February 1, 2016 (Vol. 36, No. 3)
Rating:
Strong Points: Nice videos, cool design
Weak Points: Not a useful Periodic Table app
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
$0.99
Summary:
Staying true to its name, The Elements in Action app presents users with a dynamic Periodic Table that consists of videos depicting each element in, well, action. The creators of the app made the smart decision to embed the videos within the table itself, which really does give the app a cool interface. Upon tapping an element, users can view the video (with accompanying audio) full screen. Tapping on the speaker icon next to the element’s name gives an audio pronunciation of the name. A brief description accompanies each video. Unfortunately, the app does not replace a traditional Periodic Table app, as only element names and atomic numbers (with no other information) are displayed. To view additional information about the elements, users must download a companion app (“The Elements”).