightness and contrast of the source image, and includes four stunning new filters.

“We’ve been awed by the incredible demand for Etchings, which is why we’re very pleased to give our loyal users just what they need to make even more amazing works of art. We’re especially happy to let our customers experience the app in their native language and on their favourite devices,” said Bill Wilson, the leader of the team behind Etchings.

In addition to the free improvements, Etchings now includes six brand-new handcrafted filters in the Florence FX Pack, which you can purchase from within the app for just $0.99 USD or local equivalent. From the soft tones of the “Alice” filter to the funky rainbow “Sorbet” filter, this pack opens up even more possibilities to amaze your Instagram followers.

Etchings 1.5 is now available worldwide on the App Store for $0.99 USD or local equivalent. Etchings is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices running iOS 5.0 and later.

Please visit etchingsapp.com for more information, screenshots and samples.

App Store Link: Etchings; Price: £0.69/$0.99/€0.79

App Alert: Awesome Photo FX an Etchings rip-off

This post will not come as a shock to most, as we are now accustom to apps being being copied in one form or another, however this current rip-off has moved things up a notch.

For those not familiar with Etchings: Etchings [App Store Link] from developer MindSea lets you create etched illustrations from any photo, has eight styles that you can tweak to fit your image, and offers an easy and fun way to turn your photos into a unique works of art.

So what's the rip-off? Well about a week ago, a new app appeared in the "Entertainment" category on the App Store called "Awesome Photo FX". Awesome Photo FX slipped under my radar, however if did not slip under the radar of Etchings developer Bill Wilson. Bill noticed that app had some striking similarities to his own app, so bought the app to take a closer look. Low-and-behold Bill discovered that the developer going by the name of "Duan hucai" had not just copied the idea, but had hacked the binary, made a few cosmetic changes, resigned it, and then uploaded it as "Awesome Photo FX". In an email from Bill, he said "I opened up the .ipa file and found all of our artwork, GPU fragment shaders, out compiled user interface files, everything, etc.  Of course running the app, everything is identical (a few graphics have changed) even the output resolution is 1200x1200, filter names and output are identical."

Bill has filed an Apple infringement form, so hopefully this app will be removed from the App Store shortly, but between now and then, just stay clear of this app, and take care when spending your hard earned cash.