SkyView Free By: EHL

March 9, 2011

Cost: Free
Platform: iPhone, iPod Touch 4, iPad 2
Audience: All ages

The app I decided to review for this project is called SkyView Free.  This app is very easy to use, and very educational.  I decided to review this app because it is very fun, easy to use, and I think that many people will find it interesting.  

When you first open the app, you see your camera and what is around you, but you can also see stars, moons, planets, satellites, and the Sun.  You can move your Apple device around, and as your device moves, you can see different items in space.  


At the top of the page, you can see where in the sky you are viewing.  You are automatically viewing the sky from Cupertino, CA, USA.  This can be changed in the settings section of the app.


When you click on one of the stars, planets, etc., a box shows up at the bottom of the screen that says “touch here to show information.”  When you click on this, information about the item pops up, and you can learn about different things in the sky.


In the top right hand corner of the page is a picture of a calendar.  When you click on this calender, you are able to change the date and time to see what the sky would look like on a different night or at different times.  


Next, there is a button that looks like a wrench, and when you click on it that there are many options.  You can change the size of the planets, change the horizon line, and satellite size.  You can also change the settings so that you only see stars, the Moon, the Sun, satellites, and/or constellations.  In this section of the app, you are also able to change the location that you are viewing.


At the bottom of the screen, there is a picture of a magnifying glass.  If you click on this, you can search for different items in the sky.  You can click on “The Sun”, “The Moon”, etc. and the app will give you directions to find the item in the sky.


Pricing:

This app is free, so it does not cost anything.  Therefore, there is no worry about buying the app and then not liking it.

Conclusion:

This app is very interesting and fun to use, and you also learn a lot by using it.  There is room for improvement, though.  If I were to change this app, I would show more planets and less stars in the sky.  I think that the app would be more educational this way.  Overall, this is a very good app and I would recommend it to anyone who likes space and wants to learn more about     it.