iPhone App Reviews

Remind Me

Lee | Jan 7, 2009 Utilities

User rating: (8 votes, average: 2.75 out of 5)

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“Out of sight, out of mind.” We’ve all heard that saying before. Smudge Apps helps us keep focused with Remind Me. It’s a tool you can use to remind yourself of, well, whatever’s top of mind for you. The developer lists things like, shopping list, to-dos, notes to self… the usual suspects. I’m an organization freak so I “got” the idea of this app right away.

When you open the app the splash screen is the first thing you see. To me, it seems to linger about one second too long. My natural inclination was to start looking for something to press to get things moving. Eventually it slides away and leaves you with a set of index cards on an attractive star-filled background. From there you can fill the cards with your reminder of choice by touching the “Edit” button.

Once you’ve put in your reminder, you have options to right-, left-, or center-justify your text. Nice. Then you choose your note style and wallpaper. Choosing is as easy as flicking right or left on either the note or the wallpaper. If you are the adventurous type, then you can select “Random” to have both the note style and wallpaper fall where the dice roll. All-in-all, Smudge Applications has given six different backgrounds and eight different note styles. Good variety.

Once you have chosen your look, you then press “Save to Wallpaper.” A pop-up note informs you to open the settings app and tap on wallpaper to choose your new home screen wallpaper… your newly minted reminder. The operation of this app could not be any easier. It’s straightforward. Easy-as-pie.

I like the idea of this app but I think it’s major shortcoming is the fact that you have too many steps if you are frequently changing the reminders, say daily or many times a day. That can get old. Ultimately, I found a good use for my iPhone: a customized positive affirmation reminder! Every time I open my iPhone, I’m reminded of something positive to motivate me through the day.

Tags: $0.99, notes, to do, Utilities

Lose Your Marbles

Michael (Admin) | Jan 6, 2009 Games

User rating: (3 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

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Lose Your Marbles is one of those games where you start off with a board that has one empty spot and you have to jump pieces over each other to remove them until there’s only one piece remaining. If that didn’t make any sense, here’s another way to say it: it’s a slightly fancier and way more difficult version of PegJump.

According to Mark Fitzpatrick’s iTunes description this game has been around for a good 300+ years, and Lose Your Marbles is set up in such a way that it just might take you that long to master it. Games like PegJump simply require that you jump around the board until only one piece remains, but this game wants you to jump marbles over each other until only one remains in a specific spot on the board. Ouch! And therein lies the reason it’s called Lose Your Marbles. I don’t have too many marbles to begin with, so suffice it to say that I didn’t even come close to completing a single puzzle.

Unlike more traditional versions of the game, this app lets you undo your moves which is great but it’s still really freakin’ hard. It also lets you watch a replay of your game when you’re done and, since the game is completely devoid of any sound effects, there’s zero chance of it interfering with your iPod music. Aside from undo, the game’s best feature is probably the four different game boards that are included. If one kicks your ass, move on to another! And if they all kick your ass (like they did mine), then I guess you’ll just have to accept that you’re just too stupid for this kind of puzzle.

Overall I’m fairly underwhelmed by the production values in this game… no sound and the graphics are very *blah*… but none of that should matter much to hardcore puzzle freaks who would happily fork over a buck for the chance to conquer Lose Your Marbles. Everyone else, though, might want to try the free PegJump to see how much you like this kind of game before paying for a more sadistic version of it.

Tags: $.99, puzzle, traditional

Q&F: iMatcher

Michael (Admin) | Jan 6, 2009 Entertainment, Quick & Free

User rating: (5 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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iMatcher’s self-described purpose is to “calculate your personal compatibility with another person according to your name number”. That’s nice even though I don’t know… and don’t care… what a ‘name number’ is, but I think it would be a little more appealing to just say hey kids, this is a fun app to play around with at slumber parties!

The funny thing is that iMatcher’s iTunes App Store description goes on to claim that “a sound logical basis is used for calculation” and that the app “enables you to quickly exclude unsuitable people and avoid negative experiences”. HA!! Come on now. You punch in two names and the big red heart fills up based on whatever formula webgearing ag has built into the app. It’s mildly amusing for me and probably wildly entertaining for 14 year old girls, but I really think iMatcher needs to stop taking itself so seriously.

78%!!!! They should buy like 10 more babies cuz they gonna be 2gether 4ever! <3

Tags: free, good for kids

iBonsai

Splash Jackson | Jan 5, 2009 Entertainment

User rating: (7 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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Check out the iBonsai update.

You know, there are just some apps in the app store that you just can’t say much about. iBonsai from Brainpower Labs is one such app. What it delivers is sheer beauty and brilliance, yet it’s so simple that not much description is needed. And to boot, this is one of those apps you need to experience hands-on to really get what it is all about.

So here it is: iBonsai is an application that grows a miniature tree from a small pot (in about 30 seconds) in various leaf types and styles. That’s it. That’s what iBonsai is at its core. At heart, it’s a relaxation tool that offers a serene escape from the daily bump-and-grind of life. Trust me, this app is one you may not want to pass up if you need to zone out during your next meeting with the overbearing boss.

After you grow your first tree, you can then shake your iPhone to scatter the leaves, use multi-touch gestures to zoom in/out and rotate the tree for a full 3D view, or you can simply double tap the screen to grow another tree. If you find “zen” in a certain tree that just speaks to your inner being, don’t forget to take a screen snapshot to save it in your photo library. Personally, I just enjoy the Japanese brush work … I try not to let trees speak to me and tell me what to do; that’s why I got married.

What’s really unique about this app is that you will never have two bonsai trees that are the same. Brainpower Labs boasts about their “advanced generative algorithm and random number generator” that produces new and unique trees every time you grow one. I don’t know what all that means, but I do know it works at growing beautiful bonsai trees that speak to me (oh crap, I’m not supposed to let the trees talk to me).

My only request for iBonsai is the option to have some traditional oriental string music to play in the background while my bonsai grows. If Brainpower Labs added music to the app, I would say that the $2.99 price tag is justifiable. As it stands, $2.99 is a little pricey considering other “zen” apps (like Koi Pond) go for $.99 and include sound. Then again, iBonsai has some really incredible artwork and animation that makes it hard to pass up once you see it in action. Either way, iBonsai is a beautiful work of art that deserves some recognition and praise.

Be sure to check out their own feature review and more pictures – CLICK HERE

Tags: $2.99, bonsai, tree, zen

Q&F: Comeks

Splash Jackson | Jan 5, 2009 Quick & Free, Social Networking

User rating: (6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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Comeks may seem like just another comic-style photo editing program, but the eyes can be deceiving. Actually, this app falls under the Social Networking category as a micro-blogging tool that offers a fun way to keep people posted on your status on either Facebook, Bebo, or Friendster. You have to set up an account at comeks.com for this to work however. If you dread the mere thought of having to manage yet another online account, Comeks also gives you the option to export your creation to your photo library or send it as an email.

The actual photo editing portion of Comeks is pretty sweet. You can import any photo from you gallery or take a picture using your iPhone camera. Or you can choose a solid background color to build up from. Once you have your canvas, there are numerous sticker categories to choose from that range from “callouts” to “mustaches.” What I found that worked really well was after choosing a sticker, you can rotate, resize, and drag it in place all using the multi-touch methods we all are accustomed to. To top it off, Comeks allows you to add text in one of those white speech or thought bubbles so you can tell people how you really feel. The only drawback for me was the dwindling choice of stickers within each sticker category. I hope Comeks Ltd. plans to add a plethora of more sticker options in future updates; of course at the price of FREE, you can’t complain too much.

I noticed in the iTunes app reviews that many people experienced crashing issues. While I didn’t have any crashes after extensive use, a stability fix and more stickers in a future update would probably help the lagging two-and-a-half star rating in the app store. Nonetheless, Comeks is a social networking app with lots of promise and potential to be a high-polished and well sought-after micro-blogging tool.

Paris, you got nothing on me!

Tags: free, photo editing, status update

Sho Chiku Bai

Splash Jackson | Jan 4, 2009 Games

User rating: (5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

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Well, it’s been quite a wait, but finally a realistic pachinko machine has hit the app store! Sure, there are games in the app store that “simulate” pachinko-like features or ones that add trivia to the mix, but what Mission One delivers is an authentic recreation of Japanese culture that you can’t find anywhere stateside. Now you don’t have to book that ticket to Japan to hit the parlors while risking the chance for lung disease three times over.

So, what is pachinko? Simply, it’s Japan’s version of the slot machine. Basically, what happens is you take a load of metal balls and launch them into a gameboard scattered with pegs, hoping they will land in the “start pocket,” which then starts the slot-machine spinning. Ultimately, the goal is to hit “jackpot” (or “o-atari”) by getting three like numbers together so you can earn more metal balls. However, unlike normal slot machines that give the payout right away, the pachinko machine then demands you shoot more balls into a “jackpot door” that awards bonus balls for each ball you get in. In pachinko parlors, these balls are basically a form of “money” that is used to exchange for goods like cigarettes, electronics, or whatever crazy things these parlors may offer. In Sho Chiku Bai, you are looking to earn more boards, characters, and artwork pieces.

The physics in this game are well implemented and realistic. Gameplay basically consists of controlling a velocity lever to manage the power at which the balls are launched. You also have a start/stop button for the balls, but really there’s no reason to ever stop the flow of shots; it’s not like you’re losing any real money here. Essentially, you want to find a sort of “sweet spot” where the balls fall into the “start pocket” more consistently. Once you do that, you pray for o-atari to hit so you can get the big balls … er, uhm… big amount of balls. What’s exciting about any pachinko machine versus a normal slot machine is that most pachinko games involve some sort of story that you are helping to solve. Sho Chiku Bai has said story and hitting o-atari gets the story to its dramatic conclusion. Sho Chiku Bai also includes a “how to play” section that explains everything you need to know in order to enjoy playing this game. I didn’t list everything that makes up this game, so I highly recommend you read the “how to play” section and the backstory. This section is here because Sho Chiku Bai is mainly targeted at the Japanese market, not the US market.

So that begs the question: is this game a worthy choice at $4.99? It is very much worth it if you are a pachinko enthusiast who has been waiting for a game like this to come along or if you at least know what you are getting into. If you have no clue what pachinko is all about, I suggest you research a little about the game and its history. Don’t expect to win all the prizes in a half hour sitting. A game like this is for people that are really hard core about this form of gambling, which means this game offers high replay value. There’s not much strategy or effort involved, however it is more involving than the basic slot machine. Most of winning in this game is all up to lady luck!

Regardless of your expertise in the area of pachinko, Sho Chiku Bai is a praise-worthy choice for the veteran or an excellent alternative for someone looking for something new and exciting.

Oh, I almost forgot to note that Sho Chiku Bai features, “an original J-Pop single composed by Norihiko Hibino, famed composer from the Metal Gear Solid series!” SWEET!

Tags: $4.99, metal gear solid, pachinko, parlor

Gameloft Triple Threat: Brothers in Arms, Ferrari GT Evolution, Hero of Sparta

Splash Jackson | Jan 4, 2009 Games

User rating: (9 votes, average: 3.78 out of 5)

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UPDATE: Ferrari GT Evolution is on sale for $5.99 so be sure to get it if you haven’t done so already!

Unless you’re new to the iPhone gaming thing or you’ve been living under a rock the past year, chances are you’ve heard of Gameloft and their console-quality-like games that they distribute. If you haven’t downloaded anything from them yet, here are three games you should pick up or at least consider. I say “consider” because each game comes with a $9.99 price tag; however, once you experience any of these titles, you’ll see that these games are worth the price of admission.

Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes is one of those games that you just can’t believe is on the iPhone. From the opening video to the gameplay itself, Brothers in Arms (BIA) is an excellent iPhone achievement!

BIA has you taking the role as Thompson; a young soldier dedicated to protecting our country while trying to get the job done pronto in order to get home before his wife starts fraternizing with the other hard-bodied soldiers that haven’t been deployed yet. As you embark upon your heroic journey, BIA does an excellent job of setting the “war” tone with its menus, sounds, and visuals. There’s also a good amount of options in order to tweak controls, sound levels, and motion sensors to make the game playable the way that best suits you.

It’s best to start the game with the ol’ tutorial round, just to get squared away with the control schemes that are available. Now, this is the area that may be keeping BIA from that fifth orange star in the ratings: controls. When you first jump into the actual gameplay, you may struggle at first with control/character movement and orientation. What’s difficult for a lot of people is the ability to adapt to new ways (ie. from physical controls to touch controls). However, Gameloft offers a solution to this by incorporating several control schematics. My best advice is to play through the tutorial round testing each control option and finding one that best suits your gaming style. Once you actually find your niche, the game is a GO soldier!

One of the biggest driving factors in this game is the graphics. The environments that you encounter are nothing short of stunning! The gameplay really gives you a sense of war-like combat; add to that impressive sound effects overlaying a dramatic and patriotic soundtrack and you have a winner! I mean, you can really get into this game (especially with good quality headphones), and I’m talking roll-around-the-house-and-hide-behind-furniture army style antics here. It’s a blast!

Does the game hold some longevity? I guess it depends on whether or not you like to replay missions or if you retry it on the difficult setting (that is, if you’re a wuss like me that starts every game on “normal”). BIA gives you 3 campaigns: Normandy, Tunis, and Ardennes, all of which have various missions to complete before moving on to the next. I think a big selling point in replay value for a game like this is the chance you get to fire high-powered weapons and the joy of smashing non-assimilating enemy lives with an army tank.

If you are looking for an army-styled combat game to kill some time and some Nazis, then look no further; Brothers in Arms has just what you need.

Ferrari GT: Evolution is the type of game that makes me despise my pathetic existence. The game itself is extremely beautiful and a blast to play, but it constantly reminds me that I’m probably not going to own one of these heavenly creations anytime soon ( I blame the recession, not my lack of work skills). Nonetheless, if it’s a high-speed racer you’re looking for, Ferrari GT: Evolution has you covered.

Ferrari GT exceeds Gameloft’s previous racing title, Urban Asphalt, in every way. The graphics, sounds, gameplay, sense of speed … EVERYTHING has been improved like 200% from the previous title.

Getting started, you are given an F430 to race around in: now, if that doesn’t tell you what kind of game you’re playing when you start out with a car that exceeds 195 MPH, then I just don’t know what to tell you! As you launch your “career” of racing expensive Ferrari’s around with reckless abandon, you are given various tasks to help you earn Credits so you can buy more expensive Ferrari’s. What really REALLY tells you the type of game you are playing are the missions. For instance, my favorite task was driving around town at top speeds, picking up hovering roses for a friend that was late for an engagement and hadn’t bought a gift … I guess when you’re rich, you gotta find some way to kill time! Nonetheless, all the shallow endevours that you are given outside of just a “normal” race help make Ferrari GT that much more enjoyable to play as you compete against rivals and help out friends. There’s even a multi-player racing mode to show off your mad skills to your friends.

When I first started racing in this game, I made the idiotic comment, “Where’s the NoS?” FRIGGIN’ IDIOT! These are Ferrari’s! Who needs NoS!?!? And for that matter, who needs tuner upgrades? Yep, Ferrari GT eliminates the tuner section to this racing series. Personally, I like not having to tune my car; I’d rather just buy a speed demon and race. If I want to tune a car to go faster, I’ll go tune my own car in real life. When it comes to gaming, I just want to race. Some die-hard racers may not like this, but if you think about it, how much special tuning does a Ferrari really need anyway? Hell, in this game, you’re rich; go buy a faster Ferrari!

Gameplay is very satisfying, especially drifting! Much like Gameloft did in Urban Asphalt with the controls, you have several steering options to choose from to suit your racing needs. You can use an on-screen steering wheel, use screen taps, or use the accelerometer to guide your beast. What’s good in Ferrari is that you can actually fine tune the sensitivity of steering. On top of that, you are able to utilize (or not utilize) adaptive steering, auto accelerate, electronic stability program, anti-lock braking system, traction control, and ceramic brakes. Very nice!

Now, the debate has been, “Ferrari GT or Fastlane Street Racing?” And really, when you look at each racing game for what it is, you really have two different type of racers; Ferrari GT more arcade style racing, Fastlane more a “realistic” racer as they call it. In my opinion … well let me put it this way: Ferrari and Fastlane sit side-by-side on my screen, and I always opt for Ferrari over Fastlane nine times out of ten. To me, it’s a more enjoyable racer overall, and it’s one I’m sure you will enjoy if you haven’t had the opportunity to do so already.

Holy Zeus Greek God of Thunder this game is … EPIC! Talk about a game you can really sink your teeth into! Hero of Sparta delivers on gameplay, visuals, sounds … the whole package! You take the role of King Argos, a Spartan on a mission to … well, pass some time, cause let’s face it, with so much manhood and strength like Argos, he’s already nailed all the babes in every town and probably owns a sizable amount of land that he acquired from killing hoards of men. I mean, what’s left but to defy the gods themselves, collect some ancient and legendary weapons and tools, and help some half-naked floating chick with evil looking glowing eyes that, dare-I-say, reminds you of your mother-in-law (and just when you thought she was hot too).

Seriously though, get this game! If you need an adventure that will captivate your senses while making you cry, “Holy crap this is so cool,” then Hero of Sparta is just what the gods ordered. Unlike BIA and Ferrari, Hero of Sparta (HOS) doesn’t give you much customizing freedom, but you really don’t need it. I couldn’t imagine a better way to control the character and fight with him than with the nicely implemented joypad and buttons. Gameplay is smooth like butter! Since there is no need for any accelerometer movement, this is one of those games you can cuddle up in bed with (if that’s what you do with games; personally, I’m a man’s man, playing HOS while eating a turkey leg off the grill). The learning curve of the game controls is relatively short too; so you will find yourself immersed more in the story than getting accustomed to the gameplay.

So what is the gameplay like? Visually stunning! The graphics of the characters and items hit the bar, but what really stands out is the intense and captivating beauty of the mythical worlds that you encounter! The camera zooms in and out depending on whether you are in battle or running across a bridge. Most of the time, this is done well in order to show the visual surroundings. The only thing that can be a trifle difficult is being zoomed out too far when you are engaged in a hoard of monsters. However, this game being a button-masher and all, you probably will get through just fine hacking and slashing your way to victory!

Speaking of controls, you are given two buttons to use: attack and block. If you read the help section (which I’m guessing hardly no one does), you will actually discover fighting combos to help you bash in enemy skulls on your journey. After figuring this out like 3 rounds in, I was more aptly prepared to go monster smashing with some cinematic flair. I didn’t find myself using the block button too often; only when I needed it with combos or to unleash my weapon’s special move. The saying goes, “the best defense is a strong offense.”

Hero of Sparta is sure to give you some good hours of button mashing, monster slashing excitement on top of a visual thrill ride. In terms of replay value … again, that’s up to you if you are the type to take the journey to the next difficulty level. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy this one!

Tags: $9.99, brothers in arms, ferrari gt, gameloft, hero of sparta, hour of heroes

Happy New Year

Michael (Admin) | Jan 1, 2009 Website Stuff

User rating: (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

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A long time ago I spent New Year’s Eve at a friend’s house and the next day her dad informed me that eating herring on New Year’s Day is good luck. Why is it good luck? Beats the hell outta me!

I’m pretty sure he really felt it was a lucky thing to do, but it’s also possible that he was just messing with me… still, we had some herring and I’ve been eating it on January 1st ever since.

If raw fish doesn’t make you puke, go on and try it! Then go buy a lottery ticket.

(I’ll be getting back to posting reviews regularly now that the holiday season is over!)