Thursday, May 5, 2011

148Apps Main

148Apps Main


Dragons’ Den Review

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
Game Controls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Dragons’ Den might not sound immediately familiar to US readers, hopefully Shark Tank will (assuming Wikipedia hasn’t let me down). It’s a reality TV show in which entrepreneurs pitch various business ideas to experts in the hope of securing finance from them and eventually great success. In the UK at least, someone’s had the foresight to create an iOS game based around the concept.

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.

The problem lies in the length of each game. At only three rounds long, it only takes a matter of minutes to complete a game. You can play more games of course but it makes you wish for a longer version, just so you don’t keep feeling like you’re going round in circles. There’s a pass and play mode too so that you can play with other people which is quite fun. But again it feels short.

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 ]

Apps mentioned in this post:

ThinkBook

Posted: 04 May 2011 12:03 PM PDT

ThinkBook

By Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: ORGANIZED
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
User Interface Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4.5 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.

As one of those typical guys who don't read instructions, I was a bit confused when I started using ThinkBook. I skipped over the tutorial pages and didn't read the instruction manual (made as a note in the app). Assuming that I could figure it out as I went along was the wrong way to go for this app. It has too many unique features that aren't typical in iOS apps.

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 make the most sense to have a series of "Books" to keep organized. Other options include, "Question" (which creates a question and answer box), "Todo" (which is great for todo and checklists), just a regular "Note", and others.

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 Notes


Buy Now: $1.99
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: ORGANIZED
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-04 :: Category: Productivity

Apps mentioned in this post: ThinkBook - Write, Plan, Outline and Take Notes

Inspiration Set for iPad

Posted: 04 May 2011 11:03 AM PDT

Inspiration Set for iPad

By Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: CREATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL
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
User Interface Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4.75 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.

Inspiration Set comes with 50 templates that can be opened in Pages and modified as needed. I was impressed by the various brochure templates as well as the newsletter template. Both looked professional. Other types of templates range from invitations and envelopes to award certificates and invoices.

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.

The templates aren't set in stone pieces of work. Pictures can be swapped out for other pictures, colors can be changed, and text can be changed (obviously). If someone wanted to get creative, they could start from one of these templates and completely change it into something else.

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 iPad


Buy Now: $1.99
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: CREATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-04 :: Category: Productivity

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
Since I already mentioned Music Hunter, let’s start with that. Despite its cheesy name, Music Hunter provides an experience rivaled by no other music app. The app is visually pleasing and has an almost limitless potential (I think the samples it uses are pulled from iTunes). I’ve already browsed for a few hours in my couple of days with the app and added a ton of songs to my favorites list. While the app is only $0.99, it will lead to MUCH more spending from leading users to buy tons of music (except for those those shady pirates). Unfortunately for iPhone users, Music Hunter is iPad only.

Music Hunter


Buy Now: $0.99
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: A MUSIC DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-02 :: Category: Music

Rdio
Rdio isn’t a direct music discovery tool, but it definitely aids the music discovery process. Rdio is one of three major music subscriptions services (Rhapsody and MOG being the other two). For $9.99 a month (for mobile access), Rdio allows access to millions of songs and even allows downloading to mobile devices (stop paying for the service and the songs are no longer available). After finding new songs on Music Hunter, I went right over to Rdio and added nearly all of them to my collection. Rdio has a free 7-day trial; it can’t hurt to check it out.

Rdio


iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: STILL WAITING FOR SPOTIFY
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2009-12-17 :: Category: Music

Discovr
Discovr, like Music Hunter, provides a visually stimulating music discovery experience in an audio-focused app. I enjoy Music Hunter more, mainly because I can sit back and it will play through samples until I tell it something (Discovr’s samples must be tapped each time). But Discovr’s mindmap-ish view of artists takes a fun angle to the browsing experience. One thing Discovr has over Music Hunter is the sheer volume of information provided for each artist: samples from most albums, blog posts, reviews, biographies, links, and YouTube videos. Discovr is geared toward people who are interested in finding artists and Music Hunter toward people interested in finding songs.

Discovr


Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: MUSIC BOX
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-01-13 :: Category: Music

Aweditorium
I can’t talk about music discovery without bringing up Aweditorium. Aweditorium was the first music discovery app I used that focused on the visual experience. Pictures of artists are tiled on a huge moving wall. Tapping on one starts one of their songs and provides information on the artist. What’s unique about Aweditorium compared to the other music discovery apps is that it’s filled with independent artists. So Aweditorium is a must-have for any music discovery enthusiast; the songs on Aweditorium aren’t likely to be found on other apps. This one is iPad only like Music Hunter.

Aweditorium


iPad 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

Zen Bound 2

Posted: 04 May 2011 10:03 AM PDT

Zen Bound 2

By Kevin Stout on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: PLEASANT
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
Game Controls Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.94 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.

My first reaction of the game wasn't far off; it really does consist of wrapping a rope around various wooden objects. But I found out that it's impossible to judge the gameplay experience of these apps just by their pictures.

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!

There are other various ways to paint the object other than covering it with a rope. These techniques are introduced in the first "tree" (which is what a set of levels are called). First introduced are nail bombs, which look like pins with little balls on the ends of them. Nail bombs are placed on some of the objects and their function is to explode the surrounding area with paint when they are contacted by a rope. The other feature is rope bombs, which serve a similar function to the nail bombs. Instead of the whole rope painting the object, only small balls of paint attached to the rope can paint by exploding when in contact with the object.

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 Universal


Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $2.99
Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: PLEASANT
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Games / Family

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

Appigo is developing a version of their task management app Todo for the Mac App Store. The app will come with a variety of features for Mac to improve the desktop platform experience, including Multi-Adaptive Windows, and Task Zooming. These are designed to help users view more tasks and more details on those tasks while on their Mac. As Calvin Gaisford, Appigo’s CEO, describes it, “Todo for Mac breaks the rigid one-window app style and allows users to open multiple windows and customize them to match their workflows. However, what users of the current iOS versions will be excited about are the options for synchronization between the upcoming Mac version and the iOS versions.

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.


Todo


iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Productivity



Todo for iPad


iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2010-05-11 :: Category: Productivity

[ 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 Review

By Timothy Smith on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: MAD
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
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad

Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.63 out of 5 stars

The 7th Guest was pretty frightening back in its day: creepy puzzles, murder, strange toys, and a manipulative plot. I can remember being afraid to even get on the computer after playing it. Trilobyte Games recently provided us with a hint of nostalgia when they re-released The 7th Guest on iOS, but they didn’t stop there; they decided to release one of the most infuriating puzzles as a stand alone title.

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 graphics are crisp, and the game does a great job bringing the atmosphere from the original into puzzle format. The eerie music and excellent sound effects also provide a top notch experience. Your nemesis in the game, Henry Stauf, has some very clever spoken taunts, and he isn’t afraid to mock you when you make a poor move or take too long with your decisions. The A.I. is adjustable for players who don’t want to be totally destroyed, and thankfully there is a two player hot seat mode for playing against normal human beings.

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: Infection


Buy Now: $0.99
Our Rating: ★★★½☆ :: MAD
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Games

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

As the release of Thor’s most recent film incarnation rapidly approaches, it was only a matter of time before people started milking the franchise for every penny it was worth.  An amusing example of this exact phenomenon has just landed on the App Store in the form of the Thor’s Hammer.

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.


Thor's Hammer LITE


Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Entertainment


Thor's Hammer


Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Entertainment

[ 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

Celebrity Bodyguard Review

Posted: 04 May 2011 08:03 AM PDT

Celebrity Bodyguard Review

By Jennifer Allen on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: FUN PARODY
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
Game Controls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.5 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.

Crucially though, you need to protect them otherwise it’s game over and your celebrity is overstressed or dead. No one wants that now do they?

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.

It’s all simple, never ending fun really. There’s no level progression to speak of but you can unlock Lady Blabla and Rober Parkson by completing certain criteria such as a sufficient high score or a sufficient number of enemy kills, so there’s a reason to play for longer. The app store description suggests that a future update will come with more characters such as Charlie Spleen which will be great to see.

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 Bodyguard


Buy Now: $0.99
Our Rating: ★★★★☆ :: FUN PARODY
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Games

Apps mentioned in this post: Celebrity Bodyguard

Moviefone Dials Up The iPad

Posted: 04 May 2011 07:47 AM PDT

There used to be a time back in the late 1980′s when the only way that you could get a theater’s show listings other than through the news paper was via a disembodied voice on the other side of the telephone dial. This service, which eventually became known as Moviefone, was the go to source for this important information until the internet became more widespread throughout the 1990′s.  Ironically enough, it was actually AOL that purchased the company and transitioned it into the web property that we know today.

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 News


Buy 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

Qwiki Shows Up on the iPad

Posted: 04 May 2011 07:30 AM PDT

Last year I watched a video of a startup called Qwiki that was presented at TechCrunch Disrupt. They won the $50,000 price. Three months ago, Qwiki released it's public alpha at Qwiki.com (give it a try). And recently, Qwiki released it's iPad app.

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


Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Reference

[ Qwiki Shows Up on the iPad is a post from 148Apps ]

Apps mentioned in this post: Qwiki

Node Beat

Posted: 04 May 2011 07:03 AM PDT

Node Beat

By Gianna LaPin on May 4th, 2011
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: RELAXING AND FUN
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
User Interface Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 4.45 out of 5 stars

Lots of nodesNode Beat is an interactive, visually appealing sound toy that generates soothing electronic music. Depending on how you move the nodes around with your finger, you can produce an endless random stream of melodies, synced to a beat you specify so it doesn't sound disorganized. You have two types of nodes: octaves, which are the larger circles with a cross in the center, are tuned to a particular musical octave and generate pulses. You also have notes, which are keyed to a random musical note. When an octave comes close enough to a note, a connection is made (you'll see a white line) and the note responds to the pulses generated by the octave and generates a chord. When several notes are affected by several octaves, you get lovely harmonious music.

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.

First page of settings screenThe app's interface is good overall; it's a simple program and the options provided are not overkill. After I played with it for awhile I began to wish there was some kind of percussion or bass line that could be added. This would greatly increase the richness of the music generated. I also started wishing there was some way to record the sound I was generating. I switched out of the app to check my email and noticed that the sound does not continue, so if you want to set this app up to provide ambient background music, you'll need to keep it running in the foreground.

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 ]


NodeBeat


Buy Now: $0.99
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: RELAXING AND FUN
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-05-03 :: Category: Music

Apps mentioned in this post: NodeBeat

Gigwalk, The Casual Mobile Job App Fully Launched

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:01 AM PDT

We took a quick look at Gigwalk back in February when it was still in beta. But the app and the service are now out of beta and accepting both gigs and workers.

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.

What makes Gigwalk special is that it is perfectly tailored for the mobile user and these short jobs. From the need of these quick data collection jobs, to the integration with the mobile device. It’s one of the best examples of what a mobile platform is really capable of doing to change the way business is done that I’ve seen. The potential here is gigantic.

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


iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2010-09-24 :: Category: Lifestyle

[ Gigwalk, The Casual Mobile Job App Fully Launched is a post from 148Apps ]

Apps mentioned in this post: Gigwalk

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