The Top 5 iPhone Social Apps for 2011

We live, breath and sleep iPhone...and apps (social apps especially) have become the thing to have on it. Filling up your new iPhone has never been easier and these are the social apps you don't want to be without.

Facebook

Really, do we need to explain why we like Facebook? The company's iPhone app brings all the things you love or hate about Facebook to your pocket, including that constantly updating list of your friends' links, loves, lunches, locations and more.

Tweeter
Tweeting pictures via iPhone has never been simpler. Just point, shoot and share your snapshot with your entire flock of followers. As you might expect, all the other Twitter-ific things are present in the app, including the ability to DM people, @reply, post tweets, and follow breaking news.

Google
The search over the Internet is even more convenient with Google's iPhone app, which puts the web and all of your favorite Google products like Gmail and Maps at your fingertips. There is also a voice recognition app that allows users to simply announce what they're searching for. As a bonus, Google Googles has finally made it to the iPhone, allowing you to use pictures to search the web for landmarks, products and more.

Skype
Skype uses your phone's data connection to make free calls to other Skype users. Unlike FaceTime that only works on Wi-Fi networks, Skype users can video-chat with each other over a 3G connection, which can be pretty value-for-money with low-cost international calling plans and CD-quality voice transmission.

Foursquare
Foursquare can detect you at your favorite pizza place and it will load tips from other users, or alert you to other Foursquarers currently in the joint. Check in to a location often enough and you're dubbed the “mayor", an honor that sometimes comes with discounts.

The Park Where The Birds Roam Free

Now I never thought I would enjoy a visit to the Bird Park so much. I mean, my last visit there was during my primary school days, on a post-exam outing. But when I saw the programme Behind The Scene: Bird Park, I couldn’t suppress my curiosity about what goes into putting such a successful theme park together. Wouldn’t you be interested to know what goes on behind closed doors, after visitor hours?

On the 19th March, 25 students led by Ms Haslina and Ms Chia turned up bright and early for the programme. Then, in two separate groups, we began our tour, each group with a team of friendly facilitators.

The highlight of the day has to be the visit to the Lory Loft, where we had to prepare the bird feed and serve up a healthy and hearty meal to the birds. Essentially, the bird feed consisted of hot water, honey and rolled oats. Together, the recipe meets all the nutritional requirements of our feathered friends.

At the world’s largest lory flight aviary, which stand at about 9-storeys high, visitors can take in the natural habitat of the birds. We were told to stand with our arms stretched out, holding a cup of lory feed in each hand. The birds would then swoop down for their nutritious meal. As more lories came, I felt both excited and frightened. Later on, I found scratches on my arm left by the lories’ sharp claws. Still, it was a small price to pay for such a once-in-a-lifetime the adventure!

It was an unforgettable experience. We were grateful for the opportunity to get up close and personal with these feathered creatures.

Viewpoint - Boy Band Pandemonium

2012 is definitely the Year of the Boy Band. Indeed, the boy band phenomena is making a major comeback on the music scene. But the biggest wave must come from One Direction. This British-Irish boy band consists of Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan, and is signed to Simon Cowell’s record label, Syco Records.

They found fame after finishing third in another hit reality show, The X-Factor. In fact, the group was formed after each of the band members had applied unsuccessfully as solo acts for the “boys” category of the singing contest. It was judge, Nicole Scherzinger, who suggested they form a band, and together as One Direction, they qualified for the “group” category.

With their sunny good looks, strong vocals, and undeniable stage presence, One Direction has captured the attention and hearts of millions of fans the world over. Their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful” went straight to number one on the music charts. For now it seems, One Direction is here to stay, and the only direction they are headed is up, as they are poised to rise even beyond the superstardom of earlier boy-band sensations like Westlife and Boyzone.