Read the full list at 148Apps.com.

Burnout™ CRASH!

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $4.99

Our Rating: :: ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION DERBY
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-04-12 :: Category: Games

At GiggleApps, writer Amy Solomon reviewed The First Million-Teach Your Child to Read. Solomon says, “The First Million is a lovely universal “mix and match” book application that adults and children will find interesting as well as intuitive as here, as the pages of this book are split into three sections – each being able to be flipped back and forth to create new and intriguing illustrations and word combinations. Unlike other “mix and match” books where one can look for the corresponding thirds of the same image to make a match, this app is completely open-ended with no right or wrong matches to be made, giving children free range to produce any and all combinations they may fancy.”

Read Amy’s full review on GiggleApps.com.

The First Million - Teach you child to read

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $1.99 $7.99
Released: 2012-03-21 :: Category: Education

Finally, 148Apps.biz writer Kevin Stout reported on Disney’s push into Angry Birds territory. Stout writes, “Intensely popular Disney game, Where’s My Water?, will be receiving its first line of merchandise based on the game. The physics-based puzzler by Disney has been popular on both iOS and Android. Fans of the popular game can now buy all kinds of merchandise featuring the story’s character, Swampy the Alligator.”

Read more about Swampy’s foray into stores at 148Apps.biz.

Where's My Water?

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: DIG IT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-09-22 :: Category: Games

That’s it for us – and we’re one week closer to summer! Remember to follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get all of the latest updates all during the week. See you next time, Marvel Zombies!

Men in Black 3 Review

By Rob Rich on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Gameloft delivers a surprisingly awesome free-to-play management game based on a beloved series of films and graphic novels.

It’s hard not to expect the worst from a freemium movie tie-in game. There’s just so much potential for things to go wrong. Fortunately things went right for Men in Black 3. Very, very right.

As soon as the initial loading is done players are thrust into the boots of a MIB rookie. Agent J (or at least a somewhat reasonable facsimile) is present to direct them through most of the tutorial stuff like fighting aliens, neuralizing citizens, and managing headquarters. Much like other genre offerings structures must be built and managed to earn cash, heal between missions, research new tech, etc. But playing Where Will This Room Fit is only a part of Men in Black 3. The other parts are comprised of investigating various happenings around New York (both in 2012 and 1969), combating hostile aliens in turn-based combat, and recruiting/utilizing MIB agents for special missions.

Seeing as Men in Black 3 is a Gameloft game I feel compelled to mention that I was thrilled to see it takes up less than two-thirds of my iPhone’s storage space. In fact, it takes up next to no room at all (just under 90 MB). It might sound callous but most of their games are so big I can’t actually keep them for long, so something like this is a rare treat for me. For everyone else who doesn’t care about rationing memory, it’s still a very well put-together game. Everything features the slick style we’ve all come to expect from MIB facilities and gear, exploration and combat do a good job of keeping the management aspects from becoming tedious, and hiring new agents recalls a few of those old X-COM feelings.

As impressed as I am, I wouldn’t mind having the ability to adjust the camera distance. The view feels just a tad too far away from everything for my liking, making characters and aliens seem almost insignificantly small. Floating icons ensure that tapping the correct person, place, or thing isn’t an issue, but it would be nice to get in closer to see a little more detail. Conversely I wouldn’t mid seeing a little less of the “OMG THEY WERE IN THE MOVIE!!!” characters. Not that I don’t think Agents J and K and friends aren’t awesome, I just got sick of them getting in my face so often. Granted this doesn’t happen as often once the tutorial is completed but they can still be somewhat overbearing.

It might be heavy on the exposition and light on the camera control, but this is one solid free-to-play that usually always has something for players to do. Being the boss of a secret organization created to deal with extra-terrestrial activities sounds like a fantastic job, and thanks to Men in Black 3 I’m even more inclined to believe it.

Men in Black 3

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-23 :: Category: Games

SketchBook Ink Review

By Lisa Caplan on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: SIMPLE
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

SketchBook Ink has a welcoming interface but lacks key features

Demoed at the new iPad unveiling in March, Sketchbook Ink by Autodesk finally landed on the App Store yesterday. It’s a simple sketching tool, with a delightfully Spartan interface, and intended as an inking app, not a replacement to their full-featured digital drawing app Sketchbook Pro. While I laud the design and concept, the lack of features and some technical hiccups don’t live up to the hype. Still, the amazingly high output resolution is a major selling point.

Almost Zen-like in it’s minimalism, and reminiscent of Zen Brush, users get a canvas, seven pens, two eraser pens and a color palette. I say pens, not brushes, since the virtual pigment simulates ink from a fountain pen with an assortment of nibs, with their wonderful quirkiness. So much so that I was more inclined towards calligraphy than towards drawing.

The images are “resolution-independent” making zooming a pleasure and fine detail work easy. And, output resolution is far greater than even the new iPad can display – up to 11,336-by-8,727. The ink is reactive to the porous nature of real paper, which creates some interesting, if often unintended, effects. The tools are tucked neatly on the margins and disappear with a tap.

All that’s very appealing, and I understand what Autodesk is selling here, but there are some features no art app should be without and first amongst them are layers. It’s an odd omission, particularly considering there is an option to import a photo as a background. Another oddball oversight is the lack of any control over ink opacity. In fact, the width of the stroke is the just about the only adjustable element. I’d like the option to manipulate the preset brushes and a smudging or blending tool.

The export options are lacking as well, limited as they are to the iPad’s photo library, iTunes, Dropbox, or email. It seems like an “open-in” for Sketchbook Pro would be a no-brainer, not to mention social network posting. I have an iPad 2, so this may not be an issue on the third generation models, but despite the app’s overall fluidity, pen strokes occasionally lag. It’s not a matter of a not-quite real time; it can sometimes take several seconds for a line to appear.

And yet, with all these complaints I like SketchBook Ink. I paint, draw and sketch a lot, despite my (obvious) utter lack of talent or creativity, and something ineffable makes the holistic experience quite satisfying. And, as the sample image (left) shows, some great digital inking can be achieved when SketchBook Ink is in the right hands. In any event, the app isn’t going anywhere and updated features are sure to follow. It’s presently on sale for $1.99, regularly priced at $4.99, so if this sort of simple interface appeals, I’d grab a copy now, while the dollar-feature ratio is evenly balanced.

SketchBook Ink

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99

Our Rating: :: SIMPLE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Entertainment

Autumn Dynasty Review

By Kevin Stout on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: NEARLY FLAWLESS
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

Autumn Dynasty is an oriental-themed real-time strategy game.

Like many real-time strategy fans, I constantly hope to find quality RTS games on iOS. The platform is perfect for the genre and many of us have even been hoping that Blizzard rereleases an older Warcraft or Starcraft game on iOS. Autumn Dynasty may not be Starcraft, but it’s an incredible RTS that borders on flawless.

Let me start off by saying that Autumn Dynasty may be the best real-time strategy game I’ve ever played on iOS. I say this because I cannot go through any review without finding at least something to criticize about it (all games can improve). But my “problems” with the game are incredibly minor compared to my average review.

There’s a spectrum of complexity when it comes to RTS games and most fall on one end or the other. Combat is either overly complex or overly simplified. Autumn Dynasty sits right in the middle of that spectrum. Each type of unit has a specific purpose and special abilities. The counters for units are clear (and even if counters are forgotten, they pop up when a unit is selected). Like a great RTS, it’s rock-paper-scissors on a real-time field of play with some added rules. Swordsmen counter pikemen, pikemen counter horsemen, horsemen counter archers and swordsmen, etc. Units can still successful fight the units that counter them if they have superior numbers. Learning the complexities of battle in Autumn Dynasty is simple, but mastering it takes time.

The storyline was interesting. Occasionally the game would switch to a dialogue screen with cartoony characters discussing what was going on. It follows a traditional storyline of rebels fighting an unjust empire, only the player starts on the side of the empire.

Multiplayer is included (both local and Game Center) and it is incredible. There are various maps that players can fight on, all research is available for the units, and the voice chat works perfectly. That’s right, this game has voice chat for multiplayer. It’s that awesome. I also immediately found a game to play against someone the morning this game was released.

Both the graphics and music were incredible. The music has an imperial Asian theme and it fits the theme of the game perfectly. I never got sick of the music or sound effects. And the graphics are perfect for an RTS. The whole battlefield looks like a drawn map. The units just happen to move about that map. Even the arrows when units are moved look like a pen has scratched the movement onto the map.

The only real problem I had with the game was the controls. They took longer to get used to than other RTS games I’ve played. But the controls were still intuitive and reacted immediately. I simply took longer than I expected to “master” the controls.

There’s no question that every RTS fan should try this game. Even gamers that don’t generally enjoy real-time strategies should give this a try. Autumn Dynasty is one of the best games I’ve played on iOS in quite a while.

Autumn Dynasty

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99

Our Rating: :: NEARLY FLAWLESS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

Starting with EA, here are a few of their almost 50 titles discounted for Memorial Day. App Shopper has a nice list of all the EA titles on sale, too.

» Mirror's Edge™ for iPad - On Sale for $1.99 was: $9.99 [ Buy Now ]
» SPY mouse HD - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Trenches II for iPad - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Burnout™ CRASH! - On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» SHIFT 2 Unleashed for iPad - On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Max and the Magic Marker for iPad - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Real Racing 2 - On Sale for $0.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]

There’s also the oddly-named “Because We May” sale going on, which focuses on indie developers being able to set their own prices for apps. Why this is news is anyone’s guess, but we get some nice sale apps out of it. Below are some highlights, but be sure to check out the full list.

» Osmos for iPad - On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» World of Goo HD - On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Eliss - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP Micro - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Waking Mars - On Sale for $1.99 was: $4.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]
» Canabalt - On Sale for $0.99 was: $2.99 [ Buy Now ]

And then, of course, there’s our own Price Drops page, which lists all the apps and games that have undergone a price drop (that’s sale to you newbies) recently. Be sure to check it out over the weekend to keep an eye on the latest price drops across the App Store. We even have an RSS feed of the drops, too.

Sing Something the Game – Apparently one thing iOS users can’t get enough of is a game that lets them take turns performing specific actions. It worked extremely well for spelling, and just as well for drawing. I suppose it’s only natural that singing would be next on that list. As someone who does NOT sing, I won’t be messing around with this but I know there are plenty of people out there who will. Or should.

Sing Something the Game

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-23 :: Category: Games

Elenints – It’s often the simplest puzzle games that end up being the most fun. A fact tat bodes incredibly well for a game that revolves entirely around grouping little colored balls together in order to get them to evolve into other forms. Okay, not forms but other colored balls.

Elenints

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-21 :: Category: Games

Zombie Farm 2 – The original game that took the familiar freemium farm-running formula and sprinkled in zombies did quite well for itself. So much so that it’s gotten a sequel. It might feel a bit like more of the same, only better, but better is better. And the fact that withering is gone is a massive step up as far as I’m concerned.

Zombie Farm 2

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: ::
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-23 :: Category: Games

Super Flip Runner – I’m well aware that there are other games that involve running, jumping, and flipping through random and endless environments. I’m also well aware that a lot of people (myself included) have a thing for retro-styled pixilated visuals. And that even more people tend to like free stuff.

Super Flip Runner

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-21 :: Category: Games

Pirates Age – Okay I might still be riding a high from Rage of Bahamut but I’d consider that a mere coincidence. Being able to play a pirate-themed CCG (collectible card game) against friends and strangers alike just sounds awesome. Know what sounds even more awesome? Aside from the whole “free” thing I mean. Zombie Ghost Whales. Check out the screen shots if you don’t believe me. You’re welcome.

Pirates Age

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-22 :: Category: Games

Ancient Gears – What might at first appear like nothing more than a simple match three game is most decidedly not upon closer inspection. Granted it’s still a match three game, but it’s configured into a circular shape this time, which is different if nothing else. It also features special bonuses that can be activated as well as a host of cool-looking story illustrations to unlock.

Ancient Gears

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE $1.99
Released: 2012-05-21 :: Category: Games

Shoot the Zombirds Review

By Kevin Stout on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: ADDICTING
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Shoot the Zombirds is an archery game where the player shoots arrows at avian zombies.

I like archery in almost every game. In RPGs, bow-shooting characters are my second favorite (nothing beats magic). Shoot the Zombirds isn’t an RPG, but it does involve archery…so I enjoyed playing it. The game involves shooting zombie birds over and over until the player loses or runs out of arrows. I liked Shoot the Zombirds. It uses the simplicity of a touch interface to inspire some complex-ish fun.

Gameplay involves shooting down Zombirds (zombie birds). After that it gets a little more complex. Since the character is a humanoid jack-o-lantern thing (maybe a scarecrow), the goal is to keep the zombirds from flying completely across the screen with a Pumpkid (a baby jack-o-lantern). At first, only two Pumpkids are allowed to be kidnapped before the level ends. But that number can be upgraded via coins earned by shooting down elusive, tiny skull zombirds. Of course, it wouldn’t be a modern iOS game without the ability to cheat and buy more coins via in-app purchases. Currency purchases are set up a bit like Temple Run. There are upgradable stats (Pumpkids allowed, frequency of skulls, and starting arrows), power-ups, and extra characters.

Not all of the zombirds are kidnapping Pumpkids. The rest of them are there for the player to rack up combos, earn more arrows (running out of arrows is another way to lose), and basically distract the player from the Zombirds kidnapping the Pumpkids. If the player shoots down enough birds in a row quickly enough, a berserk mode will start. This mode ignites the arrows and makes the birds burst into flames when hit. If the player can keep racking up the combo quick enough, the berserk will continue. A timer even pops up if the combo is kept up long enough.

To shoot the arrows, the player simply pulls down on the screen and moves their finger to aim. I suppose it’s supposed to mimic pulling back the arrow. But it mostly feels like the slingshot from Angry Birds turned 90 degrees.

The graphics and sound were fine. I was quite amused by the sorta cute-ish wailing sounds of the Pumpkids as they’re being kidnapped. That sounded a bit sadistic…

The game was a flawless execution of a simple concept that is hard to put down. I played the game long after I felt comfortable writing this review. It has the same addiciting quality as Temple Run, but with gameplay that feels a bit more skillful.

Shoot The Zombirds

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: ADDICTING
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

The first free app that Apple is giving away is Cut the Rope: Experiments for both iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. The game supports iCloud sync between the two versions, so multiple device owners will definitely want to pick up both.

What’s interesting is that it appears that on the initial installation of these apps, it’s not necessary to put in the account password, as the app just automatically downloads. This will make it easier for people to get these free apps. The question remains to be seen how long Apple plans to run these promotions, and if they will only feature paid apps that drop down to free, or if some apps released as free will be featured as well.

Cut the Rope: Experiments

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE $0.99

Our Rating: :: TESTS WELL
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-08-04 :: Category: Games

Cut the Rope: Experiments HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: FREE $1.99
Released: 2011-08-04 :: Category: Games

Gun Runner Review

By Jason Wadsworth on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: RUN AND GUN
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

The name says it all. This clever homage to classic side-scrolling shooters is easy to enjoy but hard to master.

For any gamers nostalgic for the classic style of the side-scrolling military themed shooters of gaming days gone by, Gun Runner is a must. This game takes what made these games fun and creates a similar experience on iOS without the need for lots of cumbersome touch controls or complicated gestures. Players simply run, and shoot guns at everything in their path. The developers, inspired by classic 80′s games like Contra, have focused the shooter experience down to its essence and made it more accessible than ever.

Gun Runner is essentially and endless running game where the goal is to stay alive and running forward for as long as possible. The player controls a heavily armed soldier dropped in enemy territory. This soldier runs forward, gun blazing away automatically as the player jumps him over obstacles and aims his fire at incoming enemies. By tapping the right side of the screen, players make the soldier jump over pits and other dangers. By swiping up and down on the left side of the screen, players aim the soldier’s steady stream of bullets up or down to decimate enemies in every direction.

Like many endless runners, the terrain and enemies are randomized in every game, giving it increased playthrough potential. The controls are simple and responsive, though on an iPad it can be hard to swipe up and down the entire height of the left side of the screen to aim. Some players will wish for a most structured game, divided by levels with beginnings and ends, but the endless runner format lends itself well to a more casual interaction with the game.

Every pixel in Gun Runner is placed as a solid homage to the 80′s titles that inspired it. Even the heavy metal bleeps and bloops of the 8-bit soundtrack are perfect for a quick trip back in time with a shiny new game. Being free also means that no one interested in a pumped up retro adrenaline roller coaster has any excuse not to give it a try.

Gun Runner

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: RUN AND GUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-04-02 :: Category: Games

101 Ideas: Flying with kids
Anyone who’s taken a flight with a child knows that it’s tough to keep them entertained, especially on long trips. With Summer break nearly upon us, it’s an ideal time to try out 101 Ideas: Flying with kids. The app offers exactly what the title states: 101 ideas to entertain the kids. Most only require a few simple tools such as paper, pencils and coins, many only involve the imagination. It could well keep many a family saner on a long haul journey.

101 Ideas: Flying with kids

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $3.99
Released: 2012-05-18 :: Category: Travel

Diet Coda
We’ve already mentioned its impending arrival but Diet Coda deserves further mention now that it’s finally out. The app offers powerful web editing capabilities right from the iPad. Syntax highlighting is there along with FTP file management and a revolutionary new way of positioning the cursor. It’ll even double up as a dedicated preview window for users of Coda 2 for the Mac.

Diet Coda

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $19.99
Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Productivity

Nike Golf 360°
Big golf fan? Then, this should be right at the top of your purchasing list. The app lets golf players track all their stats and download scores from more than 13,000 courses across the US. Sync it up with the website and it’s possible to analyze all kinds of things about your performance. Essentially, it’s the golfing equivalent of apps like RunKeeper.

Nike Golf 360°

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-22 :: Category: Sports

Yahoo! TimeTraveler
Yahoo has had a turbulent time in recent years, losing its foothold as the most popular search engine to Google. Presumably with an aim to fight back, it has just released Yahoo! TimeTraveler amongst other apps in order to entice new users. The app allows users to create easy to follow trip plans for dozens of cities across the world. A custom itinerary is created according to the start and end point, hopefully providing a fun way of checking out things around the chosen city.

Yahoo! TimeTraveler

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Travel

Subway Surfers
We couldn’t have a Five For Friday without covering at least one game and this is it: a fun casual endless runner by the name of Subway Surfers. Reminiscient of Temple Run, gameplay is all about dashing fast and dodging oncoming trains. You can even grind along the trains and perform some great acrobatic tricks. It’s simple yet addictive fun that should make a great change of gaming scenery over the weekend.

Subway Surfers

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

Defender Chronicles II: Heroes of Athelia Review

By Carter Dotson on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: UNIQUE BUT FLAWED
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Defender Chronicles II is the long-awaited sequel to the vertical tower defense game that features RPG elements.

The vertical tower defense game has returned! Defender Chronicles 2 is a sequel to a game released way back in 2009, before Angry Birds was ever released. Yes, such a time once existed. The premise is simlar: levels are laid out like a 2D platformer, where enemies walk horizontally and get to different levels by going up and down stairs. Defense units such as knights and archers can be placed throughout the level to take out these enemies. There’s also a hero unit that can dole out powerful attacks, but is left to their devices at a certain point in the level.

There’s a campaign mode where one of four hero units can be deployed to help take out the enemies, and leveled up with stronger attacks and abilities. Tokens can be earned (or acquired through in-app purchases) to spend on “secrets” that help unlock things like new units, and to buy new equipment for heroes.

The game may be a sequel to a 3-year-old game, but because of its unique perspective, it still feels unique. While there’s a fantasy story that presumably picks up from the prequel (it’s been a very long time since I last played it), it’s not necessary in order to play this one. And while the original was from the days before the iPad (though a separate HD version was later released), this is a universal app, though there’s no iCloud support.

The problem with the vertical format is that it becomes very difficult to tell where danger is coming from, and the fact that levels have completely different (and not entirely clear) entry and exit points makes it a challenge to formulate strategies to take out enemies because something could be going on in a completely different portion of the level without any real indicator of danger. The levels are also way too long; each one seems to quickly reach a point where letting the level play out becomes a matter of tedium, just sitting back and letting things play out, occasionally deploying or upgrading defenses.

Plus, the level design can just be frustrating to deal with. One level, Razortooth, does something that is just severely annoying. It throws a sudden wrench where enemies that split into smaller ones suddenly pop up, and they can end a game in seconds because there’s just too many to kill, unless a strategy of using more enemies that are less powerful is employed, because that’s the only way to kill enough of the little guys to not lose, it seems. It just seems like a cheap trick, and it’s one that occasionally pops up throughout the game.

Defender Chronicles 2 should satisfy those that want a unique spin on tower defense, or were clamoring for a sequel years after the innovative original game, though it is something of a flawed title.

Defender Chronicles II: Heroes of Athelia

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $2.99

Our Rating: :: UNIQUE BUT FLAWED
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

The app has standard news reading features plus some cool extras like a trending and tweets list on the right side of the app. The “trending” list shows the most popular articles (with green or red arrows by them showing if they’re rising or falling). And the “tweets” list shows updates from Twitter feeds that I assume most of the people at TechCrunch follow (like All Things D, The Next Web, Netflix, Daring Fireball, and much more). The app also includes “comprehensive integration with CrunchBase.”

The design seems to suggest that users use the app in landscape mode (portrait mode just cuts off the right side until someone slides it back over). Like the TechCrunch website, readers can browse the news on the home page or sort specifically by section (mobile, start-ups, etc).

The app is free, of course. Most TechCrunch readers will want to give it a go.

TechCrunch - The Inside Story On Innovation

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-23 :: Category: News

Wingsuit Stickman Review

By Kevin Stout on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: DIFFICULT
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Wingsuit Stickman is a physics-based game where players control a stickman on a glider.

Wingsuit Stickman is a physics game where the player controls a stickman flying on a glider. The game is defintely fun to work through and is challenging enough.

The player navigates through a series of levels with a stickman on a glider. The stickman is mostly controlled by tilting the device towards the direction the stickman should go. The only other control is to brake, which is achieved by touching anywhere on the screen. The brake control is more useful than it sounds. Light and quick taps on the screen will slow the stickman enough to make a difference in some levels. In others, full on stops with the brake button are necessary.

The games graphics are simple but fit the stickman theme. The background is graphing paper (like Parachute Panic) and none of the scenary is particularly detailed (though it is Retina display optimized). The music fit well enough with the game but was quite loud. I had to lower the volume on my iPhone to about half of what I normally keep it at to play the game.

My most amusing part of this game, by far, is failing a level. While that sounds odd, I simply find it hilarious when the stickman flys into a wall and his head gets stuck in it. Also, the bonecrunching sounds of crashing are a bit funny considering that the character is a stick figure. If a game can make me happy even when I fail a level, it has something going for it. And speaking of failing levels, I deserve some major praise in the comments on this one for getting enough screenshots of the game for the review without dying. Pressing the home and lock button at the same time while trying to steer the stickman is HARD!

Alright…I wrote that bit about being amused when failing a level within my first ten minutes of playing the game. After playing a bit more, I no longer enjoy dying. This game is quite challenging and I die often. I’ve found myself quite frustrated trying to finish particular levels. Sometimes, a player will get all the way through the level for the first time to realize that they needed to collect two stars to actually finish (this happened to me quite a bit). So not only is it challenging to complete a level, it’s even more challenging to pick up two and three stars at the same time.

Wingsuit Stickman is a fun game that takes full advantage of accelerometer controls. But it can be quite challenging. I would NOT suggest this game to someone with a short temper when it comes to games. I have a friend that I’m quite sure would through an iPhone if I got him to play this one. Play at your own risk.

Wingsuit Stickman

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: DIFFICULT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Games

You’re Ol’Farmer. Ol’Farmer has been having a hard time harvesting his crops because of trouble with the local “mad pigs.” The farmer navigates through 60 total levels dealing with various problems including different types of pigs, electric fences, and ham-shooting turrets the pigs have set up. Having problems with a level? Just use one of the bacons (three obtainable per world) to unlock the next level.

We reached out to young Mr. McGraw to ask him about the development of his app. We found out that since Jack didn’t have enough time to learn to code because of his schoolwork, he used GameSalad, a development tool to create apps on iOS and Android without knowing how to code. But he’s hoping someday to learn Objective C or Lua. Jordon Brownlee, a friend of his, provided all of the hand-drawn artwork in Mad Pigs. Playing games on his own iPhone and seeing some of the no-so-great apps get accepted into the App Store (I’m with you there!) inspired him to go off and create his own game. Thanks for chatting with us, Jack!

Check out Mad Pigs on the App Store for free.

Mad Pigs

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-15 :: Category: Games

Samplodica Review

By Angela LaFollette on May 25th, 2012
Our Rating: :: MUSICAL MAYHEM
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Samplodica is an intuitive musical instrument that is played by whipping the iPhone in the air.

The App Store is filled with instrumental music apps, but there aren’t many that are quite like Samplodica. This little app is not only a lot of fun to play, but it’s simple enough for anyone to learn. Whether you’re an aspiring musician looking for inspiration or someone who enjoys making noise, this musical app is a great way to pass the time.

Samplodica is like a sampler, piano and drum set combined into one. To get started, simply hold one of the four purple bars and whip the phone—similar to playing air drums. Each of the four bars has a unique sound, and these sounds can be altered or bent by sliding the finger up or down a bar.

When users are ready for new sounds, just double-tap the triangular button in the upper corner to scroll through all the sound packs. Users are able to tap to play sounds just like a keyboard or return to the previous playing mode by tapping on the arrow with four bars. For those who can’t find that perfect sound pack, Samplodica provides them with the option to create their own mix by dragging and dropping sounds from other packs or recording their own three second clips with the iPhone microphone.

Users who wish to expand their Samplodica experience can upgrade to the pro version with the $1.99 IAP. This version of the app lets users load their own sound files, set the volume, pitch and stereo pan for individual sounds and it also provides room for more recorded sound clips.

Samplodica’s main downfall is that it doesn’t allow users to record anything that they play. The developers focused on designing the app to play now. Once they realized that recording may be a feature musicians would be interested in utilizing, it would have required some major work. However, it looks like a recording feature may be added in the future as the app becomes more popular.

The only other issue I had is the lack of tutorials. Embedding the instructional YouTube videos into the app or providing a more thorough tutorial would help prevent any confusion or frustration. It took me a little longer than I would have liked to figure out all the features.

After getting the chance to explore the pro upgrade, I was thoroughly impressed with Samplodica. It’s fun, addicting and original. Download it to jam out to your own creations today. Just as the iTunes description states, “Samplodica is a box of crayons for your ears.”

Samplodica

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: MUSICAL MAYHEM
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-22 :: Category: Music

Empire of the Eclipse Review

By Carter Dotson on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: OVERSHADOWING
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Empire of the Eclipse is an ambitious strategy MMO that is very deep, and aimed at dedicated players.

One thing that defines Empire of the Eclipse is its depth. Deep enough that a review like this may not be enough to even scratch the surface of the game – it could take months of play to truly encapsulate the experience, so consider this review to be a general overview of the game, and a guidance on whether it’s worth checking out.

This is a space strategy MMO, where players on the same server interact with each other while trying to complete their objectives. Players can either specialize in trading, military conquest, or advanced technology, aka the crazy “let’s blow up the stars and transcend the universe with advanced technology” faction.

Now, what’s interesting is that it’s possible for a player to ‘win’ the game by achieving certain set conditions, that ends the game on that server. While merchants and military factions’ endgames involve being dominant in their field, the crazy researcher folks need to convert multiple stars into black holes to complete their endgame. Seriously. It’s possible to lose, too – lose the homeworld, and don’t reclaim it within 24 hours, and it’s over.

Empire of the Eclipse makes social games look puny and isolated by comparison. Other players in the galaxy can be communicated with, declared as allies that can be traded with, or enemies that will be attacked if they come near. Of course, maintaining the fleet is also important, by exploring sectors and galaxies for new planets, mining resources, and building up the armada to try and achieve the endgame.

The game is currently designed for iPhone and iPod touch (no iPad support yet), though 4th generation iPod touch owners should beware: there are occasional crashes (especially when watching tutorials) and the game is not Retina-enabled on iPod.

Who is Empire of the Eclipse for? It is for the serious player, the hardest of the hardcore. It requires a commitment to understand the game and its experience. Patience is required, and watching the tutorials is an absolute must, tedious though they may be. As far as a financial commitment goes, it’s free to download, but requires a subscription to play, starting at $1.99/month.

But this game is unique: a truly hardcore mobile game. I don’t mean that in the sense that it’s like N.O.V.A. 3, but that it is for a player who wants to combine mobile gaming convenience with an experience that requires serious commitment. But will that audience find the game and enjoy it on a long-term basis? That’s what will truly define this game’s quality, if the promise the concept and rules provide pan out. For anyone intrigued, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Empire of the Eclipse

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: OVERSHADOWING
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

Bejeweled HD Review

By Jennifer Allen on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: ADDICTIVE
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

The iPad version of the ever addictive Match Three title.

Surely by now, everyone has played Bejeweled in some guise and on any one of a number of formats. Without even really trying, I’ve managed to accrue five different copies over the years of the addictive and most influential match three game. Now, we come to the iPad only variety, simply titled Bejeweled HD. It’s a great addition, too, with enough different modes to keep things entertaining.

There’s the Classic mode for starters: one that many will delve into first. This one is simply a matter of matching three or more gems of the same color, thus clearing them from the screen. Match four and create a special gem that once matched with others, causes an explosion, match five and an even bigger bang ensues. Play continues until there are no more moves left to play. It’s typical Bejeweled yet fun.

Other modes exist, however, and these are the particularly intriguing ones. Butterfly mode involves keeping a very close eye on butterfly gems that gradually travel up the screen. Once one hits the top of the screen, it’s game over. The added element of clearing these steadily increasing butterflies is a welcome one, offering just enough variety without deviating from the tried and tested formula.

Diamond Mine mode mixes things up by offering a tight time limit and the need to blast through the mine with gems. The time limit keeps things fast paced and is one to return to regularly. For those after calmer experiences, Zen mode offers a calmer and more tranquil and never ending variety of the game.

Besides these equally enjoyable modes, extra reasons to play come from the scattering of badges and a form of levelling up, adding to the instant gratification we gamers love to soak up.

Bejeweled HD might be a little pricey for a game we’ve almost all bought at least once in the past, but it’s a well rounded package. Each of the modes is enjoyable to play and ideal for a variety of different match three experiences. That “one more go” feeling is ever strong here.

Bejeweled HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $3.99

Our Rating: :: ADDICTIVE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-17 :: Category: Games

The app allows you to apply simple filters to images, tag people, upload multiple images at once, and post a note about the group of photos you are uploading to your timeline.

In quickly testing Facebook camera, it’s a very well made app. Much better and more reliable than the main Facebook app for uploading images. Perhaps that is their plan? The only feature I was left missing was the ability to specify an album to upload images into.

Worth checking out if you upload images to Facebook regularly.

Facebook Camera

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Photography

Missile Monkey Review

By Lisa Caplan on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: FLYING LOW
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Missile Monkey is a must miss

Ack! As an iOS gamer who isn’t partial to Angry Birds-inspired physics games, that was my initial reaction to Missile Monkey. Why? Well there’s the threadbare flying theme, the tired destroying evil foes by breaking through their fortifications objective, and the requisite “animals take revenge” motif. I can see the merit in a good variation, but Missile Monkey’s extra-vapid premise and mediocre execution is exactly the sort of poor take on an exhausted premise that I dislike most.

Let’s get the story squared away: an evil Viking gorilla has peppered “frightful” orange balloons across four worlds to “strike fear into the hearts of its peaceful inhabitants.” See what I mean? The premise makes no sense, and less still when a mad-as-heck monkey takes to the sky in defence of the Chompers – helpless square pink robo-bunnies.

Look beyond and there’s the middling gaming. Each level is a short trip across the screen for the primate fighter pilot, who uses his “ballistic skills” to take out less-than-menacing balloons.

The game uses a two-button control scheme. On the bottom right there’s the, um, let’s call it the missile-dropping button that dumps up to 20 projectiles in a dead-straight downward trajectory. On the lower left, tapping a guidance button propels the missiles due west once they’re in the air. So much for accurate physics.

Players have about 30 seconds to drop enough ammo and launch it forward into increasingly complex defenses. Getting used to the controls was a little like learning how to pat my head while rubbing my belly, but once I got the hang of it, I put 30 of the 80 levels behind me quickly. That as far as I wanted to play and it took under 10 minutes.

The opening animated sequence and backgrounds are well done, even if the marauding monkey is not in view during the missions. The controls are reasonably responsive too, but gameplay is easy, luck-based and uninspired.

There’s much the developers could do to improve Monkey Missile. The pace is unsatisfyingly slow even though the levels are short. I think it’s just a matter of creating the illusion of speed, but without it, the battles hardly seem fraught with peril.

Also there is little replay value. There are scores awarded for each level, but it’s unclear what they are based on, as success seems solely dependent on taking out all the balloons. There are no stars nor any game network integration; neither leaderboards nor achievements. There are no bonuses to earn, nothing to unlock or upgrade, leaving the game feeling incomplete or rushed.

With so many great puzzle games on the App Store it’s hard to find much to recommend Missile Monkey. Don’t be made a monkey spending the $0.99.

Missile Monkey

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: FLYING LOW
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-17 :: Category: Games

Boomlings Review

By Lisa Caplan on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: FUN FREEBIE
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Boomlings is a traditional matching puzzle game, with some explosive twists

If there’s an axiom that best describes the game market, it has to be, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It doesn’t just feel like I review a new or revamped color-matching puzzle game each week, I checked; for the last month that’s been the literal truth. As this genre clearly continues to appeal, the challenge for developers is finding a neat twist without taking away from the core simplicity. Boomlings, a recent App Store freemium contender, does an admirable job on both fronts. With the full game included with no hidden cost, no playtime restrictions or paywalls, and only moderately intrusive ads, it’s definitely worth downloading.

I’m figuring we all get the basic premise. Players are faced with a grid and some tiles, in this case with chubby cartoonish faces and bright colors, and have to move the pieces around the playing field to connect four that are like-colored. Groupings then explode off the game board and new faces appear in random locations.

While Boomlings isn’t groundbreaking, it functions in a way that requires players to strategize and prioritize. As the name suggests, the goal is to create explosions. Bigger is better. Players have to decide whether to go for huge combos or just make easy matches. With no time constraints and the ability to move a tile to any space on the board as long as there is a clear path, players can take their time – and press their luck – trying to blast through levels with intricate arrangements.

Add to that various obstacles from pipe openings that release extra faces onto the board, tiles that freeze others in place, or worse, death skulls which must be detonated in a set number of moves, and the puzzle element comes to the fore. Bombs that detonate surrounding tiles and blobs that change the colors of adjacent tiles add more levels of strategy to the game.

The whole thing is free to play. Those who hate ads or have no patience, though, may want to go for the premium version, a $.99 in-app purchase. In the free game there’s a few seconds of waiting between rounds and ads on the bottom of the screen. Beyond that, really all there is to buy is the in-game currency or a gold doubler. Gold unlocks a wide assortment of special items and power-ups. For a freemium title it’s actually not all that hard to build up a supply the hard way. And, without any extras, the game is not only enjoyable, I suspect the purchases would actually remove a lot of the appealing puzzle elements.

There’s nothing to nit-pick. Boomlings looks good, is highly polished and doesn’t abuse the freemium model. It’s a great time waster with habit-forming potential.

Boomlings

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: FUN FREEBIE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-17 :: Category: Games

Dave vs Cave Review

By Jason Wadsworth on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: WATCH FOR FALLING ROCKS
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Kid falls down hole, kid gets trapped in cave, kid fights evil rock monsters to escape.

As Dave and his friend are out camping in the forest one day, Dave has the misfortune of falling into a cave. What’s even more unfortunate is that this isn’t just any cave. This cave is filled with creatures that have no intention of letting Dave escape the cave unharmed. Armed with only his reflexes and a steady stream of dynamite thrown into the cave from his friend above, Dave has to avoid the many malicious cave dwellers trying to trap him and blast his way out of the cave.

Dave vs Cave is split into 30 levels of increasing difficulty. Each level is a different part of the cave, and the exit to each part of the cave is blocked by a wall-like rock monster that Dave has to defeat to move on. From the ceiling, rocks and various other enemies and obstacles fall and Dave has to avoid them by running back and forth. Coins, stars, and dynamite also fall from above. Coins are used to purchase upgrades between levels, stars increase the player’s score, and dynamite is used to destroy the rock monsters blocking the exits. To collect these items, players must run directly underneath them and catch them before they fall to the ground while also avoiding the enemies and falling rocks. When dynamite is caught, Dave kicks it into the rock monster’s mouth and when he’s packed it full with enough dynamite a detonator appears. Touching the detonator blows the dynamite and clears the monster from the path so Dave can exit.

There are several additional mechanics that make Dave vs Cave more challenging and fun to play. If players are brave enough to risk near misses from dangerous falling objects they are rewarded with score multipliers. There are also three different difficulty levels to try out. The visuals are simple and straightforward, but there is tons of variation in the types of obstacles and creatures players will meet on their way out of the cave. The levels tend to run a bit on the long side and can be somewhat repetitive, but overall this is a simple game with entertaining gameplay.

Dave vs Cave

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: WATCH FOR FALLING ROCKS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Games

The 20 most popular skits from series three are presented in a style that looks like Terry Gilliam had a hand in the design. The app launches right into a random sketch, and a shake of the iPhone launches another arbitrary dose of funny.

Tapping on a video toggles a menu where users can select specific sketches, create playlists and even delete scenes – a nice touch for space-freeing purposes. The app, like the rest of the series, sells for $2.99 –  a fair bit less than buying the complete season and a fair bit less tiresome than a YouTube search. The app even comes with some cast audio commentary.

Let’s be honest, while vintage Canucks (like this humble Python head) were weaned on British sketch comedy, for an American audience it’s a decidedly acquired taste, particularly in its retro-absurdist Python perfection. There were always laugh-beer-out-yer-nose moments, but for each one, if we’re being candid, there was also an unmitigated dud. That makes this final greatest-hits package a perfect lightweight introduction for those who haven’t yet reached the point where even bad python is good python.

Check out the trailer from the first app to see the UI:

Python Bytes 3 - Monty Python Series 3

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99
Released: 2012-05-14 :: Category: Entertainment

Slingshot Racing Review

By Carter Dotson on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: SWING ME AROUND
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Slingshot Racing is a racing game where players must race around the courses by grappling and swinging around the slippery courses.

Snowbolt Games and Cresecent Moon Games have found a way to combine my favorite gameplay mechanic, grappling hooks, with a racing game in Slingshot Racing The combination is absolutely astounding.

Vehicles aren’t self-propelled; the only way to control them is to grapple on to points around the level, swinging around them to generate and maintain speed. Just a tap and hold of the screen makes the car grapple on to the nearest point, holding on to maintain the swing, and letting go to release from the point, to travel along its path. Trying to get the vehicle to go on a path that will keep it from slowing down by crashing into a wall or allowing it to maintain speed as it reaches the next grapple point is crucial.

Slingshot Racing is about repetition, and success comes from mastering the grappling mechanic and learning the best lines in each course. The various race types all incorporate this need for skill at the game in different ways. Standard races are 8 (or more) laps of jostling for position, trying to get past an opponent at just the right moment, taking advantage of a good swing, and making sure they can’t pass up again. The time trials, with added obstacles, require completing 3 laps as close to perfection as possible. The gear collection races involve collecting gears strewn throughout the tracks as quickly as possible, which essentially boils down to finding that perfect racing line. Finally, the Chomper challenges involve outracing a giant vehicle that devours anything it catches up to; endurance is the goal in these modes.

These different modes give the game fantastic variety, even while using the same mechanic. Courses are run both forward and backward, yet the different challenges of each mode makes them all feel like unique experiences. While a racing game is a bit of a departure for Crescent Moon Games as a publisher, it still has that feel of a game they’ve published, which means it looks absolutely fantastic. It’s universal with iCloud support, and iPad owners can enjoy 4-player single-device multiplayer as well.

Pretty much the only thing I want from this game is more. More tracks, ones that go out and take full advantage of the game’s elements. Some asynchronous online multiplayer options, like ghost racing competitions, would be welcome additions. The core package is fantastic, it just would be killer with more added on top of it.

Slingshot Racing is a ton of fun. The quick sessions make it perfect for pick-up-and-play gameplay, the grappling hook mechanic is very easy to learn, yet difficult to truly master. Snowbolt and Crescent Moon have absolutely nailed this game.

Slingshot Racing

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: SWING ME AROUND
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-24 :: Category: Games

Calling itself the ultimate companion, the app provides almost-live news, film reviews, and of course, lots of video for those of us watching from afar. Look for lots of Red Carpet moments, gossip from exclusive parties, extensive photo galleries and oh and did I say videos?  Ardent fans can even download The Hollywood Reporter festival dailies to see what’s happened so far and not miss any of the remaining action.

And for those on scene there are interactive maps, extensive screening listings, and a mini Cannes travellers’ guide. We envy those enjoying the movie nights on The Riviera, but for the rest of us, this app brings home almost everything except the sun, sand, and surf .

Hollywood Reporter: Cannes Film Festival

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-05-10 :: Category: News

David Haye’s Knockout Review

By Jennifer Allen on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: PUNCHING FUN
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

A simple yet satisfying cartoon-style boxing game.

David Haye’s Knockout reminds me of games like the Punchout series. It’s not quite as refined but it does make for a fun brawler and some ideal stress relief.

Players take the role of former World Heavyweight boxing champion, David “The Hayemaker” Haye as he is pitted against three opponents in the ring. The number of opponents is a little on the low side but each fighter offers a different challenge. First up is D. Boy who’s relatively simple to defeat followed by increasingly tough Big Bro and Little Bro.

Combat is through tapping the boxing glove icons which represent different types of blows. Low and high punches are included here and should serve players well in their efforts. The key to true success isn’t just to knock the other player down but to accumulate a long enough combo of blows to reach “Hayemaker” status. With each uninterrupted blow, letters appear on the top of the screen spelling out Haye’s nickname. It’ll take some quick but careful moves to achieve the best result. This is backed up with swipe controls to help Haye dodge and it gets pretty vital in the latter two battles. The screen going red to indicate that Haye has been hit is a useful way of adding feedback for a game so heavily focused on physicality.

Replayability mostly stems from the unlocking of trophies for completing certain tasks such as knocking the opponent out in a quick time or unleashing a decent combo. Scores and trophies are then transferred to Game Center to add to the competitive element.

David Haye’s Knockout suffers slightly for its, on the surface, short length. While offering only three opponents sounds limited, there’s a challenge here that should keep players happy David Haye’s Knockout captures some of the strategy of the sport while keeping things light. The addition of Haye’s voice encouraging the player as they box is a further nice touch to a decently designed title.

David Haye's Knockout

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: PUNCHING FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-06-10 :: Category: Games

Exactly how they propose to solve this problem and provide a layer of security is unclear, but I think the idea is that providing personal details like phone numbers, addresses and information about where you are located at any given moment is best done in a video chat rather than by email or SMS, so people can speak “face-to-face.” Some users complain there are a disproportionate number of men to women using WhosHere, so perhaps this move is intended to help remedy the imbalance ?

The service, clearly, is primarily for dating and casual connections, and gets tepid fan reviews, but if you’re already using WhosHere, video chat should be a welcome addition. Certainly it unleashes some, um, creative communication potential beyond simple safety concerns. If you’ve used this service or test out the new feature let us know what you think in the comments.

WhosHere

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2008-07-24 :: Category: Social Networking

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? & Friends Free Review

By Jennifer Allen on May 24th, 2012
Our Rating: :: LACKING
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

An underwhelming use of a great franchise.

Unfortunately for fans of the show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? & Friends Free is a good example of how not to use the freemium model. It’s a little too heavily reliant on in-app purchases to the point that players will feel cheated at times.

The basic structure of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?® & Friends Free is solid enough. Players have to log in via Facebook for full functionality but this enables them to compete against friends and other players across the world. Then it’s a matter of being pitted against numerous questions, all of which that 5th graders should be able to answer without any difficulty.

Like in the TV show, questions are according to grade so 1st grade physical science will be a lot simpler than the 5th grade equivalent. It’s a little unnerving how many simple questions are tough to answer, depending on one’s trivia knowledge but that’s all part of the experience. Money is then accumulated depending on correct answers and speed of completion, which then goes towards the player’s experience level.

Levelling up mostly offers the benefit of free plays which is useful given that players will only get around 4 sessions free every 8-9 hours. Other than that, players are reliant on spending money on points which unlock extra plays. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?® & Friends Free certainly isn’t a game to play for an extended length of time.

The questions are interesting and numerous. It’s just frustrating to be restricted to only a few plays at a time. The game encourages spending of points on assistance with questions but I didn’t go near these as it meant less time to actually play the game. Sure, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?® & Friends Free is free but for the same price as the lowest priced in-app purchase, you could get something like QuizQuizQuiz and feel less restricted.

This is one for those who are huge fans of the franchise more than anything else.

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?® & Friends Free

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: LACKING
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Games

As well, in celebration of this new update and the 2-year anniversary of the game, Fruit Ninja is temporarily being given away for free from their Fruit Ninja Anniversary page, where a promo code for the iPhone/iPod touch version can be generated for a limited time. The update will arrive for both versions of the game this Thursday.

Fruit Ninja

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2010-04-20 :: Category: Games

Fruit Ninja HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99

Our Rating: :: THIS ONE CUTS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-07-14 :: Category: Games

Fotor – CameraBag Review

By Jennifer Allen on May 23rd, 2012
Our Rating: :: PLENTIFUL
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

A photography app that wants to be able to do everything that could ever be asked of it.

Like many other photography apps, Fotor – CameraBag wants to be the only app any budding iOS photographer will ever need. The difference here is that it does a great job of being that app. Much of this is thanks to its easy to use interface.

Right from the start, it’s obvious what icon does what with Fotor – CameraBag. The introductary menu offers nine choices: FX & Frame, Collage, Edit & Crop, HDR, Camera, Big Aperture, 1-Tap Enhance, Color Splash and Album. Each is pretty clearly explained and tapping an obvious home icon takes the user back to the beginning.

Users have to import photos from their camera roll before using them which is a minor niggle but doesn’t take much time at all. It’s then possible to unleash the wealth of options upon them, with the promise of over 75 different effects available.

FX & Frame is there for that role with the ability to adjust photos in all manners of different ways as well as add frames to accentuate the look. It’s all quite standard stuff but much of Fotor – CameraBag‘s success comes down to its combination of many features that just work such as the collage tool which is similarly effective. Color Splash offers the ability to add color to one small section of a photo, while keeping the rest black and white although the lack of an undo button here does irritate at times.

It’s the little touches that make the crucial difference here. For instance, the 1-tap enhance feature is great. It’s quick to use so results are immediate to see and can make a huge difference. Fotor – CameraBag offers an HDR function which can create some pretty beautiful results. Like everything else, minimal effort is required for such things.

Big Aperture does a good attempt of trying to bring professional photography to the iPhone. While it’s limited in its abilities, it’s a fine compliment to this well rounded package and can make some subtle differences to a photo.

That’s perhaps the key idea behind Fotor – CameraBag. If there could only be one photography app, this one would fulfill a great many requirements. Individually, these features might seem limited or unexciting, but combined it makes for a great value package.

Fotor - CameraBag

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $1.99

Our Rating: :: PLENTIFUL
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-05-17 :: Category: Photography

Previous playGo models used USB interfaces but the playGo AP1 instead streams audio wirelessly using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Apple’s own AirPlay functionality. Music from iOS devices, iTunes and other services like Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify are wirelessly pushed to speakers with their high-fidelity audio intact. The playGO AP1 also retains built in USB for compatibility with older devices.

Unfortunately, the project is still in need of funding. However, interested buyers can check out the playGo AP1 Kickstarter page and purchase one early for $199. The funding deadline in July 5th and if it’s a success, expect to see the playGo AP1 released shortly thereafter.