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- Speck PixelSkin HD Wrap Case for iPad 2 – Accessory Review
- PadGadget Daily App Deal – 9 iPad Apps on Sale
- Imaginary Range HD for iPad – A new Book/Game Concept from Square-Enix
- Planetary: One Giant Leap in Music Player Visualization – iPad App Review
- 5 Great iPad Apps for Mother’s Day
- POW! BAM! Comic Life Makes Life A Comic – iPad App Review
- i.TV as Your Television Companion – iPad App Review
- Hearst iPad Publications Soon Available with Subscriptions
- Top 5 iPad Apps for Cinco de Mayo
- A 3D Display for iPad 3?
- Vertical Top-Down Shooters Get A Run For Their Money With iStriker
- Can Knockdown 2 – iPad Game Review
| Speck PixelSkin HD Wrap Case for iPad 2 – Accessory Review Posted: 05 May 2011 08:11 PM PDT
Inspired by the CandyShell Wrap for the original iPad, the PixelSkin HD Wrap case incorporates the best parts of that case and improves on some of its drawbacks. This semi-flexible iPad 2 case is made of a soft rubberized material with a high-contrast glossy-matte finish on the front and back. The iPad 2 fits quickly and easily into the case and the snug fit provides great protection from the bumps encountered during every day use. Ports, cameras and speakers are accessible through cutouts and although buttons are covered, they remain fully functional. Adding to the level of protection, the PixelSkin HD Wrap includes a cover to shield your screen when closed and act as a stand when open and folded back. When the cover is closed, micro-suction ensures it stays that way, protecting the screen and keeping it scratch free. Flip the cover open and wrap it behind the case to play games or fold it up and lock it into place to create a stand perfect for viewing movies or typing emails. Speck’s PixelSkin HD Wrap for iPad 2 improves on the two things I didn’t like in my review of the CandyShell Wrap for the original iPad. The combination of a glossy and matte exterior hides fingerprints and smudges, making for a cleaner looking case. The other improvement is the addition of micro-suction for the cover. This time around, the screen cover stays put when you close it. A versatile design that not only safeguards your iPad but looks good too. The PixelSkin HD Wrap is one of many cases in Speck’s iPad 2 lineup and is available on the Speck and Amazon websites for $49.95. It’s available in black, raspberry and cobalt.
What I liked: This case offers two bright color choices, in addition to the oh so typical black option. Like I mentioned before, the case exterior and micro-suction cover are also positive features. What I didn’t like: This case doesn’t posses the same magnetic magic as the Apple Smart Cover. It would be nice if it also turned off the iPad 2 when closed. To buy or not to buy: If you’re looking for a high-quality, multi-function case to protect your iPad 2, the PixelSkin HD Wrap is a great choice with a number of nice features.
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| PadGadget Daily App Deal – 9 iPad Apps on Sale Posted: 05 May 2011 08:09 PM PDT
For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found nine great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have a productivity app, three entertainment apps and five game apps in today’s bundle. We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 75% off, some are even free, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.
We use our PadGadget Apps Tracker to constantly monitor the App Store to find the biggest price changes on iPad apps. Our editorial team goes through the data, picks the best deals on the most interesting apps and then brings them to you on a regular basis. All app prices are checked at the time of posting but prices are subject to change without notice. When developers put their games on sale it’s usually for a very limited time, often 24 hours or less, so be sure to check pricing on iTunes before making a purchase. » Related posts:
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| Imaginary Range HD for iPad – A new Book/Game Concept from Square-Enix Posted: 05 May 2011 04:00 PM PDT
As you read through the book, mini-games will be unlocked, and work as cut-scenes that illustrate parts of the story, and reveal parts of the plot. The main characters, Cid and Ciela, are on a quest to save an alternate world from being invaded by evil forces, headed by a villain named Omega. As you read the story, you will be required to collect icons and objects embedded within the comic frames, in order to gain additional abilities, and solve the mini-games thrown at you by the app.
If you’ve never played a Square-Enix game before, the story might be a bit difficult to follow, but the fans of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series will feel right at home. Best of all, Imaginary Range HD is free.
The app was released on the App Store earlier today, and can be downloaded here. Note that the app offers English, French and Japanese text options. » Related posts:
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| Planetary: One Giant Leap in Music Player Visualization – iPad App Review Posted: 05 May 2011 01:43 PM PDT
The app is full of tiny, clever details. For example, Planetary visualizes the iTunes play count, so a larger play count equals a larger moon. (Note to LastFm scrobblers: your plays in Planetary should count when you sync if you have scrobbling set up in iTunes). As a track plays the Planetary universe is constantly in motion. Planets spin on their axes, moons orbit at various rates of speed, while the whole system revolves around its artist sun. The app integrates customary gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, which makes navigation seamless, and it’s easy to hide all of the labels for a more stratospheric listening experience. Let’s take a trip into my music library to illustrate how Planetary works. Planetary supports Airplay, but users need to access the settings outside the app at the moment. The app does not yet support Home Sharing. What I liked: The UI was stunning. Planetary zoomed quickly from one part of its audio universe to another without a single technical glitch. Planetary’s structure reminds listeners that artists release albums, not just tracks. What I didn't like: Planetary is limited by the storage capacity of the iPad. I would have loved to visualize my entire music library instead of limiting myself to the tracks I had uploaded. Perhaps Planetary will be able to access Home Sharing in a future update. At the moment Planetary doesn’t support shuffle/continuous play within the app, nor does it have volume controls, but there are straightforward workarounds to fix both issues. To buy or not to buy: Interacting with Planetary is enjoyable. It runs so smoothly that using it is relaxing. The app is free, and is worth a try. Planetary does its job well. It may not replace the iPod function, but it definitely augments it.
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| 5 Great iPad Apps for Mother’s Day Posted: 05 May 2011 01:35 PM PDT
If your mom has an iPad, you can’t go wrong with a great new app. We’ve picked out some of the most useful, entertaining apps in the App Store that she’ll be able to use all year long. Don’t forget the card! Check out our top five picks after the break.
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| POW! BAM! Comic Life Makes Life A Comic – iPad App Review Posted: 05 May 2011 12:29 PM PDT
Being that I am a comic collector, I was pretty excited to find out about Comic Life by plasq. I love the idea of turning my own life into a comic adventure. Not only will this app appeal to fans of the comic book format, but scrap-bookers looking for a new way to display their digital photos as well. Heck, it will appeal to anyone that wants to do something interesting with their photos. The app comes with its own comprehensive user guide, but I was too excited to waste time learning. I needed to get started on my comic book. Using photos of my vacation to Disneyland, I threw together a three-page adventure with what might otherwise be considered boring photos to friends and family. The end result was a clever little story that all members of my family laughed at, including the real-life Grouchman.
It took a while to finish the three pages, but keep in mind I didn't read any instructions. Most of the features are fairly easy to figure out. There are probably a lot of additional things you could do to make your comic really shine, but I have yet to experiment with all of the extras. From messing about with the app, I have discovered that you can put borders around your photos, alter the type of word balloon you use, change the font you use and move pages around. There is so much more to explore with this app that I just didn't have time to find out about it all.
The app did crash on me once, and at times it will run really slow, but I believe the bugs will work themselves out in updates. The developers promise to add more features as they work out the technology. There is already a Mac Store app for Comic Life that is a supercharged version of the iPad version, or actually, the iPad version is like the baby brother of the Mac Store version. Although this app doesn't offer as many features, it is still a creative and fun way to share your memories, and it has plenty of templates for you to work with. While the app seems like it is for photography only, I could see it being an easy way to actually write a comic. As long as you can get your artwork into your iPad's photo library, you can import it into Comic Life. With your original artwork, you could easily incorporate it into one of the many templates and before you know it, you're the next Stan Lee!
You can email your creation or post it to Facebook. You can even print it out if you want to show it to Grandma and Grandpa but they don't know how to use that new-fangled technology that the kids are playing with these days. What I liked: This app allows you to use your creativity to produce an interesting and fun photo display that is easily shared with friends and family. What I didn't like: You have limited ability to position your photos. You can create from a blank template, but you can't skew your photos or word balloons. The app also needs those few bugs to be worked out. To buy or not to buy: If you take a lot of photos, especially while on vacation, and you are always forcing your friends to watch your slide shows, get this app. It will make everyone happier.
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| i.TV as Your Television Companion – iPad App Review Posted: 05 May 2011 11:00 AM PDT
Enter your postal or zip code, or using location services on your device, you are able to look up providers so that your details will be customized whether you have cable, satellite or an antenna. I found my cable provider in their database without difficulty and was even able to select my channel package so it knew what I had available to me. Once you are viewing your listings and find the show you are interested in, several links provide you with the details you crave including direct hits to IMDB, Wikipedia and a full episode guide. As well there is a link to a common News Feed that provides up-to-the-minute news on your favorite Hollywood celebrities and television shows. By signing into the app using Facebook, Google, AOL or Twitter, you can enable syncing so that you can use i.TV across all of your devices. This is very useful for those of us who are both iPhone and iPad users. Not much of a television watcher because you aren’t sure what you might enjoy? Lists of staff picks, Emmy winners and most favorite shows give you suggestions for things to check out. There is even a list they refer to as ‘You Gotta Be Kidding’ which contains a number of the shows you hate to love, but can’t resist. Currently this app is for television only, movies are only included if they have been shown on television. Previous versions provided in-theater movie listings, but this has been removed.
What I liked: This app worked right out of the box. Setup was a breeze and information was accurate and very easy to navigate. I am also delighted that this app worked well for me in Canada, so many are USA only. What I didn't like: If you have Tivo, you can login to your account and setup your shows to record… but if you don’t have Tivo, you are out of luck as no other PVR services are supported. To buy or not to buy: If you watch television, there is no excuse not to have this app, especially because it is free!
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| Hearst iPad Publications Soon Available with Subscriptions Posted: 05 May 2011 09:18 AM PDT
Hearst, the publisher behind magazines such as Esquire, Popular Mechanics and O, as well as a slew of newspapers, allegedly struck a deal with Apple in order to use the iTunes subscription model, to allow its subscribers to receive new issues as they are released, and be automatically billed. The news came from The Wall Street Journal report:
Hearst was one of the last publishers to embrace the subscription model, as other publishers, such as News Corp and Time Inc. signed up for the service soon after Apple made it available. The last major publisher still opposed to the iTunes subscriptions service remains Condé Nast Publications, the owner of magazines such as Vogue, GQ, and Wired. » Related posts:
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| Top 5 iPad Apps for Cinco de Mayo Posted: 05 May 2011 08:27 AM PDT
If you need some last minute recipes or entertainment, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out our top five Cinco de Mayo apps after the break.
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| Posted: 05 May 2011 07:22 AM PDT
MacRumors is reporting that RCR Wireless claims that different sources are suggesting the next iPad will indeed incorporate 3D display technology. After James Cameron’s huge success with his movie Avatar, lots of companies have jumped into the 3D bandwagon. We’ve seen how Sony, Vizio, and other TV manufacturers have released different 3D TV models. Even Nintendo has joined the market with its Nintendo 3DS. Apparently, Apple wants in, and the iPad 3 may be the item to surprise all of us. RCR Wireless have cited several sources from a Hollywood insider to a Foxconn worker. Foxconn has been notorious for leaking information related to Apple products, and seems to be leaking information about the iPad 3 once again. According to RCR Wireless, the Hollywood insider seems to be quite certain about the information.
To be honest, it is not surprising to hear all these 3D rumors. Recently, RIM announced their acquisition of The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), which has been focused on working on content that would be displayed in three dimensions -including widgets and 3D games. However, the PlayBook has to be connected to a 3D TV screen via HDMI for it to work, and you need glasses. I’m sure this has resulted in Apple’s creative juices flowing again. Tablets and 3D? Does that feel right to you? It could be a fascinating experience, but I’m not too excited about using 3D glasses with a tablet. If indeed, Apple and RIM are working on 3D displays for their tablets, I hope they bring an experience that requires no glasses. They need to make sure their suppliers can manufacture “glasses-free” 3D LCD panels. Let’s see how this latest rumor evolves. What do you think? [via RCR Wireless, MacRumors] » Related posts:
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| Vertical Top-Down Shooters Get A Run For Their Money With iStriker Posted: 05 May 2011 06:01 AM PDT
The game offers five different missions and three levels of difficulty. You can either chose touch play, where you move your chopper with your finger, or tilt, using the iPad's Accelerometer.
Visually, the game is fabulously laid out like the 32-bit games of my youth. The top-down view automatically progresses forward while your heavily armored military helicopter blasts the enemy with plenty of firepower. Along the way, you need to land your chopper and rescue the stranded. Each person you pick up will have a bonus of either health, fuel, bombs, life or more power. The more you rescue, the better chance you have of completing your mission. Watch out though, you may run out of time before getting to the final boss.
The price of this game is what makes it even more appealing. At only $0.99, you'd think it would be mediocre, or ask you to buy some type of upgrade as an in-app purchase. There are not tricks up the sleeves of this action-packed military game, just hours of addicting fun. The iTunes summary calls this a "launch price," for this month, so get it now, before the price goes up. iStriker: Rescue & Combat is Game Center integrated and you can post your achievements to Facebook and Twitter. The game is also available for the iPhone for $0.99. However, the graphics look better on the iPad
What I liked: The game is fun and fast paced and brings a real challenge that will at least slightly impress most gamers. The price is a big bonus. What I didn't like: Unfortunately, all levels but the first must be unlocked. It would be nice to have all missions playable from the start. To buy or not to buy: It is a great buy at only $0.99, but get it while it's new because the price will, likely, go up in a month.
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| Can Knockdown 2 – iPad Game Review Posted: 05 May 2011 05:00 AM PDT
In Can Knockdown 2, one of the game modes lets you relive your childhood fantasies over and over again. It also goes one step further by offering two more gameplay modes unique enough to provide hours of fun. Just flick the balls at the cans and watch them fall! One of the other modes is what I will call “Target Practice”, where players can hone their ball tossing skills by flicking the balls upward at the targets. As in darts, hitting the bulls-eye will give you more points than hitting the outward ring, and hitting multiple bulls-eyes in a row will trigger a multiplier effect. Also keep an eye out for extra time cans that will fly across the screen, giving you a chance to hit more targets. In yet another mode, the ever present “Time Trial”, cans are ejected from pipes into the air ripe for the smashing. To start out, the cans come one at a time and are simple tin cans. Once a little of your 1 minute has expired, other types of cans will start to fly. Watch out for the green nuclear canister though, if you hit it your game will end short. The most valuable can is the time slowing can, which will automatically launch three cans and slow time to a near stop. The carnival type mode offers you 7 chances to knock all the cans off the board. New types of cans start to appear after the first few rounds, giving you the chance to send all the cans flying in one shot every time. When lining up your shots be aware of the angle at which your ball will hit the group of cans because some are more effective in certain situations.
What I liked: The visuals are stunning and the controls are easy. The gravity and physics in each of the game modes are realistic, making the game even more difficult to put down. The competitions held by the developers are also an interesting twist. What I didn’t like: It seemed like the developer tried to squeeze in ads for their products in a few too many places. To buy or not to buy: At only $0.99, this game is a quick and fun way to spend time. If you play once you will not want to stop until you earn a prize from the developers!
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Imaginary Range HD, a new app from Square-Enix, offers a new genre of entertainment: the app is a hybrid between a comic book, and a game.
Ground control to iTunes: 
Mother’s Day is nearly upon us once again, and it’s time to show your mom just how much you appreciate all that she does for you with the perfect gift. Chocolates and flowers only last a week or two, but iPad apps are forever. Get your mom an iTunes card for Mother’s Day and print out our handy list of apps she’s sure to love.
i.TV is a very handy app that allows you to manage your favorite shows in a very unique way. Missed an episode of your favorite show? No problem! i.TV helps you find it through Netflix, Hulu or iTunes. Want to see when your program next airs? No problem! i.TV displays a complete listing of program times and channels customized to you.
Happy Cinco de Mayo from PadGadget! Time to break out the blender and whip up some yummy margaritas and smash some piñatas. Oh and don’t forget the chips, salsa, and tacos, either! We’ve picked out five great apps to honor Mexico and help you get that party started.
If you have a soft spot in your heart for classic game play, 
Remember going to the county fair as a kid and begging your parents to play one of the carnival games? How about that one that had the milk jars stacked in a pyramid?
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