PositionApp

Find out which are the Top Ten Apps in your Country. App Store link (free)

You probably know ustwo cause they develop cool games like the famous .™ or ..™. Now they have something completely different for us.

In first line, this app is thought as a tool for developers and marketers. But of course, anyone can use it. For example, you can track your favourite App.  Or just discover what people all over the world are buying.

The app is not especially stylish, but the focus is on the information you get. It is interesting that you can circumvent theApp Store for this, and get the same results in a much more transparent way. Actually, PositionApp offers more than the App Store, like the top 300, instead of top 100, or the statistics for the past five months.

The app seems to be free only a limited period of time, so grab it now!

App Store link (free) and developer link: PositionApp by ustwo

Noise

A modular synthesizer in your hand. App Store link (3.99 €)

This synthesizer is not for the faint at heart, but for the rest, it is a great instrument.

I am for sure not the best person to review a music App like this. Note also that this is not an easy App, so if you are just curious or have no idea about synths at all, you’ll probably be frustrated with Jasuto Pro. But don’t forget: you won’t get such a powerful modular synthesizer for 4 euros anywhere else. I will not describe all what Jasuto does or can. It would require to much space. Take a look into the Jasuto site for detailed info on how to use it.

It’s good to see how different developers explore the iPhone capabilities in different ways. It is clear that this App embraces the iPhone as a full-fledged computer. The amount of work invested here is amazing. And I can’t wait to see it on the iPad, which many see as a bigger iPhone. It is indeed interesting how our way of thinking about computers has changed in the last years, and how Apple has contributed to it.

App Store link (3.99 €) and developer link: Chris Wolfe

See some of the noise you can get out of Jasuto Pro in these two videos:

iPhone

Brick up your life! App Store link (free)

With this small toy, you can transform your pics into LEGO bricks. Nothing more, nothing less.

This simple App lets you take photos and convert them into images made of LEGO bricks. Or you can just pick photos from your albums and do the same. Touching the screen will change the colours in a nice wave effect. And you can save your best creations in the photo album, so you can send them by mail, or post them in your blog.

Of course the App does it good. The wave effect is nice and makes the App not so plain. In the end you could ask yourself “Is that all there is?”. But the point here is more how a (free) App is a new way of marketing a product. Using an App for promotion is a clever and user-friendly way of circumventing usual publicity channels. And with the iPad coming soon, I’m sure this kind of Apps will proliferate.

But back to the fun, if you need a template for your next LEGO creation, give it a try.

App Store link (free) and developer link: The LEGO group

Rotating spikes

Tilt the iPhone to move a puck through amazing mazes. App Store link (0,79 €)

This game works a little like the well known labyrinth app. But there are some major differences. The maze is not limited to the screen size. It extends to the upper screen edge. By tilting the iPhone left and right you’re moving the puck left and right and by tilting up and down you’re actually moving the maze while the puck stays in the vertical centre of the screen. This way, there is much more space for a different kinds of obstacles and other gameplay elements.

What’s best about the game is the level design. The levels are diversified and entertaining. All of them introduce new obstacles or combinations of them. This way a new challenge is always ahead.

While the graphical style of the game is dark and heavy the difficulty level is surprisingly fair and easy. The puck reacts smoothly and because of a shield you’re allowed to do mistakes without losing a life immediately. Also the collision detection is generous. The graphics are well crafted and clear in detail.

Some people might say, that ten levels isn’t much, but there’s a bonus level which even offers a whole new graphical style and all new challenges. I think the depths of the game is perfect for the device and because of the density of the level design it’s always fun to play a level again. If you want you can also rise the difficulty level.

So for the price you definitely can’t go wrong with this game. Give it a try!

App Store link (0,79 €) and developer link: 1337 Game Design

Instructions

The innovative alarm clock for late risers. App Store link (0,79 €)

Put the iPhone in your bed and its motion-sensors will record your motions while you sleep. Let’s say you want to get up at 8 am. The app will start looking for a light sleep phase from 7:30 and wake you up if it finds one. The aim is to avoid waking you up in a phase of deep sleep, where it usually is pretty hard to get up.

I think I am especially bad with getting up in the morning, maybe because of my blood circuit. Most days this app really works for me. This makes this app one among the few that actually extend the iPhone’s functionality. There are alarmclocks and watches working similarly, but they cost at least 80 €. I never got one because I was always suspicious, they wouldn’t work.

Additionally this app offers a lot of fun with your statistics. I find it surprisingly interesting to examine the curve of my activities during sleep every day and compare it with friends. It is real fun!

Still I need to say, that there are some things you need to consider using the app. The app has to run all night long. That’s why I prefer to activate Airplane mode before I use it. Unfortunately it can’t be activated from within the app (I guess Apple doesn’t allow it). The next thing is that you should charge the iPhone every night. Actually this is a good routine anyway, because the iPhone will always be completely charged in the morning. You can’t use the iPhones alarm sounds, you’re limited to the app’s cheesy wake-up-sounds. But this also is something I can easily live with.

Specially considering the price, this app is definitly worth trying if it sounds somewhat interesting to you.

App Store link (0,79 €) and developer link: Lexware Labs

Moving

..™ is the logical sequel to the famous .™. App Store link (0,79 €)

While in .™ you played in a two dimensional space, in ..™ we are in three dimensions. But everything remains the same. You control the white sphere by tilting you iPhone, have to eat the blue balls and to avoid the red pyramids. That’s it.

You won’t find a title, nor extras, nor menues, nor messages. The tilt control works perfect again, the music is good, and the simple graphics look really nice. It’s real fun playing it over and over again, trying to increase your score. UsTwo have made a promo video also. But this time, it is quite clear what the game is about.

It’s a matter of taste if you like .™ or ..™ better. Of course, you can just like both of them, like I do.

App Store link (0,79 €) and developer link: ustwo™

The promo video:

Blue Start

Find the correct association between Winter and Spielberg! App Store link (1,59 €)

In iAssociate you have to find associations among words. It is a great game that can be also played with your friends.

You start with a single word, and try your luck. You can type the new words in the empty bars, if you think you found the right place. Or type the new word in the bar of the word you think it’s associated to.

Some of the associations are easy, like blue – water, or blue – sky. Some of them are not easy at all. Of course not all of your associations will be there. I don’t know which criteria Fredrik Wahrman used to choose some words among all the possible ones. But some associations are funny, some are like a surprise. And if after a while you find the right word, you feel great. And if you think this is all too complicated, you may start with the lite version.

The App is nicely done and the idea is just superb. As everyone thinks different, I find iAssociate a fantastic game to play with friends or family. I like how it encourages cooperation instead of competition. I just started with this game, and I’m already an addict.

App Store link (1,59 €), lite version and developer link: Fredrik Wahrman

Level 15 cleared

A logic puzzle in the milky way. App Store link (0,79 €)

Draw lines by connecting the stars and produce the requested amount of intersections, that’s what this puzzle game is all about.

Each level starts with a couple of stars. There are five different kinds: blue, green, yellow, purple and red. Connect the blue stars with one other star, the green ones with two and the yellow ones with three. The red stars are already connected but you can move them. Dragging your finger away from a purple star will create shapes.

The amount of intersections you need to finish a level is shown in the upper right corner.

The game is fun, the levels are challenging but not frustrating and the graphics are fine and beautiful. I especially like the scrolling effect when browsing through the level menu.

Check this game if you’re into relaxed puzzling fun!

App Store link (0,79 €), lite version and developer link: Aim at Entertainment

Piyo

Here’s a challenging new match3 game for you! App store link (0,79 €)

The principle is not new, but Piyo Blocks captivates me with its pixel style graphics and its simple and fun gameplay.Your have to swap sweet little Piyo Blocks to match 3 or more of the same colour. To get more points and into the next stage, you should try to make combos with more blocks, which can be pretty difficult, when the time is running out and you’re getting nervous.

You can explore three different game-modes, which makes Piyo Blocks more than just a break-filler. This is not a new concept , but if you want to have a fun match 3 game with an arty pixel style, try Piyo Blocks.

There’s also a lite version, so you can test it for free.

App store link (lite), full version App store link (0,79 €) and developer link: BigPixelStudios