Five iOS Apps Worth Checking Out - February 2018 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Five iOS Apps Worth Checking Out - February 2018

by

Over on our YouTube channel, we're continuing on with our new monthly series that highlights new, interesting, and useful apps that we think are worth checking out.

Because there are so many apps available on the iOS App Store, it can be hard to find new content, and it's also easy to overlook great older apps. Our app lists are designed to include apps -- both new and old -- that we personally recommend and have used over the course of the month.

  • Hooked (Free) - Hooked is actually a book app that offers up short stories in a unique format -- chat messages. Hooked stories are all presented as text message conversations, so it's a little bit like you're reading someone else's chat history. With Hooked, you can read little bits at a time in moments when you have a free minute or two, and the stories are always engaging. Hooked is free to download with a free trial period, but unlimited access costs $14.99 per month.
  • App in the Air (Free) - Whether you're a frequent or infrequent traveler, App in the Air is a useful app that serves up details like real time flight status, airport maps, security wait times, walk time to your gate, airline point tracking, and more. It works with more than 1,000 airlines around the world, and key information like gate changes and updates to flight status are delivered via SMS. The app is free, but there are premium features like real-time flight status updates that require a subscription, which is priced at $34.99 per year.
  • Timepage (Free) - Timepage is a calendar app from Moleskine, the company that makes those handy notebooks. Timepage combines data like events, maps, contacts, weather and more into a simple interface that's easy to parse at a glance. There are monthly, weekly, and daily views, along with a heat map that lets you know when you're busiest. Timepage is a free download, but only on a trial basis. A monthly subscription is priced at $1.99, or you can pay $11.99 for the year.
  • Confide (Free) - Confide is a private and secure messaging app that's a great way to communicate with people when you want to keep your messages entirely private. Messages sent through Confide use end-to-end encryption and disappear after a set period of time, plus there's screenshot protection so no one can snap an image of what you've written. Confide is a free download, but access to features like unlimited attachments and themes requires Confide Plus, priced at $29.99 for three months or $59.99 for a year.
  • Alto's Odyssey ($4.99) - Alto's Odyssey is the highly-anticipated sequel to popular 2015 game Alto's Adventure. Like the original, Alto's Odyssey is an endless runner with gorgeous graphics, but this time it takes place in the sand instead of the snow.

If you're looking for great Mac apps that are worth downloading, make sure to check out our February list of essential apps for the Mac. And if you have favorite iOS apps, make sure to share them with us -- we'll be highlighting interesting, useful iOS apps on a monthly basis.

Top Rated Comments

tennisproha Avatar
112 months ago
Heads up, none of the FREE apps are free at all.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mefisto Avatar
112 months ago
I can’t believe how many developers want money for subscriptions. I guess that model is here to stay.
I'm really not fond of the direction this is going. Then again perhaps I'm just a dinosaur who needs to get with the times and stop moaning.

I get the subscription model with services like AM/Spotify, Netflix etc., and maybe apps count as comparable services nowadays, but I'd still much rather pay a one time fee. Maybe even paid updates, but the whole subscription model in this case bothers me.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
Confide: $60/year subscription for a messaging app from an unknown company that says "trust us". Yeah right. Prevents screenshots? Big freaking deal. Just take a picture of the screen w another phone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
illmatic41 Avatar
112 months ago
The only app on that list worth getting is Alto’s Odyssey. It’s actually the total opposite of the rest of that list as it’s a one time purchase and there are no IAP whatsoever now or later.

Here’s an interview with the developers of the game and they address the whole IAP on Android vs the one time pay on iOS in the first game.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/02/the-creators-of-altos-odyssey-on-how-to-make-a-mobile-game-thats-actually-good/
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
I can’t believe how many developers want money for subscriptions. I guess that model is here to stay.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
[doublepost=1519856690][/doublepost]





Are you all talking about App in the Air? You realize they have to buy that flight data, per flight, forever, and it's not cheap, right? The alternative is monetize you via ads and selling your data and pray for an acquisition. Or only last 6 months.

EDIT: I didn't realize Timepage and Confide were also subs...that's....aggressive.
I can guarantee you I would have bought the calendar one if it was $0.99... maybe even $1.99. If I didn’t like it I can live without the $1. But I don’t see an app like the calendar one as a long term subscription. It’s just getting ridiculous.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

intel macs no more updates

Mac App Store Apps Can Now Drop Support for Intel Macs

Tuesday September 1, 2026 4:50 pm PDT by
Apple today informed developers that universal Mac App Store apps that require macOS 13 or later can remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. We're reaching out to let you know that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store that require macOS 13 or later can now remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. By removing support for Intel-based Mac computers, you can simplify your...
MapQuest Logo 2026

MapQuest Tops App Store Charts After Refusing 'Lake America' Change

Monday August 31, 2026 7:49 am PDT by
MapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday morning, the MapQuest app is the top free iPhone app on Apple's App Store charts in Canada and fourth on the equivalent U.S. chart. For our younger readers, MapQuest was once a popular service...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Plans to Squeeze More Revenue From the App Store, Report Says

Monday September 7, 2026 3:19 am PDT by
Apple is looking at further ways to monetize the App Store and increase the company's recurring revenue from the platform, according to a new report. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that newly appointed Apple CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue are behind the effort to raise margins from the App Store, which already generates Apple an estimated ...
Latest Stories
Create a Custom Pass in the Wallet App on iPhone
Create a Custom Pass in the Wallet App on iPhone
34 minutes ago
How to Check Your Mac's Manufacture Date in macOS 27
How to Check Your Mac's Manufacture Date in macOS 27
4 hours ago
What's Gone in macOS Golden Gate and What's Next in macOS 28
What's Gone in macOS Golden Gate and What's Next in macOS 28
12 hours ago
TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features
TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features
13 hours ago
Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS
Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS
15 hours ago
Apple Music to Host Free Head Trip Festival Livestream
Apple Music to Host Free Head Trip Festival Livestream
16 hours ago
watchOS 27.2 Code Hints at iPhone-Style Screenshot Previews
watchOS 27.2 Code Hints at iPhone-Style Screenshot Previews
18 hours ago
Beats 360 Headphones Now Available in Apple Stores
Beats 360 Headphones Now Available in Apple Stores
18 hours ago
Apple Shares New Video Promoting iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Video Promoting iOS 27 Parental Controls
18 hours ago
Apple Has Announced 12 New Products in the Past Month
Apple Has Announced 12 New Products in the Past Month
18 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
19 hours ago
Here's When Apple TV is Airing Free 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials This Year
Here's When Apple TV is Airing Free 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials This Year
20 hours ago
Square Announces Apple Business Integration
Square Announces Apple Business Integration
21 hours ago
AirPods Pro 3 on Sale for $199 This Week on Amazon
AirPods Pro 3 on Sale for $199 This Week on Amazon
22 hours ago
Qualcomm Announces Renewed Agreement With Apple
Qualcomm Announces Renewed Agreement With Apple
22 hours ago
Apple Confirms iPhone 18 Pro Bug Fix Update is Coming Next Week
Apple Confirms iPhone 18 Pro Bug Fix Update is Coming Next Week
22 hours ago
Full iPhone 4 'Antennagate' Q&A Video Surfaces After 16 Years
Full iPhone 4 'Antennagate' Q&A Video Surfaces After 16 Years
23 hours ago
Meta Did a 'One More Thing' and It's an AI Tamagotchi
Meta Did a 'One More Thing' and It's an AI Tamagotchi
1 day ago
iPhone Handoff in iOS 27: How It Works, Pricing, and Carrier Support
iPhone Handoff in iOS 27: How It Works, Pricing, and Carrier Support
1 day ago
ChatGPT in Siri 'Persistently Underperforming,' Says OpenAI
ChatGPT in Siri 'Persistently Underperforming,' Says OpenAI
1 day ago
You Can Now Try Apple's Unreleased Copland OS in Your Browser
You Can Now Try Apple's Unreleased Copland OS in Your Browser
2 days ago
iOS 27.0.1 is Coming Soon
iOS 27.0.1 is Coming Soon
2 days ago
Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 With Fix for Restart Bug
Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 With Fix for Restart Bug
2 days ago
Disney+ and Hulu Raise Prices Again, Ad-Free Plans Now $21.49
Disney+ and Hulu Raise Prices Again, Ad-Free Plans Now $21.49
2 days ago
Apple Sports App Updated With Even More Soccer Leagues
Apple Sports App Updated With Even More Soccer Leagues
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits $79.99 on Amazon, Matching Record Low
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits $79.99 on Amazon, Matching Record Low
2 days ago
Siri AI Coming to HomePod
Siri AI Coming to HomePod
2 days ago
iPhone Air vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
iPhone Air vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
2 days ago
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Will Soon Support Video
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Will Soon Support Video
2 days ago
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Drops to Record Low $599.97 on Amazon [Updated]
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Drops to Record Low $599.97 on Amazon [Updated]
2 days ago