This 'Generation 2' version of the software (at the time of this review, the original first generation 'Splashtop Remote Desktop for iPhone & iPod' app is still fully available) appears to be nothing more than a change to a different money making model for the company, one that switches from the original app that gives full remote access from anywhere over any network or internet (including cell), to this app that only gives remote access at your location (local network) and you now have to pay a monthly fee for remote access to work from anywhere else (i.e. via the internet, including cell). I've looked at the features and website, and though there are suggestive statements that promote this 'next generation' app as something better, I can't find it. Everything, seems the same, performance, etc, and the only reason I can find for the monthly charges in this version of the app, according to the website, is: "We are maintaining a global relay server infrastructure to support Splashtop 2 users". Maybe this makes a difference if you are remotely accessing from the other side of the world, that I don't know, but aside from the initial setup of the original app (which, since they have over 8 million users, 8 million seem to have managed that just fine), this 'relay' system sounds more like just something extra put between your iDevice and your remotely accessed computer. All guessing aside, there is no practical benefit over the original app that I can find. The company also states on their website: "If you're a current iPad customer, you can UPGRADE FOR FREE simply by launching your Splashtop app! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain." I guess they don't consider now having to pay a monthly fee worth mentioning, or that 'nothing to lose' doesn't include your money (but to be fair, you only have to start paying a monthly fee if you want to remotely access your computer while away from your home/office (local network) - but isn't that really what most people got the app for in the first place?) I also tried to find a list of differences between the original and second generation of this same app. On their website I found "What's the difference between Splashtop 2 and Splashtop Remote Desktop?" (bet you can't find it though, it is extremely well buried), and of tons or related questions with answers that were available on their website, this was the only question I looked at that required you to sign-up and login to see the answer. Summary: The app (original and this 'generation 2' pricing version) is great. The primary difference with this 'generation 2' version is the way you pay, and it is substantially more and ongoing. What I find most disturbing is the way the company seems to be deceiving and pushing (free upgrade within existing app) people to this version for no practical benefit to anyone (other than them and their profits) - if they had just been more open and honest about it, rather than playing deceptive games and misleading people, I could totally respect that - this I don't think much of. Go for the original app (full access from everywhere and no monthly fees).

I've been trying most of the scan-to-PDF apps, and this one has one of the best auto edge detection systems (auto detects far better than other apps) and definitely the best black-and-white conversion of any app by far (which is what is used the most, I think). The interface is nice and clean and simple, the best I've seen by far, no complicated adjustments to learn to get a great enhanced scan, all very intuitive. But… the First line of the product description says "DocScan lets you instantly scan multi-pages document" (their grammar), which is not entirely true (compared with other apps that handle multi-page scans) - this app only lets you scan and then process one page at a time, but you can do it all again and append the newly scanned/processed page to an existing document (unlike some other apps that will let you quickly scan/capture multi-page documents, then process all the pages later). Seems like the only work-around with this app is to just take pics of multiple page documents then bring them into this app later (unless you want to stand there fully processing and waiting for each page before doing the next). Problems… The app has hung more severely than any other app I've ever had on my iPhone - if I do any adjustments, it often hangs with the swirling 'wait' circle stopping, and my iPhone becoming completely hung (home button doesn't work, even the volume and silent/vibe hardware buttons are all dead), the only way to recover is to do a complete phone reset/restart (by holding both the home and power buttons until the apple logo appears). If I don't do any adjustments to the scan, it seems to work without hanging. Also, this app does not obey the typical 'background' rules, in that, if you switch away from this app while, for example, viewing a pdf, etc, then switch back, the app goes back to its initial startup (where in most apps, you would be switched back to where you were before). And setting page size is very difficult, you cannot select from a list of typical sizes (e.g. letter, A4), you have to move sliders and calculate in advance what the HxW ratio is. Also, once an image has been processed, that is it, you cannot go back and reprocess or fine tune the PDF - normally I would consider that a drawback, but for this app, you can preview and even zoom as you change the adjustments, better than any other app, so for this app only, I don't consider this a negative, in fact I can get perfect adjusted images the first time thanks to the great preview, and I never need to go back and reprocess. There are a few minor bugs with selected/switching edge detection modes, and no 'loading' indicator when it leaves you siting there on the photo album selection screen wondering if you successfully selected, etc. This app has the most potential of any I've tried, with a few major and minor bug fixes, better page size setting, it would be the best I've tried (tried almost 20 similar apps) except for the cumbersome multi-page issue. The severe hanging and unfriendly page size setting get it 3 starts instead of 5.

App is constantly causing very annoying notifications/alerts to come to my phone, even though notifications have absolutely been turned off (in Setting/Notifications). I don't think it is appropriate for an app that is totally shut down (not running in background) and has had notifications turned off to keep interrupting my day and make me check my phone to send advertising-like notifications! Also don't appreciate the advertising in the app, particularly in a paid game. That, and the ongoing money grab for being able to continue through the complete game (all-in-one bundle $19.99). Cute and fun game, but the unending harassing nature of the app mean it's been deleted from my devices.

The "NEW smaller app size: your loved app without taking up valuable phone space" feature claim in this version is untrue - on iPhone 5, previous version took 138MB, this version takes 190MB (I also deleted and reinstalled app, no difference) even though the app is listed as 52MB. The 190MB is without any of the 'upgrades'. The 'What's New' and main Product Description also lists features like 35,000 word Medical Dictionary and 23,000 word Science terms, translator, example sentences, along with the other features of the app, but it absolutely misleads because these things ARE NOT INCLUDED, they are paid add-ons, just like the no-ads add-on. Though the basic app is free, which is nice, this practice of false advertising to get people to buy/download the app only to later discover it doesn't even include what it said (unless you pay for all the add-ons, which isn't mentioned with the description of these features) may increase their download numbers, but it makes me want to simply delete the app, and use another super nice dictionary app I found. I don't support such unethical practices; this shouldn't be allowed.

In general, Dropbox is a great must-have app for anyone who wants to have access to or share anything between devices, computers and other people - I use it all the time in many different ways. It's nice to see an app so well thought out to stay on task and so super clean and simple/obvious to use - powerful and complete without the complicated interface and features never needed by 99.9% of the users (that make many other apps difficult to use). But, a big problem still remains unfixed (reported long ago directly to dropbox support by me, and confirmed by reply as an issue by dropbox)… If you use the Favorites feature, for viewing offline (which also means for viewing without having to use your 3G/4G data when you are away from wifi), there are two problems that still remain unfixed: 1 - When you are done with a favorite and delete the file, the storage space it used still remains as used on your device. In other words, if you add and delete favs, the space used by dropbox on your device always increases, it never decreases; even if you delete every file from your dropbox (favs and others), the space used doesn’t decrease. Space used by dropbox becomes huge after a while. 2 - Sometimes all the favourite files preloaded onto your device (for offline or avoiding 3G/4G data use) will disappear, unexpectedly and without warning, making them unavailable offline, or worse, causing them to reload and use your 3G/4G data when viewed, or causing them all to reload when on wifi. This can use a lot of your 3G/4G data when you specifically think you have prevented that (by using the fav feature while on wifi). This situation happens when your device does a memory cleanup (like when you update a huge app, like a GPS map app, and it needs more storage space to update, the device will recover certain types of storage space from apps); this will cause all the preloaded favourite data to disappear (though the files are still listed as favourites in dropbox). Dropbox replied this is something that can’t be fixed for iOS (I personally know this is untrue) and the workaround is to periodically delete and reinstall the dropbox app (to recover space). The workaround for loosing preloaded data is way worse and requires frequent checking and a lot of work. The app is great, the favourites feature is essential, but until they stop making excuses and use the proper type of storage and manage it properly, dropbox has a huge flaw that other similar apps do not have (go figure).