Readdle debuts PDF Expert 5, RealMac brings Ember to iOS

PDF Expert 5

iOS users whose workflow revolves around documents circulated in Adobe's PDF format have long turned to Readdle's PDF Expert software to read, annotate, and edit PDFs efficiently; PDF Expert boasts a 4.5-star rating on the App Store since its 2009 debut.

The next generation of the popular app, PDF Expert 5, boasts a new flat, iOS 7-inspired user interface to go along with an all-new PDF view and file manager. Additionally, PDF Expert 5 brings support for background downloads, opening files from Windows SMB shares, text-to-speech, and file transfer with Apple's AirDrop.

A new Review Mode also makes its debut in the product's 5th generation. Review Mode functions much like Microsoft Word's track changes feature, allowing users to modify documents and highlight their edits with different colors. Readdle says the Review Mode works as a standard PDF annotation that will not damage or change the original document.

PDF Expert 5 is available now as a 33-megabyte $9.99 download from the App Store.

Ember

RealMac Software, makers of stalwart web development tool RapidWeaver and popular iOS todo app Clear, have brought Ember, their new, well-reviewed image organization app, from the desktop to the iPhone and iPad.

Ember allows users to build custom groupings of images, which the app calls "Collections," as well as add tags and metadata to individual images. The app uses image metadata to create "Smart Collections," which are essentially identical in function to Apple's Smart Folders.

Images can be shared via email, message, Twitter, Facebook, or AirDrop, and synchronization is enabled between Ember for iOS and its desktop counterpart via iCloud. Ember is a free download, and RealMac says that more powerful functionality will be added in the future for in-app purchase.

Ember is available now as a free 18.6-megabyte download from the App Store.