IOS Apps review

iBooks 2 on the Leash

2012-01-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

Apple announced a new iBooks Author App on Thursday that makes creating an Apple ebook a drag-and-drop process.

Using the app, which was announced at the same time as a new textbook experience for iPad, users can drag a Word file into a book creation space. The app automatically determines the best way to lay out the book and creates appropriate sections and headers. Users can then drag and resize images within the text and add definitions, photo galleries, movies Keynote presentations and 3D objects.

Users can preview their books on their iPads or publish them directly to the iBook store.

Apple’s Philip Schiller called iBooks Author “the most advanced, most powerful, yet most fun ebook authoring tool every created.”

You can judge for yourself whether he’s right, starting today. The app is free and available in the Mac App Store.

IOS App Review - Formula 1 2011

2012-01-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

Just about everyone knows what a F1 car is. Even in the media, children’s books, and other sources, a generic racer is generally depicted as some variation of an F1 body-wise. As many racing enthusiast know, F1 racing digs so much deeper into the car and driver alike; F1 2011 by Codemasters aims to recreate this experience on the iOS platform. Even though it has a few problems here and there, the game still does have some good features that make it a well-played-out sim. Read on for the full review:

Gameplay

F1 currently holds 2 modes of gameplay, time trial and grand prix, with the addition of the upcoming season mode:

Time trial: race against yourself on the track to get the best time possible. It’s good for practicing as well.
Grand Prix: a quick or long race that allows you to simulate an entire, or parts, of a race week as an F1 driver.
Season: go through a complete season as an F1 driver and join the championship chase. This mode is not yet available.

With a wide variety of cars and tracks, F1 offers racers the most versatile, simulation racing available to an iOS device. With a good set of real tracks and cars, it allows you to follow the full racing week, from the first practice all the way up to the entire race, of any given F1 driver. Rules and restrictions are still enforced, so illegally blocking a driver or cutting a corner will hurt you. One major downside of the game is the lack of customizability of the cars’ settings along with the poor collision detection. Both of which can really cripple this game somewhat.

Speaking of flipping over, another negative thing is the entire lack of a damage system. In the game, it is entirely plausible to slam head-first into a wall running around 200 km/h. This just shouldn’t be.

The menus are creative, yet simple I their own way. Resembling an F1 steering wheel, each individual button allows you to advance through menus while the wheel’s display functions as tabs. The organization is simple while navigation can be a little hard since many of the buttons aren’t responsive at all.

Graphics: ★★★★

Audio

Codemasters, being a experienced, long-time developer of PC games goes on to ensure that there is more than enough audio so the game’s experience isn’t ruined. The sound effects are plentiful from the high engine revs to the most exciting collisions. A game soundtrack isn’t present however as that would hinder any communications you have with your pit chief.

Audio: ★★★★½

Replay

F1′s main core for multiplayer is in the Grand Prix and time trial modes. These allow you to do a race on any track at any given time. The three difficulty levels also help out a bit. However, the lack of online playing, brings down this game greatly. The missing leader boards, and even the MIA achievements dot help out either. Although it does offer a good amount of replay, it can still go that extra mile.

Replay: ★★★★

Value

For a game that really isn’t as polished as it should be, 5 dollars is asking a lot. Going even further, you can also recall that this game still isn’t finished. There was not one area of the game that I felt had any strength. They all seemed to be lacking something, whether it was the unfinished graphics or gameplay, missing replay, or even the BGM. There is always something missing.

Value: ★★★

Final Thoughts

F1 2011 does prove to be an entirely playable game, despite its missing features here and there. However it’s not finished, it’s not polished, it just doesn’t have that extra coat that makes it shine. There’s work to be done, but I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see this game in the App Store.

Overall Score

App Review - iTeleport - VNC Review

2012-01-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

This is one of the apps that will come handy. This app lets you connect to your computer either on Windows PC or with a Mac. When connecting to a Mac, the best feature for this app is that this require very minimal configuration since Mac already has built in VNC Server. You may just need to enable the screen sharing feature in you Mac and set your login securitites and your presto ready. If you have this app in your iOS device just open the app and go to the Discovered Section.

Here's the instruction on you can enable the native vnc on you Mac OS X.

1. Launch the System Preferences.

2. Select the Sharing preferences.

3. Enable Screen Sharing within the Service list.

4. Click Computer Settings… to show the VNC password setting.

5. Enable VNC viewers may control screen with password:.

6. Enter a strong password.

7. Click OK to save your settings.

Your Mac is now running a VNC server and can be connected to from other computers using the standard VNC port (TCP/IP port 5900).The VNC server will start every time you power on your Mac. If you want to stop the VNC server, navigate to the Sharing preferences and uncheck Screen Sharing.

To setup in Windows PC, follow these instructions:

1. Download the iTeleport Application for Windows at:

http://www.iteleportmobile.com/start

2. Run the Installer and click Next through all the steps

3. Enter your Gmail Address and Password

4. Click Connect

5. Once Connected, Your PC is ready.