Apotheosis 2012 Volume #1
Chris J. | Oct 30, 2009 Books
User rating: 
(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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Just in case you haven’t heard that the the world is ending in 2012, let me explain it for you. The Mayans developed a calendar in approximately 3000 BC which will end in 2012. Of course as any logical person must conclude, the only reason that the calendar would end is because the world will too, or something like that. This is the basis for the storyline of Apotheosis 2012, of which I was able to read the first chapter.
Before I get into the storyline, let me first address the functioning of the app. The creators have drawn and designed the comic book to fit the screen of an iPhone, which means there is no scrolling to see the whole page or expanding text. A simple swipe or tap advances the story, much like every other book or app out there. Unlike a standard comic book, however, Apotheosis does not change the entire image with each swipe. Often the text may change while the image remains the same, and sometimes parts of the image may change as well. I believe this is what the creators are referring to when they mention the iPop-up feature.
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Self Defense for All
Chris J. | Oct 28, 2009 Healthcare & Fitness
User rating: 
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Learning self defense from an iPhone app is a bit like trying to learn to ride a bike by attending a spinning class. The reason I say this is certainly not to disparage the work done by Tollhouse Studio on it’s app, “Self Defense for All”, or to say that it won’t help you decrease the chances of being savagely beaten. On the contrary, I believe that the information in this app (properly applied) could help keep you from being ground into a bloody spot on the pavement. What I do want to convey, before I proceed with the review, is that this (or any) information by itself will only improve your chances of survival slightly. It takes self defense class with a qualified instructor to give you the best opportunity to be the one who walks away from a dangerous encounter.
Before I proceed, I feel that I should explain that I have been taking self defense classes for the past three years, which I admit gives me only a basic knowledge base. I also consulted with my instructor on his impression of the information in the app.
In my opinion, the most important information in this app is about avoiding a conflict completely. Many people are not aware just how much their actions can either invite an attack or prevent one. While I’m sure there are many out there who want to skip straight to the fighting lessons in this app, I cannot stress enough that the best way to keep your face from being rearranged is to avoid a fight altogether. This information alone gives me reason to recommend this app.
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Update: Movies (formerly MyMovies)
Chris J. | Oct 28, 2009 Productivity, Updates
User rating: (3 votes, average: 2.67 out of 5)
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Movies is an app I reviewed way back in March, and at that time it was called My Movies (here is the original review). I felt it was only fair to credit to the creator for all the hard work they have put in to make this app not only more functional, but more useful and attractive as well. In my experience there are very few apps out there that have updated as many times as this one and added as many features as this one has.
Most importantly, the stability of Movies has steadily improved with each update. Originally, working with MyMovies was a delicate operation; if I scrolled down too fast or pressed buttons rapidly the app was almost certain to crash. Unfortunately, crashes are not entirely a thing of the past, but they are much less frequent and consequently less frustrating.
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AlwaysOnPC
Chris J. | Sep 22, 2009 Productivity
User rating: (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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There are more than a few remote access apps in the iTunes store. These apps let you easily control your computer via your iPhone. By creating the app AlwaysOnPC, Xform Computing has taken things one step further by creating a web desktop which you can access with your iPhone or personal computer. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this method, but I imagine for some this app may be extremely useful.
Rather than spend a lot of time explaining the terms ‘web desktop’ or explaining that AlwaysOnPC is a form of Cloud Computing and all that it entails, I am simply linking to articles that will explain these concepts for me. This will save a lot of time for me and free me to focus on the app itself. To put it simply as possible, AlwaysOnPC has created a computer online which you can access from anywhere or at anytime, even when your home computer is turned off.
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Bellum: Tactics
Chris J. | Jul 28, 2009 Games
User rating: (2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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It’s nice to play a game that doesn’t look like a clone of some other popular game out there. I wouldn’t say that Bellum: Tactics is the most well-executed game I’ve come across, but it plays well and it doesn’t quite fit into the standard turn-based strategy mold. That is something in itself.
In Bellum: Tactics you command three units of soldiers through urban warfare settings. Enemy soldiers lurk around corners and in fortified positions, waiting for you to cross their sights. Eliminate the enemy to achieve your objective, and try to keep your soldiers alive in the process.
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Q&F: MyGovernment
Chris J. | Jun 24, 2009 Quick & Free, Reference
User rating: (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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Here are two quick questions to help you decide if you should download this app: Are you an American citizen? Do you vote? If you answered yes to these two questions then you have every reason to download this app immediately. MyGovernment is all about keeping you informed on what is happening in the government and giving you the tools to make your voice heard.
As far as I can tell there is no partisan bias in this app to speak of, unless you find any in the news articles that the app may link to. This app simply gives you the straight story on what’s going on in Congress. It also give you the tools to contact your local representative or state senator so you can make your voice heard. That’s what Democracy is all about right?
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App Sale: F.A.S.T.
Chris J. | Jun 19, 2009 App Sale Alert
User rating: (6 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How awesome is this? One of the best games out there is now on sale for 40% off the regular price. If you love flight simulator games this is one to get.
You can find the review right below this, or click here.
F.A.S.T. – Fleet Air Superiority Training
Chris J. | Jun 19, 2009 Games
User rating: (4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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If the creators of the Ace Combat series had made an app for iPhone, I imagine it would look and play a lot like this one (minus the poetry-laden cut-scenes of course). Forget such real-world issues such as taking off, landing or even limited ammunition, F.A.S.T. is the flight combat game boiled down to its most basic element: dogfighting. F.A.S.T. doesn’t bother with little things like storyline, when the gameplay is this awesome who needs it?
In case you didn’t catch that the first time, yes, the gameplay is awesome. F.A.S.T. is one of the rare games for the iPhone that will have you gritting your teeth and sitting on the edge of your seat as you wave your iPhone in the air like a raving lunatic. Why you ask? When you’re chasing down a missile-lock while you and your foe fly circles around each other, or frantically trying to dodge a missile from the same, the action is pretty intense. And that’s just on a tiny iPhone screen.
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Comic Reader Mobi
Chris J. | Jun 8, 2009 Entertainment
User rating: (6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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Chances are if you are reading this you may have a few comic books stashed away for that future moment when the insanely rich decide they absolutely must have the limited edition, holographic cover of Spectacular Spider Man #189. I’ve got news for you, it will probably never happen (I’ll keep dreaming anyway), but at least comics are still fun to read.
Comic Reader Mobi is the latest in a genre of apps that allow you to read comic books in digital format. For those who are not already aware, comic book files can be found as comic book archive files in various sites around the internet. Most of these are Golden Age era comics that are no longer in copyright, although a few are licensed under Creative Commons.
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Tapeline
Chris J. | May 26, 2009 Utilities
User rating: (3 votes, average: 1.67 out of 5)
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A lot of my choices for app reviews are based on first impressions. The app name, description, or image on iTunes will catch my eye. With Tapeline my first impression was, “Is that even possible?” So far as I can tell the answer is “No.”
Tapeline’s promises are pretty incredible, according to the developer you can use your iPhone/iPod Touch to measure any object. In my numerous tests I only came close to an accurate measurement once, with an object approximately 6 inches long. Objects longer than a foot in length I never even came close to an accurate measurement on. I varied my methods, I calibrated my iPhone, then I recalibrated, I re-recalibrated, I re-re-recalibrated (and so on), and yet nothing I did seemed to work.
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Tallies
Chris J. | May 7, 2009 Utilities
User rating: (3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Tallies is a surprisingly complex app considering that it really does just one thing: count. We all learned that in preschool and most of us don’t even need our fingers anymore, but sometimes its nice to have some help keeping count. Depending on what you do, you may or may not have need of an app such as this.
The main feature of Tallies that makes it handy to have is that it not only keeps track of “how often”, but also “when”. You need only check the history tab to see when you added (or subtracted) each increment in your tally. There are a lot of potential applications for this feature, depending on what you do with it. In my case, the history tab is helpful in seeing how often my baby girl is being fed.
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Myst
Chris J. | May 6, 2009 Games
User rating: (7 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)
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For many people out there Myst should need no introduction. With over 6 million sales Myst held the throne as the top-selling PC game of all time for close to a decade (toppled by The Sims in 2002). If you have never heard of Myst, then feel free to read up on the Wikipedia page here.
In my opinion, reviewing the game itself would be presumptuous. Many people both better educated and better paid than myself have spent a lot of time examining Myst from all angles. The questions I want to answer are: Is Myst for iPhone/iPod Touch a good port of the game and does it stand the test of time?
