Apple, BBQs, Venice and the Vatican

This week, Apple offered some of its most popular apps and games to celebrate the App Store’s fifth birthday. There were five free apps and five free games to download. When the App Store first opened in 2008, there were just 500 ‘mini applications’ on offer and, being such a new idea, many critics thought Apple had gone mad. But in the first few days 10 million were downloaded. Since then the total on offer has risen to 900,000 with 50 billion downloaded to date.

As the hot weather continues, we thought it only appropriate to talk BBQ’s. This week, Siren Communications spotted a new app that will help all of you feeling a little less confident about lighting up the grill. If you’re worried about burning burgers or charcoaling chops, this BBiQ application is the gadget for you. The app allows you to run through BBQ cooking step-by-step. And it’s simple to use – pick a recipe and put the food on the grill…the BBiQ tells you when to turn it, when to add seasoning and when it’s ready to eat. So, no need to panic at the thought of al-fresco summer dining; don your apron, download the app, switch on the BBQ and get cooking!

For all of you who love ‘visiting’ global destinations using Google Maps, the small backstreets of Venice – one of the world’s most interesting cities – have now been captured on Street View. It’s all thanks to keen Google employees who trawled the streets on foot, with a camera harnessed to a backpack. It’s yet another step forward for Google as they look to "street view" more of the planet. It’s the perfect tool if you’re looking for a closer view of potential holiday destinations! Ooooh…where to go next?

In its latest attempt to keep up with the times, the Vatican has married one of its oldest traditions to the world of social media by offering to pardon and offer leniency to people who sin – if they follow Pope Francis on Twitter. The announcement, which came ahead of Catholic World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on 22 July, is meant to be mindful of the faithful who cannot afford to fly all the way to Brazil. A senior Vatican official cautioned Twitter happy Catholics that the absolution of sins still required a dose of old-fashioned faith, and that paradise was not just a few mouse clicks away. Apart from the papal Twitter account, the Vatican has launched an online news portal supported by an app and Facebook page, and it plans to use the online social networking site Pinterest.

And finally, if you’ve missed it this week in all the sunshine and summer weather, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! London has launched their latest competition – a hunt for the next Ripley’s #miniexplorer. So any budding young globetrotter out there…take a look and get involved!