PLANET OF THE APPS: 13TH DECEMBER 2011

Mr Stuart Dredge, our resident app expert reviews a couple of new apps, and an oldie but a goodie.

Dickens Dark London (iPhone / iPad)

Launched by the Museum of London, this iPhone and iPad app takes people on a tour of London, based around Charles Dickens' Sketches By Boz short stories. It'll be released in monthly editions, and the first one is out now - it's an 'interactive graphic novel' with voice narration from actor Mark Strong.

Yellow Submarine (iPhone / iPad)

The Beatles' Yellow Submarine has been turned into an interactive e-book for iPhone and iPad. It's being offered free on the App Store, and includes video clips from the film, music and interactive animation. And it's the latest example of the boundaries blurring between books, films and games.

Flipboard (iPhone / iPad)

Flipboard is described as a 'personalised magazine', which means it sucks in articles linked to by your Facebook and Twitter friends and shows them as a digital magazine. You can also add in sections from your favourite websites, including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair etc. It's just launched on iPhone - but for non iOS users, alternatives include News360, Pulse and Taptu.