iPHONE APP USAGE INSTRUCTIONS:

FROM THE APP SHOP DESCRIPTION

The Astronomical Pocket Diary (APD)

This cool agenda predicts the future: planet constellations (in
"Planimation") and spacy events for the years 2010 and 2011!

*** Features ***
Available since 1989 and cherished all over the world, the APD has been
known to be used by stock brokers, managers, science teachers, sailors,
gardeners, amateur astronomer stargazers etc. .. generally anyone who can
benefit from having "facts about the future". It has even been described as
a "Prophets Handbook"!

*** Usage ***
The APD-app is dead simple. Sweep your finger over the screen and the
calendar is animated! Watch the planets move in a flip-book animation. Sweep
left or right to go backwards or forwards through the years. Sweep multiple
times to increase the speed until the months whizz by in seconds. Tap once on
the screen to stop, tapping on the left or right screen boundary will
back-up or advance the calendar by a single day. Sweeping 'up' will jump to
'today'. Sweep 'down' to see the 'about-screen'.

The solar system graph depicts our solar system seen from 'above' with the
Sun at the centre. The interconnected lines form the true planetary aspects
as you can see them in the night sky. The daily Moon-phase (illumination),
Moon distance and Moon declination is a 'biorhythm' that actually exists.
Exact times of astronomical phenomena are given in GMT.
National and international holidays, anniversaries, VIP birthdays and
important events in history connects our societies and make a great general
knowledge quiz.

*** Relevance ***
It is fascinating to watch the planetary movements and ponder what influence
they have. For example the stock market crash (Black Monday) of 1987
happened exactly on Jupiter opposition, which will happen again on 21.
September 2010 and 29. October 2011. Of course if you don't believe in this
psychology you'll enjoy the all-night visibility of that bright planet which
the greeks call Zeus. The 'orbitgraph' gives a quick reference of the
changing of evening and morning stars and the 13 (!) signs of the zodiac,
where all 5 naked-eye-visible planets can be found.

The world is ever more aware about the environment, energy and incidences
that shape us. This diary helps to stay in touch with our planet and
provides inspiration and awareness. Plan your celebrations with a wealth of
information about the future!


====  REVIEWS ====


Australia:

Carry the APD with you no matter where you are - 4 stars

by Bishop2K - Version 1.0 - 22 July 2010

I've been a fan of the APD for years now, and always buy extras to give away
- they make a unique Christmas gift for adults and kids alike. While this is
only a taste of what the 'classic' APD shows you, I have no doubt that it
will get more and more features ported across as it develops over time.


Germany:

I use it every day! - 5 stars

by Tobuzzma - Version 1.0 - 26 July 2010

Very cool moving planets! Incredible dates, I look up most entries in
wikipedia, very interesting! A must-see on the iPad. Brilliant!


New Zealand:

In depth review - 3 stars

by Cordyceps - Version 1.0 - 23 July 2010

I have used the hard copy version for years and enjoy its compact form. It
had rise and set times for planets, transits, and tidal information
depending on location. I'm reviewing version 1.0 on the iphone. The paper
version acted as a flipbook, and that animation is preserved in this app. -
though there is a strange artefact that the zodiac symbols wander as the
pages turn. An up swipe returns you to the current day. page turning is the
sole interactive feature. There is no week or month overview, submenus or
help page is in the paper version. unaided eye observation information is
not in the app. It presents only in landscape and doesn't re-orient you turn
it. and you cannot jump ahead except by turning each page (which do respond
very fast with no lag). You can't make annotations. Daily notable events and
birthdays are not linked and you cannot copy and paste text to another app.
This is a missed opportunity. In an emulation of a paper annual it is valid
for a year though this first edition extends until Dec 2011 perhaps this
edition could extend until Dec 21 2012. In many ways the print version is
superior. I'm at a loss as it where this iphone version belongs. It can't
compete with solar walk for solar emulation and in many ways it is more like
an ebook. Overall I think with the limited features this shouldn't be priced
more than the minimum $0.99 cent app, or even appear as a promotion for the
handcrafted and more capable print version.

(Cordyceps is quite wrong about the moving zodiac symbols. They must move
 because the solar system is scaled to fit on the paper. In this was the 
 angles as seen from earth are 100% correct. It is unfair to compare it
 to the print edition unless you like books more than your iPhone :-)




LINKS:
APD Paper edition
APD online edition