How do you know you’re addicted to a game?  When you keep telling yourself, “I’ll stop after I play one more time.”

Lots of apps claim to be addictive. Lots of reviewers claim an app is addictive.  You and I know that’s not really the case.  Yes, an app might be a blast to play for a few minutes or a couple of hours, but when it’s time to move on to the next thing, you can easily put your iDevice down or close out the app and move on. You’re not going to miss a meal or the latest episode of Lost and definitely not precious sleep time because of it.  That’s ok; if every video game that billed itself as addictive truly was, society would have ground to a stop sometime around the mid-1980s.  The human race would have ceased to reproduce.

But there is one new kid on the block who deserves every bit of the hype you’ve been hearing: One Man Left’s Tilt to Live.  If you haven’t heard of this game before, allow me to cut to the chase:  Stop reading this review and get it.  Get it now. You’ll thank me.

Want more incentive?  As part of a special sale that will run through the end of March, Tilt to Live has dropped its price from a buck-99 to .99.  In other words, my procrastination in getting this review posted last night (because I was too busy playing the game)  just saved you a buck.  Sweet.

And now back to the review…

You are an arrow or a cursor or some such thing.  You move effortlessly across the screen doing your thing- slowly, quickly, even making full stops when necessary.  Or at least you try to.  Red Dots will materialize, one by one, two by two, twenty by twenty (or more) to stand in the way of your right to live and move freely.  And they will follow you any and everywhere you go with one single, relentless purpose: to destroy you.  If your arrow makes contact with even one of their kind, you explode and it’s game over, man.

But you are not alone.  There are weapons- Vortexes, Spike Shields, Cluster Missiles, freeze bombs and other tools of increasing capability that you can unlock to help you in your quest to rid your world of Red Dots.  To use them, all you need do is ram your cursor into one.

How do you move?  Simple.  Tilt your device.  There are no confusing controls or tricky hand or finger movements to remember.  Just tilt.

That’s it.

The first time I fired up this app and played a game, I thought, “What’s the big deal?  This is ok, but it’s not all that.”  And then I played another game, and one game led to another and another and another.  I couldn’t stop playing.  Last night, I put off watching tv, eating, and even- for more hours than I’d like to admit- going to bed.  It was that good.  In fact, I’m thinking about playing right now.

And for those of you who can’t feel complete unless you can compare your scores to your friends, people in your area, or around the world, the AGON Online Social Platform will keep track of all your scores and awards.

So what are you waiting for?  Are you in need of more convincing?  Check out the video below.

iTunes Link – Tilt to Live

Version 1.0

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3

A while back I started noticing people changing their Facebook profile picture to a celebrity that they looked like. Some pictures were close and others were way off. This got me wondering what celebrities I looked like. No one came to mind so I gave up and went on with my day.  Little did I know that yes “there’s an app for that”. Ivango brings us My Celebtwin the app that uses facial recognition algorithms to match your face with a celebrities.

The app itself is fairly simple. You can either use an existing picture in your camera roll or take one in the app. Obviously you want to get a clear picture with your head taking up most of the space. Once you have your picture you choose your gender then send the picture to the servers, wait a bit and voila you have three matches. Here is where I had some issues. I couldn’t get any matches with the camera option, everything would come back blank. When I used a picture in my camera roll it would come back good about 90% of the time. This really hurts the app in my eyes because it’s all about going to a party or get together and seeing who your friends look like, and the last thing you want to do is take a bunch of pictures THEN opening the app and hope your picture as clear and aligned properly for the software to work.

I used the app on myself, my wife and my two sons. I wouldn’t say any of us look like any celebrities so I was very curious to see how it worked. My two boys and I did match one of the three celebrities so I am convinced that if anything the algorithms are consistent. So you might be wondering to yourself, Who does Brad look like? According to My celebtwin I look like (drumroll) Liam Neeson, Danny Materson, and Ryan Reynolds. I don’t think I look like any of them but maybe if you merged Ryan and Danny into one person then uglied him up a tad maybe that guy would look like me. Another fun thing to do is see what celebrity of the opposite sex you look like, definitely worth a laugh.

This app goes for $3.99 which in my opinion is way to much. Even if the app worked 100% of the time I don’t think 3.99 would be worth it. They do offer a lite version with only male recognition so go ahead and try that out for free.

iTunes Link – My Celebtwin

Version 1.3

Reviewed on iPhone OS 3.1.3

I just love a good word game.  So much so that I will effortlessly bypass an adventure, puzzle, or board game app that has great graphics and scores of 5 star ratings in favor of a word game that I believe to be original and offers a good challenge.  And if that word game has an online multiplayer element, then so much the better.

John Daniel Bagwell’s first foray into the world of app creation, Killbo, was a word game that took some time for me to warm up to.  Its premise is straightforward: There are 9 tiles that appear in the center of the screen and each tile- generally- has a letter written on it.  Surrounding the center tiles are 9 outer tiles, also- generally- with letters written on them.  The objective of the game is to form words using available tiles.  Each time a letter from a center tile is chosen, the letter on the outer tile closest to the chosen tile moves into its place.  For every word formed, points are awarded.  Longer words translate into more points and it is the player’s task to rack up as high a score as possible.

Sounds simple, right?  But there are twists and turns to this.  For starters, the game is timed.  After the letter on a tile is chosen, only the adjoining tiles are available; the others turn gray and cannot be chosen.  So if a gray tile contains a letter you were going to need to build a word, you’ll have to decide whether it’s possible to create a word based on the remaining available tiles or erase the word and start over again.  There also exists special point awards for forming predetermined words listed at the top of the screen or for using green or pink-colored tiles in your word formations.  There is the option to- when available- select a “wild” tile that can become any letter you wish.  And if you’re really struggling to come up with a word, you can shake your iPod or iPhone to get brand new letters.  Be careful, though, because doing so will deduct precious seconds from your remaining time.

Killbo will test your ability to think on your feet and adapt to constantly changing circumstances.  As I said earlier, it took some time for me to warm up to and get the hang of Killbo.  Now that I have, though, I can certainly appreciate its challenge.  If you crave word game apps and have a buck burning a hole in your pocket, Killbo is worth adding to your stockpile.

iTunes Link – Killbo

Version 1.2

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3

There are many reasons why I like Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite and I’ll tell you about them in a moment. First, I have a confession to make.

I own a BlackBerry.  I have for a while now, long before anyone knew what an iPod Touch or iPhone was and probably long after as well.  Why?  Well, although I think my iPod Touch is great for lots of things, writing (something I engage in frequently) is still something I struggle to do on the dang thing.  I can type over 90 wpm (seriously) on a desktop or notebook keyboard, so speed and ease are critical factors.  Plus, I’m just a physical keyboard kinda guy.

Because I’ve owned various incarnations of BlackBerry smartphones (five different models in all), I’m fairly well acquainted with a few other mobile office suite products.  Some are good and some are not so good. Most are not so good at syncing without the umbilical cord (USB) or- in the case of the iPhone or iPod- requiring a wifi connection to a desktop application.  Many of the mobile computing packages out there are getting better, but many still have a ways to go.

Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite is, of course, compatible with Microsoft Office.  More important to me, though, is the fact that this app enables me to access documents I have created and stored on multiple cloud services.  Not just Google Docs, but others such as Box.net, Dropbox, and MobileMe, most of which I have been using for some time now.  What this means is that I can finally let go of the umbilical since anything I’ve uploaded and stored with those services is easily accessible via Quickoffice.  And should I choose to make changes to a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet with my iPod Touch, those changes can quickly be updated.  If you are not yet a cloud services user, it is a snap to access and upload files via wifi transfer.

There are some perceived shortcomings to this app that are worth mentioning.  Quickoffice cannot yet create or edit PowerPoint presentations, though they can be viewed or emailed.  Also, several users have commented on the fact that they had to set up a Quickoffice Connect account before they could establish cloud service accounts with Google Docs or Box.net on their iDevice.  I don’t remember having to do that myself, but enough folks have mentioned it that I felt obligated to put that possibility out there.

Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite is available in the AppStore for $9.99, a justifiable investment given what the app offers in return.  If you use your iDevice for writing and spreadsheets, viewing PDFs and documents in multiple formats or want the option to do so, Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite is worth your consideration.

And while I may not be giving up my BlackBerry anytime soon, it is no longer the first and only device I reach for when I want to get some writing done, either.

iTunes Link – Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite

Version 3.0.0

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3

TapTime is on sale for free – normally $.99

The concept behind this game is nothing new and it’s not even all that interesting… tap on objects before they disappear from view, and don’t tap the one bad thing that will end your game instantly. The thing I love about this game, though, is the execution. The sound and graphics are both really well done and, overall, Andy Burke has put together a nice little time waster here.

TapTime is the kind of game that’s so basic a monkey could play it, but it’s also that very simplicity that will cause certain personality types to get hooked. The game also supports OpenFeint which is cool.

Grab this game while it’s free and give it a spin the next time you’re waiting at a bus stop, outside the principal’s office, or just completely bored out of your mind! It might surprise you.

iTunes Link – TapTime

Warning: Skip the text part of the greeting card!

Luck O the Irish is on sale for free – normally $.99

If you’re Irish… or just looking for an excuse to get out and party… chances are you’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day sometime within the next week, or at the very least you’ll be updating your Facebook status with a very clever “Happy St. Pat’s!” or something to that effect.

If your Irish-ness only goes as far as Facebook, Luck O the Irish will help you take it one step further by walking you through its Irish greeting card maker. The seven templates it includes look fairly slick and professional, and as long as you’re just sticking a picture in there you’ll be just fine. Photo handling is pretty bad (but repositioning is pretty easy), and forget about inputting any text because it’ll look ridiculous. Once you’re done putting photo in frame the image gets saved to your camera roll so you can post it to your profile via a Facebook-friendly app (which this one isn’t), or you can just email it.

For hardcore revelers, Sync Studios also included Irish-themed drink recipes and drinking games, plus there are links to info on a whole lotta St. Patrick’s Day parades worldwide.

Luck O the Irish has plenty of flaws that are mainly in the greeting card department, but it does enough things well that it’s worth picking up for free if you see shamrocks and green beer in your very near future.

iTunes Link – Luck O the Irish
Version 1.2

You Are Rich is on sale for free – normally a complete ripoff!

When the iTunes App Store first opened up in the summer of 2008, some jackass named Armin Heinrich released an app called I Am Rich which was basically a jpeg image of a red jewel that included some kind of “secret mantra” intended to make you believe you hadn’t just flushed $999.99 down the drain. Fast forward to… uh… today… and now you can get the very same app for free! Well, not exactly the same app, but pretty damn close.

I never saw the inner workings of the original “rich” app because (a) I was never quite drunk – or rich – enough to buy it, and (b) it got squashed by Apple within a few days after being released. But hey! Now you can see what that app *probably* looked like on the inside for free… red gem, idiotic self-affirmations, and all. And then you can say holy crap I’m glad I didn’t just waste $99.99! Yes, that’s what You Are Rich costs on a normal day, $99.99… more recently it was $.99, but that’s still $.99 too much.

So if I think this app is such a waste of time, why am I announcing the sale? Consider it a public service! If you get this app right now while it’s free, you’ll never have to wonder what it would be like to drop a single dime on an app designed specifically for morons with money to burn. Ok, to be fair, a lot of apps seem like they’re designed for morons but this one, like the 2008 ripoff it’s copy-catting, is in a league of its own.

iTunes Link – You Are Rich

Drag Racer: Pro Tuner is on sale for free- normally $2.99
Pro Tuner is a simple drag racing game from XMG Studio Inc.  that focuses on a plethora of enhancements you can add to your ride.

Dozens of cars, custom paint jobs and the ability to tweak everything from your brakes to gear ratio makes this an authentic, addictive racing RPG. Definitely worth a look if you are into the sport, but it’s easy to enjoy this lose yourself in this game for the pure joy of customizing and upgrading your car. Lots of in-app purchases unlock some certain bonuses in the game, but certainly aren’t necessary to enjoy it.

iTunes Link- Drag Racer: Pro Tuner

I don’t consider myself a newshound, but I do like to be in the know.  I keep an eye on Wiki trends, Twitter trends and get weather and breaking news updates by SMS.   

Anytime a story about the iPhone or BlackBerry comes out, I want to know.  Plus, there are artists, authors, and actors I’m a little ashamed to say I know more about than I probably should. 

RSS feeds are a good way to stay on top of those tidbits and I have three such apps that I rotate among depending on the features included in their latest updates.  But as good as RSS is, it’s a pain to have to mine through 1000+ articles to find that small handful of gems worth my time to read.  

That’s where NewsAlert can be a handy app to have.

If an RSS app is a scalpel, cutting away extraneous stories of little interest to you, then NewsAlert is a high-powered laser allowing you to hone in on what truly matters. With it, you can specify by keyword (choose up to 10 keywords with the initial purchase cost, with the option to buy more) the news issues and topics you want to read about.  Once a keyword is chosen, whenever a story with that keyword is released on the web, you’ll receive a notification. 

The degree of customization is impressive.  You can specify the news sources you don’t want to hear from, the times you want to receive push notifications as well as the total number you wish to receive in a day.  

The app is simple to set up, does what it’s designed to do and quickly became a valuable resource.  It allowed me to keep tabs on issues that don’t often break through the typical news cycle.  

NewsAlert is currently on sale for $.99, so if you’re even slightly interested, snap it up now before the price returns to $2.99.

iTunes Link – NewsAlert

Version 1.3

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3

You know the look.  You know the sound.  

Some things you hear and never forget them.  The ‘chung-chung’ sound of a Law & Order episode.  The sound of the Bionic Woman or the $6 Million Dollar Man running.  The sound the moving red eye of a Cylon from the original Battlestar Galactica. 

Chances are, you’ve seen a Newton’s Cradle before.  In science or physics class, the teacher would break out one of those bad boys to illustrate the principle of Conservation of Momentum, or maybe the difference between potential and kinetic energy. And, yeah, the Cradle might have taught you about science, but in truth, it was just fun to watch and play with. 

Now, through Logic Consulting, LLC, you can have your very own simulated Newton’s Cradle on your iPhone or iPod Touch.  

And it’s a very realistic simulation; object movement is fluid and natural and it looks (to a point) and sounds just like the real thing..  Using the tip of your finger, you can touch a ball, draw it back, let it go or even fling it (be careful, though, since you can easily get these tangled up) towards the other balls at rest.  The simulator will take it from there.  The balls (which can be set to chrome steel or wood) clack against each other in that characteristic way you’ve come to know and love.  Wood makes a different sound than steel and you can clearly hear the difference on this app.  And as added bonuses, you can switch on the accelerometer to mimic the effect of gravity, tilt your device to affect the arc and swing of the balls, lock a tilt in place and even add or subtract the number of balls hanging from the cradle. 

The only drawback of this app, and I’m not entirely sure that it’s a drawback of the app so much as the actual toy itself itself, is that I don’t know that it can hold your attention for long periods of time.  After a few minutes, I got bored.  I also worry that the $1.99 price tag might scare away otherwise interested buyers even though this is clearly a quality app. 

And- for what it’s worth to you- the original inventor of the Newton’s Cradle toy has approved this particular Newton’s Cradle app.  I also have to be honest: I wasn’t expecting to be as easily entertained as I was playing around with this thing.  It makes for a nice, fun diversion. 

iTunes Link – Newton’s Balls Kinetic Physics Newton’s Cradle Simulator 

Version 1.0 

Tested on an iPod Touch 3.1.3

For today only Xpressed is slashing their price on Uniwar from 4.99 to Free! Uniwar is a turn based strategy game that can be played against the computer, online, cross platform, or even with a friend on a single phone. If your a fan of games like starcraft this could be your next time sink, so head over to the app store TODAY and get this game.

iTunes Link – Uniwar

Version 1.0.6

Earlier this week Ubisoft released AC2 Multiplayer for free as a promotion. Launching a well known title I’m sure they expected a lot of downloads, which they got, but what they weren’t expecting was a buggy release where a majority of people couldn’t even play a round. Ubisoft is aware of the situation and extended the free promotion until their update is released. I picked up the game and like many I was unable to play, that is until I tried to create my own game. If you try to do a quick play the load circle just goes and goes giving you no sense of progress on weather people are joining the game or if its just frozen. When you create your own game you see all four slots so when someone joins the game you can see. This is the only way I have been able to play a game so if you got the game and have the same problem I had try this method out. If you haven’t downloaded the game I would recommend doing it fast because the update can come at anytime.

It really works

iTunes Link – Assassin’s Creed II : Multiplayer

Version 1.0