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
iPhone 20 Pro Display Sizes Leak Ahead of 2027 Launch
iPhone 20 Pro Display Sizes Leak Ahead of 2027 Launch
2 minutes ago
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Owners Report Unexpected Reboots
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Owners Report Unexpected Reboots
2 hours ago
iFixit Shares iPhone 18 Pro Teardown With Inside Look at New Features
iFixit Shares iPhone 18 Pro Teardown With Inside Look at New Features
8 hours ago
Apple Fitness+ Layoffs Reported Ahead of Potential 'Major' Changes
Apple Fitness+ Layoffs Reported Ahead of Potential 'Major' Changes
9 hours ago
A Shorter Apple Pencil Was Supposed to Launch Alongside iPhone Duo
A Shorter Apple Pencil Was Supposed to Launch Alongside iPhone Duo
9 hours ago
Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners
Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners
9 hours ago
M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake
M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake
2 days ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon
2 days ago
Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More
Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More
2 days ago
Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease
Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping
iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping
3 days ago
Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12
Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12
3 days ago
M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Has Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem
iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Has Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem
3 days ago
Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support
Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support
3 days ago
Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide
Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide
3 days ago
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing
3 days ago
'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story
'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story
3 days ago
Apple Teams Up With ROSÉ for iPhone 18 Pro Camera Ad
Apple Teams Up With ROSÉ for iPhone 18 Pro Camera Ad
3 days ago
The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?
The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?
3 days ago
Apple Designers Explain the Thinking Behind iPhone Duo
Apple Designers Explain the Thinking Behind iPhone Duo
3 days ago
Are iPhone 17 Pro Cases Compatible With iPhone 18 Pro? Here's What Apple Says
Are iPhone 17 Pro Cases Compatible With iPhone 18 Pro? Here's What Apple Says
3 days ago
Apple Supplier Subsidiary Considering U.S. Flash Memory Factory
Apple Supplier Subsidiary Considering U.S. Flash Memory Factory
3 days ago
Apple Launch Day Deals on iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and More
Apple Launch Day Deals on iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and More
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island
iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Demand Stronger Than Expected
iPhone 18 Pro Demand Stronger Than Expected
3 days ago
Fan Site Lets You 'Design the Next iPhone'
Fan Site Lets You 'Design the Next iPhone'
3 days ago
Apple Stores Have a New 'Hello' Easter Egg, Here's Why
Apple Stores Have a New 'Hello' Easter Egg, Here's Why
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro: The New Features You Should Try First
iPhone 18 Pro: The New Features You Should Try First
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro: Using the New Variable Aperture Lens
iPhone 18 Pro: Using the New Variable Aperture Lens
3 days ago