Back in October 2010 I reviewed Noteshelf, a handwriting app for the iPad I said “I could actually use” because of its clever feature set that included things like smooth virtual ink, wrist protection and templates which made using a stylus on the iPad almost a real pleasure. The app went through a series of updates, first bringing support for Evernote and Dropbox in November, finer ink and new notebooks, then AirPrint integration, photo albums and multitasking by the end of 2010. Of all the handwriting apps I’ve tried, Noteshelf is without a doubt one of the most powerful ones – it goes right up with Penultimate when it comes to selecting the best note-taking apps for the iPad with handwriting recognition and notebook template options.

Since December 2010, Noteshelf has gone through other major changes, with version 4.0 released late last month quickly climbing the charts of the App Store thanks to new functionalities introduced by the developers, such as vastly improved zoom mode, single-page paper styles, new icon and updated interface, and even smoother writing. Two weeks ago, FluidTouch released Noteshelf 4.1, further refining the interface design and adding more options like the possibility of grouping notebooks into folders, a full-screen finder, passcode protection, highlighters and VGA support. Noteshelf has gained a lot more features since I first reviewed it, but it’s still the same intuitive and fun-to-use app I installed on my device ten months ago. There’s a lot to play with in the new Noteshelf, including an in-app store to purchase and download new paper and notebook themes, or support for cut/copy/paste to get information out of a specific notebook and onto a new one. The app has been overhauled since version 1.0 – and no doubt the learning curve has slightly increased with all these new options – but functionalities like adjustable wrist protection and zoom mode on handwritten notes still make Noteshelf one of my favorite picks for the iPad.

Noteshelf is available at $4.99 on the App Store with a sweet new icon, and I highly recommend you give this app a try if you’ve been looking for a solid handwriting solution on your iPad. However, we also have 10 promo codes to give away, so jump after the break to check out the rules and find out how you can enter to win a copy of Noteshelf. Read more

You’ve read the review. Banca is a downright beautiful currency converter for the iPhone, quickly enabling you to convert dollars to euros and australian bills with a couple swipes and a few button presses. Need to figure out how many Washingtons that swank Italian leather jacket is going to cost you? Whip out the iPhone, tap the lower Euro amount, and enter that 250 to get good ol’ USD in return. You’ve got all of the world’s currencies at your fingertips from South America to the outskirts of China, and a simple arithmetic calculator so you can quickly add up totals without having to leave the app. Beautiful, simple, customizable, and good to have on you when traveling, Banca is perhaps the most useful gadget you’ll have on your iPhone if you spend dough overseas. Banca by Radiant Tap is currently $1.99 in the App Store.

For our MacStorians, we’re giving away five copies so you too can translate currencies (like a boss) in the palm of your hand — no Google search required. Check past the break for all the details.

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Most people expect the basics: “All I need is a a good web browser, email client, and word processor.” Little by little, you get the itch to use your computer for more and more things. “I want to use my Mac for taking notes. I want to get rid of all this paper in my office and have it on my Mac. I hate Microsoft Word and need something just for print.” Given these three things, you know there has to be a bundle to maintain a practical workflow right? Well that’s why we have the Mariner Software Bundle.

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