148Apps Main |
- Dragons’ Den Review
- ThinkBook
- Inspiration Set for iPad
- Favorite Four: Music Discovery
- Zen Bound 2
- Appigo’s Todo Apps to Synchronize With Upcoming Mac Version
- The 7th Guest: Infection Review
- You Can Now Swing Thor’s Hammer
- Celebrity Bodyguard Review
- Moviefone Dials Up The iPad
- Qwiki Shows Up on the iPad
- Node Beat
- Gigwalk, The Casual Mobile Job App Fully Launched
Posted: 04 May 2011 12:30 PM PDT Developer: 2waytraffic Price: $2.99 Version Reviewed: 1.0 Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4 Graphics / Sound Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
In the game you take part in three rounds of decision making. You’re given a fairly cryptic clue as to what the product is and it’s down to you to decide whether it’s a good idea or not. You can choose to only invest a partial sum into the product or you can go for broke and invest the entire amount, hoping it pays off in massive dividends. The clues are an interesting bunch. There are 100 pitches in all, comprising of some huge successes and some similarly huge flops. While some clues might appear obvious, others do require a certain amount of guesswork. While guesswork is never ideal in any game, it’s not too obtrusive and figuring out each pitch is quite fun.
Dragons’ Den is an enjoyable game but I just wish that it felt less frivolous and brief. The 100 pitches will last you a fair while and it’s interesting and informative in its approach. But it would really benefit from an extra game mode that’s longer and more involving. Still, for the price, it offers enough to keep you interested. Download Dragons’ Den now, currently only available in the UK. [ Dragons’ Den Review is a post from 148Apps ] |
Posted: 04 May 2011 12:03 PM PDT ![]() ThinkBookBy Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Slightly confusing at first, ThinkBook is a feature-filled outlining app.
Developer: bitolithic Price: $1.99 Version Reviewed: 1.0.1 Device Reviewed On: iPad iPad Integration Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.33 out of 5 stars As a student, the main form of note taking I use is outlining. I outline my textbooks, lecture notes, and when brainstorming for papers. ThinkBook is a note taking app that focuses on outlining.
Let's start with the slider. The slider is probably the most unique feature in ThinkBook. It can be moved up and down to determine where new text will go. That's the only part that I was able to figure out without reading instructions. After, I found out that the slider is an organizational tool. Swiping any of the notes from the right side of the screen over to the slider moves them into a "clipboard" that the slider holds. After moving the slider to the desired position, swipe back from the slider to the notes and the note is moved to its new place. There are more complicated and awesome functions of the slider when more than one note is moved into it. Sliding two or more notes into the slider will spit them back out in that same order, making reorganization incredibly easy. To create a new note, tap the slider and options become available. Since the home screen is just a note itself, the option "Book" creates a new set of notes. The organization of the home page is completely up to the user, but it seems to When the virtual keyboard is up, there are special buttons to move between words and notes. Those keys make it possible for me to use ThinkBook without my bluetooth keyboard. Navigation between notes and words are much easier on ThinkBook than any other note taking app I've tried. ThinkBook works exactly as advertised. And it has the most important feature of note taking apps, Dropbox support. But the amount of time it took me to learn how to use it and eventually get used to it was too long. The process of using ThinkBook isn't natural. I'm still trying to get used to it. While it contains some awesome features, I'm likely to continue using other, simpler note taking apps. ThinkBook is only $1.99 for a few days as a launch special. [ ThinkBook is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() ThinkBook - Write, Plan, Outline and Take NotesBuy Now: $1.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-04 :: Category: Productivity ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: ThinkBook - Write, Plan, Outline and Take Notes |
Posted: 04 May 2011 11:03 AM PDT ![]() Inspiration Set for iPadBy Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Inspiration Set is a companion app to Pages that adds more templates to the few that come with Pages.
Developer: Jumsoft Price: $1.99 Version Reviewed: 1.0 Device Reviewed On: iPad iPad Integration Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.58 out of 5 stars Pages is one of the most useful apps available for the iPad. I've made business cards, written papers, made up invitations and more on my iPad because of Pages' versatility. Inspiration Set is a companion app to Pages that adds more templates to the few that come with Pages.
While only the first page of the template is visible within the app, some have multiple pages when opened in Pages. From the few I played with, the newsletter has multiple pages (with different but matching designs) and the brochures have second pages (for the back sides). So in a way, there are more than 50 templates to work with.
Jumsoft, the developers of Inspiration Set, is selling even more templates for the Mac version of Pages. I mention this because if the 50 aren't enough, there seem to be even more templates available in the Mac version (for $19.99). I imagine it would be easy to upload those templates as Pages files to something like Dropbox and open them in Pages for the iPad. The only problem I ran into with Inspiration Set was with the app itself, not the templates. The app is just a gallery of the templates with no organization other than the templates being in alphabetical order. A menu with a choice of template type would have been cleaner. Also, when scrolling through the app, it would freeze and skip occasionally. I assume that the high quality of the templates all being loaded onto one screen is a little too much for the iPad. The proposed menu would solve that little problem (as would uploading lower resolution thumbnails). For $1.99, there's no reason not to get Inspiration Set if Pages is a frequently used app. Just think of it as Pages Deluxe for $11.98 instead of $9.99. [ Inspiration Set for iPad is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() Inspiration Set for iPadBuy Now: $1.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-04 :: Category: Productivity ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: Inspiration Set for iPad |
Favorite Four: Music Discovery Posted: 04 May 2011 10:30 AM PDT With my recent review of Music Hunter, I’m in the mood to share my favorite apps for music discovery in this weeks Favorite Four. Music Hunter ![]() Music HunterBuy Now: $0.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-02 :: Category: Music ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Rdio ![]() RdioiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Buy Now: FREE Our Rating: Released: 2009-12-17 :: Category: Music ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Discovr ![]() DiscovrUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Buy Now: $0.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-01-13 :: Category: Music ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Aweditorium ![]() AweditoriumiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Buy Now: FREE Released: 2010-11-09 :: Category: Music [ Favorite Four: Music Discovery is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Aweditorium, Discovr, Music Hunter, Rdio |
Posted: 04 May 2011 10:03 AM PDT ![]() Zen Bound 2By Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Great music and slow-paced gameplay in this meditative game.
Developer: Secret Exit Price: $2.99 Version Reviewed: 2.2.1 Device Reviewed On: iPad Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars When I saw the first iteration of this game, I scanned through the pictures and reviews and wondered why it was so popular. It's just wrapping a rope around various wooden sculptures, right? That's what I decided, and so I never got around to playing it. When Zen Bound 2 was released and I decided to discover what was going on.
So what are the specifics of this rope wrapping game? The rope is actually "painting" the wooden object. When the rope is in contact with the object, paint shows up in an area a bit bigger than the rope itself. The goal now becomes clear: attempt to paint as much of the object as possible. Similar to the repetitive and frustrating experience of attempting to get three stars on all of the levels in Angry Birds, I found myself attempting to reach 99% painted on every level before I went on to the next. I just NEEDED to. While Angry Birds has three stars, Zen Bound has three benchmarks to reach: 70%, 85%, and 99%. Thankfully, the developers don't expect perfection from us and give us that 1% relief!
The feature of the game that I'm most impressed with is the music. The music is so entrancing that I found myself wondering if I could buy the soundtrack (to play before sleeping). At Zenbound.com I discovered that it was possible to get the soundtrack from both games, for free! The only requirement to receive the two complimentary soundtracks is to sign up for their newsletter. So check out the soundtrack ahead of time at the price of an occasional email. While the game is relaxing, it isn’t something I’m likely to play again. There’s no obvious flaw with Zen Bound 2, but there’s something that turns me off from a game that’s in between something passive (like Crosswords or Scrabble) and something active (like Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja). Games with more action than Zen Bound hold my attention better, but that doesn’t mean that Zen Bound 2 isn’t a great game. If a change of pace from the fast-paced gamer lifestyle is in order, Zen Bound 2 is the way to go. [ Zen Bound 2 is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() Zen Bound® 2 UniversalUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Buy Now: $2.99 Our Rating: Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Games / Family![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: Crosswords, Zen Bound® 2 Universal |
Appigo’s Todo Apps to Synchronize With Upcoming Mac Version Posted: 04 May 2011 09:30 AM PDT
Todo will be getting Cloud Sync options between Todo for Mac and the iOS versions. Synchronization will come in multiple flavors: Todo Online, a subscription service for $19.99 per year that allows you to sync up your versions of Todo between all of your platforms. The free, online-only version comes with a 14-day trial of synchronization between versions. As well, users can sync versions of Todo for free over local wifi networks. As well, the free third-party service Toodledo will be supported by Todo for Mac for synchronization, so Appigo isn’t just limiting their apps to their own services – they’re also supporting other services that users might want to use, including synchronization with the desktop iCal. No matter what service you choose for synchronization, you’ll know that your tasks are being synced up between devices, however you choose. Todo for Mac is currently in beta, with plan for release later this summer. Users looking to get their life figured out and synchronized up across all their platforms will have new options available in the near future, and more options available if they use Appigo’s Todo software. While the synchronization won’t be up to full swing for Mac users quite yet, Todo for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad are available now. ![]() TodoiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Buy Now: $4.99 Our Rating: Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Productivity ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> ![]() Todo for iPadiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Buy Now: $4.99 Our Rating: Released: 2010-05-11 :: Category: Productivity ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> [ Appigo’s Todo Apps to Synchronize With Upcoming Mac Version is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Todo, Todo for iPad |
The 7th Guest: Infection Review Posted: 04 May 2011 09:03 AM PDT ![]() The 7th Guest: Infection ReviewBy Timothy Smith on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Trilobyte Games takes a chance by bringing back a classic puzzle from their beloved franchise, but can it stand on its own?
Developer: Trilobyte Games Price: $0.99 Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.63 out of 5 stars
7th Guest: Infection is a challenging microscope puzzle that tasks you with spreading a virus around in a petri dish. You’re presented with a grid and either two blue cells or two red cells. You can move one cell at two spaces per turn, and the object of the game is to fill the grid with your virus. The catch is, if you move your cell one space it duplicates, and if you move your cell next to a cell of the opposite color it converts its color. My summarized instructions probably sound pretty confusing, but after playing a few rounds against the impossible to beat A.I. you will know exactly how to play. You’ll probably just have a hard time winning. Infection is the type of puzzle strategy game that requires taking breaks between matches because of how frustrating it gets.
The 7th Guest: Infection does an excellent job converting a classic puzzle into a full blown game, but the level of patience and strategy required to fully enjoy the game might be a turn off for some. If you’re the type to get angry when playing games you might want to avoid this one, but if you’re a fan of the original 7th Guest or just a strategy puzzle buff then you’ll probably get some good mileage out of Infection. [ The 7th Guest: Infection Review is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() The 7th Guest: InfectionBuy Now: $0.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Games ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: The 7th Guest, The 7th Guest: Infection |
You Can Now Swing Thor’s Hammer Posted: 04 May 2011 08:30 AM PDT
Following in the footsteps of Star Wars: Lightsaber Duel, Thor’s Hammer is a piece of novelty software that allows you to gesturally interact with your your iOS device of choice, while it creates sound effects that mimic the actual fictitious weaponry. If nothing else, this will be a great tool for those that are looking to bring a bit more heroism to their daily life. Sure, it may only sound like an awe inspiring weapon, but the heart wants what the heart wants… You can find the app in both paid and light versions, so check it out and see if it makes you feel more empowered. [ You Can Now Swing Thor’s Hammer is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Star Wars: Lightsaber Duel, Thor's Hammer, Thor's Hammer LITE |
Posted: 04 May 2011 08:03 AM PDT ![]() Celebrity Bodyguard ReviewBy Jennifer Allen on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Celebrity Bodyguard provides an entertaining parody of well known celebs and some fun side scrolling action too!
Developer: Bravo Game Studios Price: $0.99 Version Reviewed: 1.0 Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4 Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.81 out of 5 stars You know Rustin Beaver, right? Teenage singer adored by millions? You think I mean Justin Beiber, but I don’t. I’m talking about one of the celebrities in Celebrity Bodyguard and you need to protect Mr Beaver no matter what. It’s not just Rustin Beaver you need to save though, there’s also Lady Blabla and Rober Parkson (a more tenuous leap but once you see the screenshot, you’ll know who). Each of these stars even has their own special attack when the moment arises.
The screen constantly scrolls to the right with your main method of control being to tap on the various enemies in order to shoot them. They’re a varied bunch. There are snipers in high buildings, deranged drunken men, paparazzi desperate for a photo and even ninjas out to kill your client. Each of these requires slightly different tactics. Some might just need one shot but others need a few. Ninjas are particularly awkward with a punch to the face being the best way of dispatching them, thus meaning you need to wait till they’re right next to you. You’ve got more weapons on hand than just a handgun at least. As you progress, shotguns and assault rifles become more readily available for one thing. Plus of course there’s the celebrity star power such as Rustin Beaver’s ability to destroy everything on the carpet with his singing ability while Lady Blabla does a similar thing to the enemies on the rooftops.
As it stands, Celebrity Bodyguard is a very simple game to play but it’s fun too. Accruing increasingly better multiplier scores is satisfying and there’s enough going on to maintain your interest. I’m looking forward to new updates already. [ Celebrity Bodyguard Review is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() Celebrity BodyguardBuy Now: $0.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Games ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: Celebrity Bodyguard |
Posted: 04 May 2011 07:47 AM PDT
Further continuing the product’s evolution, Moviefone is now available from the comfort of your own iPad. Thankfully they have expanded beyond simply the audio medium to include written movie related news, trailers, and even the good ‘ol fashioned showtimes that we have all come to know and love. You can snag the software for free in the App Store and embrace your inner film geek. ![]() Moviefone for iPad – Movies, Trailers, Showtimes, and NewsBuy Now: FREE Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Entertainment [ Moviefone Dials Up The iPad is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Moviefone for iPad – Movies, Trailers, Showtimes, and News |
Posted: 04 May 2011 07:30 AM PDT
Qwiki is an information gathering app. It takes researching a topic from just text to a visual, audio, and text experience. Don't know what to look up? Qwiki updates "featured Qwikis" on it's home page and iPad app. Qwiki scours the internet for the information needed and presents it with a robotic female voice, text, videos, and pictures. After the presentation, the ability to improve the Qwiki becomes available where it's possible to suggest more pictures, videos, or critique the voice (pronunciation or speed). Related Qwikis show up at the bottom and links to more information on sites like Wikipedia and YouTube pop up as well. The option to share the Qwiki on various sites also becomes available (Facebook, Twitter, email, or embed on a website). Watch their presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt below or just visit the site and try it out! [ Qwiki Shows Up on the iPad is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Qwiki |
Posted: 04 May 2011 07:03 AM PDT ![]() Node BeatBy Gianna LaPin on May 4th, 2011Our Rating: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad If you're the sort who enjoys playing with meditative toys like tabletop Zen sand gardens, you'll probably enjoy this relaxing and visually appealing sound app.
Developer: AffinityBlue Price: $0.99 Version: 1.0 App Reviewed on: iPod Touch 4g iPhone Integration Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 4.45 out of 5 stars
I have to admit that I am not an audiophile so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this app at first; I didn't know what the terms attack and decay meant on the Settings panel, for example, but to my delight I actually really enjoyed it. Part of the fun of this app is experimenting and figuring out what the different settings do, but here are some suggestions: release your inner Eno by turning off octave and node movement and experimenting with deliberate placement of nodes on the screen. Turn on gravity to put nodes into a freefall depending on how you tilt your device. Experiment with the speed and beat sync settings to make the music faster or slower depending on your mood.
Replay value is low to moderate; once I figured out the settings I got kind of bored and it began sounding monotonous. I do plan to leave it installed for the times when I'm feeling stressed or anxious, or I might try playing it through speakers as background noise while I work. [ Node Beat is a post from 148Apps ] ![]() NodeBeatBuy Now: $0.99 Our Rating: Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Music ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Read Our Full Review >> Apps mentioned in this post: NodeBeat |
Gigwalk, The Casual Mobile Job App Fully Launched Posted: 04 May 2011 04:01 AM PDT
As a quick reminder, Gigwalk can be described as a casual mobile workforce. As a Gigwalker, you log into your account and see what open short jobs are available around you. These jobs typically pay $3-$7 for a quick walk into a business, snapping a couple pictures, and filling out a quick survey. For business, it’s a great way to crowd source the small data gathering jobs that need to be done. Things like documenting restaurant menus, hours of operation, locations of red light cameras, and product display details. These are the kind of jobs that businesses need done, but traditionally it’s rather expensive to send out a person to gather this data. For the Gigwalkers, it’s a quick and easy way to make a few extra bucks. Do the jobs, they get approved, and you get money via Paypal.
I had the chance to sit down with Matt Crampton and Ariel Seidman two of the three co-founders of Gigwalk to talk about the platform, and where they hope it will go. Right now, Gigwalk is available in a few major US cities such as San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia, but they hope to expand to other cities, and eventually internationally as demand grows. I asked Matt & Ariel about the typical Gigwalker. Are they doing one job per day or 20? Turns out Gigwalkers run the full gamut. They have one user with over 600 jobs done already. While they have other users that will do the odd job when it’s close to them at lunch or right after work. Interesting in joining Gigwalk? Start by opening the Gigwalk app and registering or logging in. From there look at the map and see what gigs are available around you. Click one for instructions on getting started. An easy, casual, second job. Work when you want to. Who can’t use a little extra beer money these days? Get walking. Into Gigwalk? Let us know what you think in the comments. Also, take a look at the great Gigwalking Tips site for some more ideas on what Gigwalking is all about. [ Gigwalk, The Casual Mobile Job App Fully Launched is a post from 148Apps ] Apps mentioned in this post: Gigwalk |
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