The best IPhone and IPod Touch Apps

Word Foto

2011-05-31T13:42:00.002+01:00

Price at time of writing £1.19

It takes a lot for any photographic app to impress me but this one has succeeded where so many others have failed.

Take any image of your choice and convert it so that your own keywords make up the picture. Rendering is practically instant. Save it to your camera roll, email it to a friend or just save it and upload where you like.

There are numerous preset styles and you can also make your own styles. Or you may just want to tweak the brightness or font size.

For the effect you get to the price you pay for the app Word Foto is an outstanding piece of Software

10/10 available here

Countdown - Official TV Show App

2011-04-03T17:26:00.000+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p approx 99c

It's received very mixed reviews from superb to grim but I don't really know why.

This is actually a very good recreation of the Channel 4 TV programme.

All the usual rounds are available - The word game, the numbers game and the Countdown Conundrum and the official theme tune sounds great.

The word game works fine and you get the customary 30 seconds to work out your longest word from your chosen vowels and consonants.

The numbers game initially takes a bit of getting used to. But when you understand how to pick numbers and 'carry forward' it is an excellent recreation of this part of the show.

The 9 letter conundrum will test you just as the show does and don't think you can buzz in and take all the time you need because you can't. Once you buzz in you are on a timer to type the word in very quickly.

However the developers could have done just a little more to make this into a classic 10/10 app.

Two Player is available - Pass and Play or Bluetooth. This is fine but it would have been nice to have a more global interactive game.

As for the single game there is the choice of short game or whole game. Short game is 1 letters round, 1 numbers round and a conundrum.

Whole game, I feel, should mean all rounds as featured in the TV show but it is still short giving just 2 rounds of letters and 2 rounds of numbers and then a conundrum. This seems a silly oversight.

Local high scores only - no global option

No Openfeint or Game Center functionality.

All in all Countdown is still a great purchase especially at the low price stated above and it is still an app I return to occasionally for a quick challenge.

I just look forward to some updates to this eventually and if that ever happens I will revisit this, still great, score.

8/10 Download here

Word Solitaire: Aurora

2011-04-03T16:37:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p approx 99c

I like solitaire, as in the traditional card game, but I bore with it quite quickly.

Now solitaire with words is an addictive twist. And that's the aim here. On each level all you have to do is uncover all turned over cards and ensure that at the end you have a word in each column.

With limited lifelines (burn a few cards - on some levels even this is not available) you will be driven mad yet you will keep coming back for more. Longer words mean more points and your few spare cards in the bottom left hand corner will often be needed to complete words or simply to add to your score.

Campaign is fun with level after level available to proceed through with many challenges such as coping with many of a given letter.

A global 'who can score the most?' daily challenge is also great fun.

This is so close to a 10/10 app but a couple of personal desires just hold it off.

The backgrounds are beautiful but the animation seems to make the battery drain a little too quickly for my liking for a word app.

Some form of Open Feint and/or Game Center functionality would be nice.

A global high score leaderboard would also be a good addition for Campaign mode. Especially when this has been implemented for the daily challenge.

These are minor quibbles though and such a small price for such an addictive card game with a word twist is outstanding.

9/10 Download from

Flick Kick Football

2011-04-03T14:21:00.002+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p - approx 99c

I don't even like football but I love this game and I think you will too.

The concept couldn't be simpler just keep kicking the football into the goal.

The strength of your flick relates directly and accurately to the strength of your shot and curving the ball by curving your 'flick line' is simple too.

Several game modes are available and at the time of writing this these are:

Practice
Arcade - Build up in difficulty as you star off aiming at an empty goal and progress through increasingly difficult challenges with players and the goalkeeper in different postitions. On many challenges they even move. You have 3 lives but extras can be earned with skillful shooting into key areas.
Skillshot - You are against the clock to score as many 'skill zone' shots. Hitting the skill zones will earn you extra time
Bullseye - Simple task, again against the clock, just hit the targets. This is a points quest, bullseyes score higher points. Hit targets one after another for extra time. Appears easy but as you get further away from the goal and the targets start moving it becomes a race against time.
Time attack- Basically it's the same as Arcade but against the clock instead of 3 lives. Extra time is awarded for those skill shots. Continue to hit skill areas and you are awarded with a flaming ball which is capable of burning through players in the way but it only works once, until you earn another, so use it wisely.

Multiplayer - Pass and play or send a shot is available. With send a shot the challenge continues until either you or your Twitter or Facebook friends which you have imported miss a shot.

It is both Openfeint and Game Center enabled with a load of realistically achievable challenges available to earn those awards and to record those high scores to see how you rate in the world league.

I also love the funny, genuine completely daft football quotes from players and managers which are used as short loading screens.

This is a beautifully made game of The Beautiful Game and is a bargain buy.

10/10 Available here

Tiny Wings

2011-03-06T15:21:00.007Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $0.99)

Sometimes apps can surprise you.

Something so simple yet so ruddy addictive.

Many have argued it's an Angry Birds beater. It's fabulous but I don't think you can compare the two games, they are completely different kettles of fish ............or rather birds.

What a simple concept. A solitary bird, a hilly landscape - the aim is just to keep the bird in flight as long as possible between dawn and sunset.

At dawn your little feathered friend awakes but immediately the sun goes down it's game over because he falls asleep (If only I could nod off so easily!)

Control method? One single digit which you can place anywhere you like on the screen (although avoid top right as that's the pause button) Touching the screen results in the bird's wings closing and therefore speeding the bird up on his decent. To do well you need to do this to catch the downward slopes of hills, releasing your finger before you ascend up the next slope.

There are coins and "speedcoins" to be collected on your journey but concentrate too much on these rather than your quick journey and you will literally find time catches up with you as the sun quickly reaches the midday point then moving on to sunset. You need to concentrate and keep speedy to hop from one island to the next to stay one step ahead of time.

Open Feint enabled you can keep track of those leader board to see how your achievements compare with others around the world.

As if that's not all Tiny Wings has a couple of rather nice features which adds to its already addictive universal appeal.

Getting achievements adds to a score multiplier which is then retained so on the next game you keep that multiplication of your score.

Graphics are completely different from one game to the next, so never the same hills, never the same graphics, which are bright and colourful.

With a lovely gentle piece of very appropriate background music which never gets irritating Tiny Wings has that "Just One More Go appeal". It also seems to be very friendly on battery usage.

This would have been a fabulous app to be sponsored by Twitter, featuring the Twitter Bird. It would have been fantastic for the publisher, Andreas Illiger, and brilliant great publicity for Twitter. If it ever happens please remember where you read this suggestion first - I'll be looking for my cut Andreas :)

This is one of those Angry Birds like apps which is going to stay at the top of the charts for a long time and it should sell well in just about every countrry on the planet.

Well done Andreas Tiny Wings is a classic game to be enjoyed by young and old alike.

10/10 and available to download here

Nasa App Review

2010-10-09T13:50:00.000+01:00

Price at time of writing FREE.

If you like a lot for absolutely nothing and have an interest in Space the NASA application is the app for you.

No ads, just an app that is easy to use and which will provide all the space exploration pictures and information you could ever want.

Recent pictures, classic Apollo pictures, recent mission details, historic information, International Space Station (ISS) tracking, videos and even Nasa TV.

All this and much more costs you absolutely nothing apart from the fact you need to have a web connection.

I've had this app installed since I first got my Apple device and it's not going to be deleted either. Just the thing when you need that fix of interesting reference material and to look at stunning pictures of the universe.

10/10 available here

Airport Mania : First Flight

2010-06-19T17:13:00.000+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

One of the little time management gaming apps you can buy.

Like thousands of other users I hope that Reflexive Entertainment are working on a sequel.

OK it's cute graphics may seem like this is a game for little kids. Nothing of the sort. Yes it is cute, but that is part of the charm. The sound effects are a real delight, the graphics are lovely and just for once even the backing track is not ittitating if you wish to have it playing.

Your task? You progress through 8 different airports. You need to manage landing flights, unloading, refueling, repairing and reloading them back into the air as quickly as possible.

A paper plane mode can be unlocked too.

Achieving a perfect score on every level will require a fast finger and a good eye. Difficulty I feel has been set just right and everybody should be capable of completing the 48 levels at the minimum score which is needed to unlock each level.

Points combos can be obtained by doing a fast turaround and for trying to keep same coloured planes loading and unloading at the same coloured gate.

Airports can be upgraded using your earnings. Additional runways, a fan to blow away fof, a hairdryer to thaw out frozen runways, executive waiting areas and much more is there to be unlocked to assist you in getting that perfect score.

For me the purchase of Airport Mania : First Flight is a 'no brainer'. I just hope that Second Flight is in the making.

10/10

Pocket Ants

2010-06-19T16:40:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Irritating little buggers ants aren't they?

This is the app that lets you take vengeance on red and black ants using a huge variety of different tools.

Blow them away, blast them, drop rocks on them, burn them, freeze them. Use these and a load of other weapons to wipe out as many as you can.

You can even race against the clock to see how many you can destroy in a minute.

Achievements are available as you use all the tools you have to eradicate your virtual insects.

A slider tool lets you customize your own preferred balance of red and black ants.

Graphically it's bright, colourful and effective. The tools are easy to use and the sounds are great.

But I would class this as less of a game and more of a therapeutic way of spending a few spare minutes. There may be exceptions but I don't think that pocket ants, for most, is going to be played for hours on end.

But if you're in a bit of a mood and feel like taking your temper out on virtual pests this may be right up your street. For the price you can't complain about pocket ants.

8/10

Whirly Word

2010-06-13T13:56:00.002+01:00

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

Whirly word is not the best word game ever, nor is it the most graphically impressive. It also has the most irritating repetitive music that will drive you nuts in due course (turn it off in options before you go mad).

So how the heck does it make the Best Apps grade?

Because it is my low battery lifesaver app. If I am dow to 20% battery and I am still hours away from a charge I resort to this because it is so undemanding by way of resources.

If you turn that music off the battery will last even longer.

Whirly Word is a simple find-the-words game. You have a circle of 6 letters and all you need to do is find all words that can be made from them. A simple target bar shows you how much progress you need to make on each level to go to the next one. It's called whirly word because you have a 'whirl' button to shuffle the letters if you wish (it may or may not help you).

To add to your low battery enjoyment each game will last a long time as you have as long as you like to perform each level. I prefer to make the game more of a challenge by trying to get all words on each level rather than progressing after immediately after the target score is hit.

There is one further minor irritation I have with this game and that is the fact you have to hit the centre-of-circle enter button after each word. So many word games these days allow you to double-click the final letter to make the entry that I would like this option.

Display colours can be changed in options and there is a good local high scores record.

But there is no on-line connectivety and as a result no global high scores.

So Whirly Word is not the best word game in the world but equally it isn't the worst either. It will certainly leave you with something of a brain testing challenge when your gadget's battery edges towards depletion and that's exactly why it remains installed on mine!

8/10 A battery lifesaver from

Coin Dozer

2010-06-13T13:05:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing FREE

Let's face it not all free apps are actually worth downloading. In fact the vast majority aren't. If they are not overladen with advertising they are graphically poor or just downright rubbish.

Coin Dozer is a pleasant exception to the norm.

It follows the traditional arcade machines where you drop your pennies in hoping that the machine will push a bigger number of coins off the edge to you rather than down the gutters at the side into the coffers of Mr Arcade owner.

Graphically this app is really nice and the coin pushing physics are actually very impressive. I wouldn't say the physics are perfect as larger gaps than I would expect to see sometimes appear between the coins. However it's pretty darned close to perfect and it is great to see coins that are teetering on the edge of a ledge gradually fall off.

You start off with 40 coins and this is your initial starting coin limit. Coins will be accrued at 5 per hour whilst offline. Whilst playing you accrue one per 30 seconds.

Bonus coins appear from time to time. If won these may result in a huge coin which thumps to the "coin bed" thumping lots of coins to your "win tray" but equally creating lots of gaps. When this big coin is won you get extra coins. There are other special coins such as one that awards extra coins and one that raises walls at the sides to temporarily stop gutter losses.

Large prizes also fall to the coin bed. Dice, Bears, Gems, Hearts, Whistles and Yo-Yos. When you collect a set of all 4 colours of each of these you unlock power ups such as an increased coin limit and winning prizes that fall in the gutter. If you collect more than one identical prize (type and colour) you can sell the extra prize for a few vital coins. Note if you have a full set selling your last remaining prize of one colour will relock any power up you have unlocked. So only sell prizes when you have 2 or more.

It will take many, many hours of gameplay to unlock all the bonuses. Indeed after a week I have a yellow yo-yo that still escapes me. I have had to watch 2 fall into the side gutters during the week, much to my disgust.

The advertising is not over the top. A banner runs towards the bottom of the screen - that's fine. However the app was initially spoiled by a continuous advert for Broken Bottle 2 another app from this developer. Spoiled because Broken Bottle 2 is probably one of the most controversial apps available. It has received scathing feedback to Apple and iTunes for promoting crime and violence. This is in stark contrast to the great feedback Coin Dozer is receiving.

Leftover Studios have now fixed the advert so it it a changing banner but it doesn't make the other app any easier to appreciate.

The developer has also showed commitment to Coin Dozer by fixing a memory problem so that the coins stayed in the same place if you quit out. This has resulted in a little graphical lag from time to time but it is not excessive.

Some of those who have given feedback have said that once you've unlocked all the power ups there is nothing left to do. This is factually true. But it will take you a long time to get to that stage and it is quite fun doing so.

Perhaps the developer has plans to take improve Coin Dozer more to improve its longevity? Obviously as a free app the developer is looking for the advertising to work. Perhaps this is why they have one 'nice' and one 'nasty' app? Both will gain customers for different reasons.

I however hope the developer makes the most of the success of Coin Dozer and show it does have some respect for the victims and families of those who have had a broken glass shoved in their face by pulling the Broken Bottle 2 app from iTunes. It does not appear Apple are going to make the family friendly decision to do so.

Edit. 3rd April 2011. The developer has continued to add to the features on this app and others in the dozer series. They all represent excellent value and with ad-free versions available for a small charge I am pleased to change my rating

10/10 (as a free app) available here

iHandy Level

2010-05-29T15:16:00.000+01:00

Price at time of writing FREE.

Price FREE

Look I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this. There isn't much you can say about a spirit level.

This popular app (as advertised on TV too) has had thousands of downloads and thousands of ratings.

The variation between 1 and 5 stars is huge. The overall verdict being pretty evenly split between awful and excellent.

However, if used as the developer states, it certainly isn't a bad app.

Used "out of the box" the level may not be 100% accurate so the developer added a calibrate option so you can use a known accurate spirit level to rectify this. The accelerometer in every mobile/touch may differ slightly in it's initial setting so it is sensible to give this option. (I'll ignore iPad as I can't see anybody seriously using an ipad as a leveller). I have to say I haven't used calibrate and I found the initial level accuracy spot on, but perhaps I'm just lucky?

Some have said "If I want a level I'll go to my toolbox". Well yes, but if you only want a quick guide for a shelf you may not wish to go out to your shed/garage in the pouring rain or snow.

Graphically it's fine. How much glamour can you give a bubble for heaven's sake?

And hey it's free which can't be bad these days.

As far as I'm concerned this is a functional app from a developer who has been honest about how to use it properly for best results.

8/10 Available here

Scramble 2 by Zynga

2010-05-29T14:13:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing Free-59p (approx $1)

Scramble 2 by Zynga is quite possibly the most popular word app available.

It's a simple "find as many words in a grid as possible" concept. But what makes it stand out is excellent presentation and additional features.

The game itself is, at the moment, free. But I'd advise going for one of the paid options (pathetically small price) to give you a few "Scramble Points" to get you going. Scramble points are accrued the more you play and allow you to unlock new theme backgrounds and achievements to enhance gameplay. With most themes costing a mere 20 points a 100 points game purchase option gives you good variety to start off with.

In options you can choose from a 4x4 grid or 5x5. Most people opt for 4x4 as it makes a good size for competitive online matches.

You can play on your own, challenge a friend with a grid you've played, you can "pass and play" or you can do what most people do and play online against many others.

Zynga claim you can compete against hundreds of others online. That is not a false claim. Many, many, games run at the same time. From hundreds and hundreds of games I have never played a game with less than 20 players, I would say it averages 30-40 and I've played games with as many as 500 competitors.

There's the occasional disconnection from the server but it is very rare in relation to the time spent connected.

You can upload your own custom icon (perhaps a pic of yourself?) If a user has an inappropriate picture all users can report it and it is immediately blanked out and reviewed by Zynga.

Facebook connectivety just adds to a great experience enabling you to compete with your social network Friends.

Each "Theme" has a series of achievements to aim for and there are also other goals to aim for such as long words, and "podium position" awards.

Word selection is either by tapping letters in order and then pressing the final letter twice or by "drag and release". Personally I prefer the first option. The board can be rotated, if you think it may help, by putting two fingers on oppostite diagonal edge letters and twisting clockwise or anticlockwise. This doesn't actually change the order of letters but it sometimes helps to spot a word you've missed.

With 3 minutes available to get as many words as possible from your random grid it's totally addictive button-bashing at it's best. If you get your trophy for 1st place, believe me, you will feel you earned it!

10/10 and available here

The Times Spelling Bee

2010-05-03T16:50:00.002+01:00

Price at time of writing £1.19 How good do you think your spelling is? (approx $2)

Well this app by The Times can test your spelling at three difficulty levels easy, medium and hard.

The app has been open to some criticism because certain words (e.g. there and their, hear and here) sound the same and because certain words are difficult to hear and identify because of bad pronunciation and the accent of the speaker.

The first point, similar sounding words, has been dealt with as effectively as possible. This is done by a series of clues you can run through to establish which word you are looking for. This works quite well in practice.

The second point the developer has tried to deal with by saying they have resorted to the narrators with the clearest voices. It is better, but it is by no means perfect and it can still be difficult, even with the ability to play the spoken word over and over, to work out what is being said.

I have to be fair here and to point out the clarity is better if you use earphones, but that isn't always practical.

If I look at my stats on this app it's amazing to see how many times I have eventually lost only because I couldn't identify the spoken word, not because I couldn't spell it, even on easy! "Nether" is one example - I heard "never".

As regards to the stats this relates to your performance only. No multiplayer and no online integration has resulted in this being a good, but not outstanding app. The price point quoted above could also be seen as expensive compared to other word games.

For those who wish to improve their spelling this is still a fully recommended application. With the thousands of words in it's database you will always be fully tested. Believe me hard mode will test with a vengeance those who think they can spell really difficult words..... I'd never even heard of proselytise let alone know how to spell it!

The Times Spelling Bee is still an app "with potential" to be a top rated app. At the current time though whilst it does stand out as being the best spelling app available it could certainly be a darned site better with more functionality.

8/10 Available here

Doodle Jump app review

2010-05-03T15:28:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Doodle Jump is a pick-up-and-play delight. Simple, yet effective, graphics yet a very unique game which requires little explanation.

The aim? You have a little "Doodle Man" who jumps from block to block up the screen. You have to guide your little doodle friend on and on up the screen. You will be hindered by brittle landing blocks, enemies and much more. You will be aided by power ups like springs, rockets and again much more - but only if you land on them. Miss a block and plunge back to earth and it's game over!

From the main menu screen, at the bottom, you can scroll through the "theme selections" which are available for the game. Themes change not only the background but also the helps and hindrances you will encounter in your game.

As you progress up your screen which resembles a sheet of graph paper you will pass lines together with a username indicating where others have failed. It is great to sail past the height others have achieved.

The app has both Facebook and Twitter integration allowing you to boast about your latest high score. Alternatively you can use the app to mail challenge to a friend.

I don't thing Doodle Jump is an app you will play for hours on end. It is, however, a app you will return to time and time again to try and beat your previous high score because it's so infuriating if you just miss it!

9/10 and extremely well priced here

Angry Birds App Review

2010-05-03T14:26:00.002+01:00

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Quite simply a finger-flicking masterpiece.

So often the simplest concept makes the best games.

Each level (and there are now 105 and it's still rising!) features a limited number of angry birds and a catapult. Different birds have different abilities which can be activated with a simple swipe of the finger.

For example some are flying bombs, detonating on landing or with a flick if you need an earlier explosion. Some split into several mini birds on flicking, others speed up on impact causing more damage and others..... well that would spoil it just buy the game.

What are you aiming at..... pigs......but not any old pigs.... no green pigs who stole the birds eggs. each level has a certain number of green pigs of various sizes and defence level. You must destroy all of them before proceeding to the next level. In addition to their own defences (helmets) the pigs will be protected by wooden structures, concrete blocks and more.

Between one and 3 stars are awarded for each level with the ultimate aim being to unlock your 'Crystal' achievements of getting 3 stars in all levels. There are also golden egg levels to be unlocked throughout your journey.

Getting 3 stars on each level is far from easy. On many levels it will require wiping out all the pigs with your first bird. It requires thought, concentration and an element of luck.

A tip here...... if you have cleared all your pigs and nothing is happening.... look carefully and wait, it's probably not a hanging app! The level will not move on until all physical activity has stopped on the level. A rock may still be rolling, a concrete block moving slightly (and you may even have missed one of the tiniest pigs!)... just wait a few more seconds and all will be well.

Cheats and walkthrough apps are also available at the same price as the app. But get a life rather than do this . The game itself is hardly difficult to progress through. Yes 3 stars needs a little more attention. But why not use the brain rather than cheat?

I downloaded Angry Birds with a bit of scepticism - I thought surely this app can't be that good? And no it isn't it's better!

Thousands of people have now rated Angry Birds the majority awarding 5/5. In comparison only a handful have awarded 3 or less. Those people have probably rated low just to be annoying.

The price of this app is amazing and I have to wonder if at some stage the developers will either increase the price of the app rather than add more levels (there are still more 100% confirmed in the pipeline for the current app) or resort to releasing Angry Birds 2 instead. It will be an interesting marketing decision.

For me Angry Birds is the most innovative gaming app yet!

10/10 and available right here

Met Office Weather App Review

2010-03-28T18:44:00.001+01:00

Price at time of writing FREE

Oh this app makes me so annoyed!

Why?

Because it's a bit like the old school reports - Metty is a good app but he could do better!

As I write this the Met Office weather application has 7500 star ratings on iTunes. If you divide down the middle those who have rated 1-3 stars and those that have given 3-5 stars it's a pretty even split and I can quite see why that split arises.

Start up this UK weather app and you are greeted by the main screen which displays the current weather conditions for your main chosen loaction (set up in favourites section of this app together with any other locations you may wish to access easily)

This first screen is actually the most impressive - the background and displayed image relate to current conditions. The images are always nice high resolution pictures and you can also see your current weather graphic, temperature, windspeed and sunrise/sunset time. If appropriate a weather warning symbol also displays which will take you to that warning if pressed.

Now if the rest of the app was this good it would be 10/10.

However, whilst it is a free app, the Met Office really could do with paying some attention to the rest of the functions.

Top right of the menu is an (i) symbol. This is where you set your preferred wind speed measurement and chose between celcius and fahrenheit displays.OK but it just feels out of place here as if they didn't know where to stick it. A preferences tag at the bottom would have been better.

There are already 5 tags at the botton these are:

1.Home (back to the main screen)
2. Weather - click and you'll get the summary forecast for the next 5 days for your chosen location. Click on the summary and you'll get a more detailed forecast for that 24 hour period. This section is actually ok but obviously depends on the reliability of the forecast.
3. Maps - At lightning speed (although you can pause) watch a slideshow of weather maps for a 5 day period. Why the slide speed is set at about 2 frames per second is anybody's guess. I challenge anybody to be satisfied with a half second glance at a weather map.
There is also a "text icon" top right on this screen. Only the met office will have a clue why they put it here but this is your main written forecast (couldn't this be on the front screen where that (i) icon is?)
4. Data - an underwhelming infra red cloud cover satellite demonstration for the past few hours. Often these images are corrupted and surely we want future weather cloud cover forecasts? We know what has just gone!
5 Search - chose your defaut location and set up your favourites. This is basically ok but come on if I search for Tunbridge Wells it returns nothing - not even a weather station near to that and I bet this is not the only locality.

Where is international weather?

Historic data may be interesting and weather facts too.

As it stands the app is good for the at a glance weather and for your quick forecast for the next few days.

But it needs work on everything else and as it has been out some while that should be sooner rather than later.

I'll gladly come back and increase this rating if it is improved or enhanced. As it stands it is a fast weather app which is good but has the potential to be great.

8/10 and at least it's free here

Invisible Deck App Review

2010-03-28T17:45:00.000+01:00

Price at time of writing £1.70 (approx $3)

Forget the reviews on iTunes. There are far too many people who have given this 3 stars or less. There can only be two reasons for that. They are that they haven't put enough thought into practicing the presentation or have not understood the instruction properly.

For the serious magician the app has numerous uses but the simplest way is to demonstrate to your victim that you have turned over, in your virtual card deck, ANY card they were thinking of.

With several different card sets and backs to choose from the presentation quality is ace (pun intented) each time.

The working method is totally invisible once you have followed the very clear instructions. A lot of thought has gone into this effect and it is well worth the money I paid above. This can't be said for the majority of magic apps nearly all of which are marketed at this price because developers claim "you are paying for the secret" regardless of the quality of the app . Even a practice session has been built in - that is an excellent addition which you should use. All magic should be practiced and, believe me, if you can read and use the practice session many times there will be no reason to critisize this superb effect.

Some reviews on this have said Rising Card is much better - utter rubbish - Rising Card (which I have reviewed already) is very good. But the working method is not invisible and the presentation is not as slick.

Once an experienced magician gets used to the method this ability to reverse any card can have so many uses in a routine.

Yes, even though the instructions are clear, it does need practice. I find it also requires a little concentration before you start to ensure you are doing it right. The solution to that is just to build it into your routine. e.g. "I am using pure will power to reverse the card - it takes a little while due to the extreme concentration required"

I will agree with something a few people have said. That the developer has implied the victim can be the only one to touch your iPhone or iPod touch when the effect is shown. This is actually incorrect but with thought over presentation that won't matter and they can handle it all they like later even thumbing through the whole deck. After you have performed the trick on them tell them to do it on you and watch how hopeless they are.
There's, of course, a 1 in 52 chance they might just get it right but then that looks even more amazing. You can claim transference of mystical powers!

As with all magic effects I won't go into further detail as good magic is hard to find and this effect should be enjoyed by as many people as you can show it to.

Just read carefully and practice and you will be able to really impress people with this marvellous magic app.

10/10 Download this super app

iFish Pond app review

2010-03-20T18:16:00.000Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Let's get one thing straight with this app. It eats the power of your device for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do not play this simulation if you have something more important to do later because you may find yourself literally powerless.

Battery drainage is the price you pay for a beautiful pond simulation though. The developer reckons he currently has the best water simulation in this type of app and he's probably right.

The fish, the pond, the pond backgrounds - they are all beautiful. The fish animation is lovely and realistic.

You can fish in your pond too. Cast with a simple flick of the device and tap the scren to add a little food in the area of your float. Then wait..................................... the good thing here is that unlike some fishing simulations you really will have to wait. Like in real fishing the fish don't literally throw themselves at you and they may refuse your juicy bait for quite a while.

When you do get a bite the "reeling in" is really well done and yes they can "get away". The number of catches are recorded together with your record weight., Catch enough fish and there's some surprises to unlock. Several "pond bottoms" are available at the outset all beautifully presented.

It's early days for this app at the time of writing and there is little room for improvement. I would like to see integrated on line high scores (Open Feint perhaps?) and perhaps a "brag to your friends option"? If anything could be done about the battery drainage it would be nice but I think the quality of the presentation would be compromised somewhere. Therefore it is perhaps an app best played either when you are attached to a charging source or saved for a time when running the battery flat doesn't matter.

Downloading this was a very pleasant surprise - iFish Pond looks gorgeous and I'd be surprised if it doesn't hit iTunes hot list in a very short time.

9/10 Download from

Arcade Solitaire Tri Towers App Review

2010-03-20T17:23:00.000Z

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

If you love solitaire the ITunes store leaves you spoilt for choice and it's hard to knwo where to start looking.

Arcade Solitaire Tri Towers is a good app, in fact the wife loves it.

I do have to say, however, that the price tag mentioned above seems to be a little steep for what is essentially a single solitaire game.Yes there are 3 different 'modes' you can play: Arcade Mode - normal mode with extra lives, Survival - no lives and Chill mode no time limit and extra lives but for me this isn't enough for a 10/10 rating when looking at the current price tag.

It's colourful, it has different 'skins' and card backs available, the sounds are great and it is an addictive little game for a solitaire addict but there is better available for less cash.

I feel the developer would do better with this being marketed at the lowest price tag in the app store.

And there is one final annoying thing that bugs my wife no end. You can earn all the extra lives you like but they are only valid if you already don't have a couple of lives in storage. That is not a true extra life

To its credit the game is Open Feint enabled allowing for a nice string of achievements to aim for together with high score leaderboards.

A good app? Yes. But with a lot of competition in the solitaire app market I could see Arcade Solitaire Tri Towers being substituted for something with a bit more content in the event that somebody's iPhone or iPod Touch becomes a little app-bloated.

8/10 Available here

Game of Life app review

2010-03-06T16:38:00.001Z

Price at time of writing £1.79 (approx $3)

Distributed by Electronic Arts, Game Of Life faithfully recreates the board game of the same name

Single Player or up to 4 player multiplayer is also available (pass the unit play - not wi-fi or Bluetooth which is a bit of a shame given the price) .

Let's be honest though Game of Life is a game you would sit down and play with the kids or the kids would play by themselves.

And that is exactly how you should treat this app. Kids will probably love the spinning of the wheel, the bright colourful graphics and watching their chosen "token" venturing round the board.

On iTunes you will notice that the star ratings are all over the place - a relatively even spread between 1 and 5. In this case that's probably a fair verdict. It's great if you want a faithful recreation of a board game that you enjoy or if you want to shut the kids up for a while.

If, as an adult, you'd prefer something to test more than a single brain cell buy something else.

Based on the fact it's great for kids 8/10

Available here

Rising Card app review

2010-03-06T14:55:00.005Z

Magic on the iPhone and iPod Touch has rapidly become a very big thing.

Mainly because with each unit's fabulous portability, quick operation and superb graphics demonstrations can be very impressive.

In fact if more effort is put into development of quality magic trick apps you could almost put on a professional magic show with just your Apple gadget to hand.

As it is there are magic tricks galore available from iTunes but currently few of those have the professional touch.

As nothing scoring less than 8/10 will appear on this site it will take some real magic to appear here.

Rising Card makes the grade - just.

It's a really good final effect. The magician is able to make any card (even including the joker) rise from a pack. Obviously there are several lead ups to this trick a magician could use including the simplest "Just think of a card"

It looks brilliant but it could be so much better and I am hoping that the developers may take note of these comments and take apption to make this truly professional.

Its a great magic effect but because of the way it works performing it more than once on the same person (or even somebody who is concentrating hard) the method could easily be spotted.
Obviously I can't say much here but users of iForce will know what I mean when I say the lead in to that effect is much more professional and far less obvious than this one is. This one helps the magician far too much and opens the trick to suspicion when with a little effort the method could be completely invisible.
Theory 11 (the makers) need to remove the obvious stuff because I am sure even the most amateur magician can handle the workings of this without such help.
It also needs to learn lessons from Invisible Deck - it needs to have multiple backgrounds and decks to choose from.
The effect also always has the Ace of Spades on the bottom of the deck facing the audience member. This is a pathetic oversight - a clearly random facing card would not have been asking too much and allows for the app to be used again later in a show.
With a little reprogramming by the developer the user could get to see the virtual deck first with a random card on the bottom..... they then get to shake the unit to "shuffle" the cards. A shuffle sound occurs whilst shaking and when happy they can check the facing card has changed and they can then press a button on the screen to exit the app (so the magician can't play with the cards). The magician is then handed the unit back and puts it face down whilst the performer thinks of a card. When the card is named the magician just turns the unit over, navigates normally to the rising card app and performs the trick.
The silly thing is most of the hard work has already gone into this trick. But it does need improving. This is currently the same price as other professional tricks but for me until it is made just that little bit more professional it is only worth the 99p price tag.
I am hoping the developers are treating this app as a work in progress as it does have so much more potential.

I will revisit this review should Theory 11 update it in due course. I hope they do improve it as it could become a magic classic.

Don't get me wrong, considering some of the rubbish magic trick apps on iTunes, this is one of the better magic apps and should be part of a magician's collection.

It's just not up there with the greatest effects...... yet.

8/10 Magic available here

Open Feint application review

2010-03-05T20:10:00.003Z

Price at time of writing FREE

By now most seasoned game players on the iPhone or iPod touch will have come across Open Feint.

It is the popular utility for the sharing of high scores, chatting about apps, looking at your game achievements and editing your profile.

So why create an app specifically for Open Feint when you can access it from within any Open Feint enabled game?

Well a free game every day that has Open Feint functionality is a good reason.Each game is only available for the 24 hour period.

Early on following the release of this app users were complaining that the Free App was a "lite" version rather than a full game. To be fair Open Feint did state this would be the case from the outset.

However, recently, the balance has changed with a lot of full apps being given away free. Granted the vast majority may only keep you entertained a few hours, rather than weeks but they are FREE.

Max Injury was one such app which had a FREE DAY recently. Granted it is no longer on my IPod Touch (and it doesn't make my 8/10 criteria as it's far too short). But it did remain on my gadget for a couple of days and I quite enjoyed flinging my "dummy" over, across, and at various obstacles trying to do the most damage.

This app isn't an "earth mover" by way of functionality by any means but it does make the grade purely because giving things away these days for free is always handy !

8/10 Get the free app here

Texas Hold Em App Review

2010-03-05T17:53:00.001Z

Price at time of writing £2.99 (approx $5)

I am no poker expert but do know how to play the game and what a great game this is too in fact with it's great graphics I would descibe it more as a poker simulation.

Multiplayer is available from the main menu but single player against the various AI opponents is just as entertaining.

If you play holding your iPhone or iPod Touch in landscape mode you can play a faster game as you just have the overhead table top view.

If you want to view the excellent photorealistic animation in gameplay and are happy with a slower, but more true to life game, simply turn your gadget to portrait mode at any point.

Despite a few moans and groans thst I have read in the iTunes review the vast majority of users agree that this is a superb simulation.

For the price I mention above I think the game is excellent value.

Like Texas Hold Em in real life making money is not easy, easy to learn, but not easy to win big.

You start off your career playing in the Garage but your ability to play in the Cruise Liner, Aquarium, Vegas and other amazing venues you will have to perform well in each successive venue. This success is hard to earn and that gives it superb replay value. Believe me I've spent so much time in the garage I feel at home there now - I have progressed out briefly to higher venues briefly only to be outplayed by the AI players.

I love the beautiful animation in portrait mode of both the dealer and players. The facial expressions are great. If I have any critisism at all it's that I wish a few more animations had been taken of the players as they are somewhat limited.

Controls have been well though out and are simple to exectute. Everything from folding by throwing your cards in to "checking" by a double tap on the poker table is so easy.

Texas Hold Em is a superb application by Apple Inc. at a very fair price. I will be exploring other poker apps in due course but this will be hard to equal let alone beat.

10/10 and downloadable from here

Free Apps Review

2010-03-05T12:55:00.000Z

Price at time of writing FREE

Look it's not going to win any awards for presentation although the developer PBJ Studios has a sense of humour in saying following a recent update that the interface is "63% less ugly" than it was before.

To be fair for an app with such a basic function the screens are as detailed and informative as they need to be.

The sole object of the app is to give you a quick and easy way to locate iphone and ipod touch apps that were previously "paid for" but are now free.

When the app contacts the database you can sort your list in 3 ways - by category - rank within category - or alphabetically.

Because of the huge volume of apps which are complete rubbish I have found I use only one of these sorting methods - rank within category.

Apple do not permit their star ratings to appear in third party apps so the developer has arranged a clever alternative method of judging good apps for bad.

If an app was ranked #3 in games for example it will be towards the top of the list whilst a utility that was ranked 5000 in its category will be way down.

I would recommend this method of sorting. Free Apps is free app and at the end of a 30 day period I understand you can stick with a fully functional ad supported version or pay on a 30 day cycle period for an ad-free version.

I have to be honest because of the vast amount of rubbish apps this is always going to throw at you I can not see that this is ever going to be worth paying a one-off fee for let alone a monthly fee.Also the database is sometimes several hours behind "live iTunes" and you can therefore regularly choose to look at a free app only to see the price has gone back up. The database update period really needs to be changed.

Free Apps does what it claims to and is worthwhile if you want to look daily to see if there is a bargain going. But it isn't worth paying for.

8/10 Download from

Wild West Guns App Review

2010-02-27T18:00:00.003Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

It doesn't matter if you pay the price above for this app or 4 times that if it has increased by the time you read this. It's worth the money!

This game demonstrates why Gameloft has become one of the most popular developers of gaming apps.

We're in the Wild West with the simple "tap to shoot" mode of operation. Take part in superb arcade type gunfights against multiple bandits aiming to accrue enough points to unlock the next level. Stop bandits from taking over a train or a saloon. Stop vultures from flying off with cute little bunnies. Shoot sombreros, before they land, as they fly like clay pigeons through the air whilst fending off bandits coming at you. You have to avoid shooting innocent people and other objects you are told will reduce your score.

It would spoil the game if I gave any more examples of gameplay action so I won't.

The graphics? Outstanding - a real pleasure to look at. Bright, colouful and beautiful. A real credit to the developers.

The sound is excellent too - it never gets irritating.

But what makes it great for me is that just-one-more-go "pick up and play" factor.

It really does have that arcade game satisfaction feel.

The accuracy on the "shooting" is just right and despite the fact your finger is all over the screen chasing bandits you never feel your finger is obstructing gameplay

I am one of those people who finds Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars overhyped, nasty to control and really bad value for money (note it does not come in my recommendations). This app can currently be bought for around 1/10 the price of that app yet I enjoy this 10x more.

Progress through all the 6 levels containing 18 challenges in Wild West Guns at your chosen level of difficulty and if you complete the game you will open other gameplay modes. There are 5 different gameplay modes to unlock giving the game plenty of extra life. However I have been quite happy to play even the normal level many times trying to beat my previous highest score. I find the game that good.

Many giving feeedback on this game on iTunes have said it's worth more than its current price and I agree with them fully. It is way above the quality of many a more expensive game.

10/10

Why not check out this extraordinarily great shooter here?

iQuarium app review

2010-02-24T17:15:00.000Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1) Please note at the time this was half price.

iQuarium is one of the most popular paid apps on iTunes ever. At least it was until the disastrous patches taking it to version 1.60 and 1.61.

How star ratings can nosedive if a patch messes things up!

In it's normal fully functioning form iQuarium is quite beautiful, the graphics are stunning. and the animation is beautiful. My screenshots show iquarium before the luxury items are unlocked like the beautiful high resolution backdrops and realistic plants and rocks.

You have a single Parrot fish and you care for your virtual pet like you would a normal fish. Of course you have to feed him and pay him attention. If you neglect him he will get ill and soon die.

For each ten minutes that pass you accrue 1 point. Different items are unlocked as you accrue more points. This starts off with gravel, bubbles (sounds great) and backgrounds and for higher accumulated points you get plants, rocks, working clocks (12 and 24 hour clock switchable) and treasure chests which award more points when opened. Version 1.60 was meant to enable a second fish option (I understand at 10,000 points).

The app is Open Feint integrated which works especially well. There are many achievements to obtain as you progress with caring for your virtual friend. It is an achievement list that was well thought out by the developer with achievements unlocked gradually over the course of a year (and that's only if you do a good job of caring).

Also in Open Feint are leaderboards and chat forums where you have announcements from the developer (infinite dreams inc) and the opportunity for user feedback.

However Infinite Dreams must be cursing their patch 1.60 which was aimed at curing a few minor problems and giving the users that 2nd fish in due course.

Like so many others my "Goldie" (yes you can name your fish) turned white on loading of the patch. This is normally because you haven't fed him/her, swimming gets lethargic too.

Very quickly users around the world posted on iTunes and in Open Feint that their "fish" had died. The developer asked anybody whos fish had died to email in and they'd try to sort things out. Of course all progress and unlocked content for your tank is lost. Not much of an issue if you've just started but if you have 214,748,364 points like user AznGuyz at the top of the leaderboard whether your fish is virtual or not you are going to be pretty annoyed. Although I have to admit some of these scores have appear to have been "hacked in" rather than genuine.

Some people posted that they are annoyed at loss of progress. Others are demanding a refund or a reinstatement of points and unlocked objects. Some people are even saying they don't know how they are going to break the news to the kids - yes I know this sounds a little over the top - but if you've been encouraging your kids to care for a virtual fish as a taster for what a real pet would be like to care for some littl'uns may take this hard.

The real explanation that the man who programmed the fish had just commited fishy genocide isn't going to be understood by anybody under about 6 years of age.

Infinite Dreams must be praying somebody isn't going to pursue litigation for the trauma caused by the loss of their virtual aquatic companion. Are you laughing? In this sue-for-everything culture we live in it could just happen! Psychological disturbance or compensation for hours of wasted "play time" - could these be grounds?

Infinite Dreams did try to rush out a patch for users like me whose "fish" was just surviving saying it would save the situation. All patch 1.61 did for me and may others was send my little orange, no sorry white, virtual pet to thet big fish tank in the sky.

Some like me on restarting then saw a purple/blue fish briefly but on restarting a 3rd time the whole app appeared to have gone back to the beginning with the fish being gold and no objects being unlocked.

At the time of writing this though the application is still bugged I've just relaunched and the fish is again blue and points are not accruing. If nothing else this allows me a screen shot of "Satsuma" who will now be renamed "Blueberry" (if he "lives").

As regards to score on this app prior to this disastrous episode it would have been a 10/10.

This may be a cheap app but it was a highly respected one and a good one to show off the iPhone and iPod touch capabilities.

I'm giving this an 8/10 for now in the hope that with urgency Infinite Dreams sort this horrendous mess out as soon as possible and upload to iTunes a fully functioning app which at least works to the high standard it did prior to 1.60. Ideally this should be free initially to save any new users buying a dodgy app. As for those who lost content it's unfortunate but unless backups are held of all progress I doubt if reinstatement is possible.

I am sure this will prove a lesson to all developers that releasing an upgrade without testing it on a multitude of users can have disastrous consequences.

8/10 for now and available here

Apple removes 5000+ sexy apps from iTunes

2010-02-23T20:26:00.000Z

Well talk about an over reaction.

The new app sitation was getting out of control with unprofessional pictures of women from every part of the planet appearing on iTunes on a daily basis.

Not just a few apps but dozens every day. Apps that were clearly launched to push Apple's no nudity rule to the very limit and clearly aimed at those wanting sexual gratification.

It made me wonder when the developers were going to run out of titles. Asia's sexiest babes, India's sexiest secretaries, Taiwanese hottest hotties the list went on and on and on.

So many absolutely pointless apps made finding something useful that had been newly launched practically impossible.

At some point something had to give. But the solution has been to remove just about every app that has a woman in a bikini or a man in a swimsuit from iTunes no matter what the apps quality.

Unless that is your name is Playboy in which case your app has been allowed to stay.

Hooters Crazy Eights card came which I have reviewed appears to have been removed both in the UK and America. The app is harmless and the pictures are of Hooters usual professional high standards. Whilst they are women in bikinis nobody could surely see this as sexually offensive? So that's been removed but Hooters slider puzzle app stays - there's nothing wrong with that either but where is the logic as both apps how the same amount of flesh?

From what I've read Playboy's app has been allowed to stay as Playboy's quality of production is renowned. If that is the case how stupid is that? You can't get a company that is more well known internationally as being sexually orientated yet that one stays.

I agree Playboy should stay but other apps should have been looked at individually to see what the actual production quality and usefulness of the app was before removing everything across the board.

If we are getting to this extreme then perhaps the Safari web browser should also be removed as that is just an open door to anybody viewing whatever they like?

There are other apps that permit web searches - they are all helpful to anybody seeking material far more revealing than anything that was available on iTunes.

Something has to be done to make common sense prevail. I expect Apple did have a few complaints about tacky apps but I doubt if the complainers wanted Apple to pull the plug on just about everything?

Some have spoken about an adult only app section. I doubt if this is really needed as that really would open the floodgates to the harder stuff of which there is more than enough on the web anyway and if anybody is desperate enough it is easy to transfer any material to your iphone or ipod touch from there.

My feeling is that Apple have to go back to looking at apps properly and to have a professional look at the material passing through. Does the app use it's own professional photographers for the photographs? Does it provide a function other than just sexy images such as a well made puzzle or game?

The app police seem to have gone a little too far on this one.

I guess we won't be seeing the Sun's page 3 girls on the iPhone or iPod touch in the forseeable future then? (Typing that I just thought I'd see if the Daily Star App was still available which it is. I wonder how long that will be for especially as they not only publish harmless pictures of women but they are also under the heading "Babes" which some extremists will probably see as being sexually offensive.)

Gentlemen the app police seem to have missed Sports Illustrated app which also uses professional photos of women in bikinis. Perhaps apps like this may become rare collector's items?

Better get it while you can here

TuneIn Radio App Review

2010-02-23T18:30:00.001Z

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

Whilst I am writing this review this app is (in the UK) #1 in music apps and #5 in top paid apps. It is receiving rave reviews with the vast majority being 5 stars and of the remainder mainly 4 stars are awarded. As for the very few people who have given this app less than 4 stars they are clearly insane, downloaded the wrong app, or haven't actually used it having bought it.

Listening to worldwide radio isn't anything new we've been able to do it on the PC for years.

What is new is this marvellous app which puts the worlds radio in your pocket. As long as you have a web connection you have access to radio from just about every country imaginable. If you don't have a connection that's fine just listen to something you recorded earlier using the app.

But there's more to this app than simply radio stations. What makes this app so perfect is the effort that has clearly been put into making sure that anybody can simply install and use it first time without reading any instructions.

Using the simple menus find your stations by subject matter, by location, language or look for local stations only. Alternatively use the search facility to search the whole database for any station or obscure subject type you fancy.

Bookmark your favourite stations with ease, record a show to play back later, pause a live stream for up to 30 minutes and there's even a facility to buy the playing song on iTunes should you wish.

As a bonus if your chosen radio station's stream happens to be very poor where possible the app will give you alternative streams to choose from.

The ironic thing I have found is that of the 30,000+ radio stations that are accessible using the app that I can receive without problem (including those in remote areas and on the other side of the planet) the one I can't get a quality stream from is the local radio station 1 which transmits just one mile down the road. Fortunately the station is pretty rubbish anyway so it's no loss to me whatsoever.

I love TuneIn Radio and I can see why so many others have joined me in purchasing this wonderfully useful app. Money well spent and highly recommended !

10/10 a must have app from

iSeismometer app review

2010-02-20T17:54:00.004Z

Price at time of writing FREE

For those with even the slightest interest in plate tectonics and the movement of the earth this app is quite fascinating.

This app works both on the latest iPhones and iPod Touch. Using the amazingly sensitive Apple accelerometer built into the devices this app picks up even the slightest earth movement.

Even if you live far from the nearest area associated with earthquakes you will be amazed at how much movement there is in the earth at every location on the planet. Rest assured the slightest movement will be shown.

This app offers more though.

You can use it to report an earthquake if you detect one, although I am sure that any report will have to be backed up by official data.

You can even set an alarm to sound at a movement level you set. I guess if you live in an area prone to severe earthquakes this could be very useful. Although I wonder how hard it is to choose the right alarm level?

You don't want to be awoken by every tremor yet you don't want your alarm to go off only after the rest of the house has crashed on top of you (that's if you wake up).

The main part of this app is, of course, the seismograph and it really is just that. Your own portable seismograph capable of picking up the slightest movement in any direction.

The only thing I would like to see added to such an app is the ability to record data for a timescale you set. It would be great to leave it running for 24 hours for example and to watch a time lapse video played back.

I guess the only issue there is the memory needed to store the data?

A really good app and best of all it free (at the time of writing this).

9/10 download now at

Fling app review

2010-02-20T16:51:00.000Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Fling is a strangely simple game that actually turns out to get infuriatingly difficult as you progress through the levels. Yet it remains an app that keeps you going back for another try as your progress is saved after every complete stage.

Just like Chuzzle you are confronted by a varying number of cute coloured fluffy balls. On each level these are laid out. The colour of the balls has no relevance - just makes it look nice.

All you do is fling (by flicking) one ball along it's row or column towards another ball to force it off the screen. If there is more than one opposing ball it will be a chain reaction forcing the last ball off. You continue doing this until you have just one remaining ball on each stage.

Each level consists of a number of stages and each level increases in difficulty.

Gameplay sounds easy - and for the first 5 levels or so you will probably think it is fairly simple. But gradually more balls and more complicated arrangements of balls appear. With the hardest stages having just one unique solution many levels will have you stumped and trying over and over until you get it right.

But it's these stages which make Fling such an attractive purchase. Who wants a game you can complete in an hour? I certainly don't. I like the fact that if you get stumped you can take a break and go back to it any time you like.

Yes, for those who give in easy, there is a hint (cheat) feature but I'm one of those people who won't let a game get the better of me - I'd rather persevere and get there eventually than cheat.

For such a low price Fling is a lovely gaming app to keep on your Apple device

9/10 and available from

Quake Watch App Review

2010-02-18T18:58:00.001Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Enter the word Earthquake into the iTunes app store and your reward will be a complete page of apps.

To save a lot of trial and error on your part I can gladly tell you that Quake Watch - Latest Earthquakes info is a superb all round application.

I've been interested in earthquakes, seismology, volcanos, continental drift and tectonic plates, and the amazing power of the earth since I was very young (a long time ago).

This superbly presented app receives daily use from me not only because it is well laid out and very functional but because of its speed in updating compared to similar applications.

Track and show any earthquakes reported with their within minutes of their occurence. See where they are in relation to your location. Set it to view all earthquakes or only those higher than a level you set on the richter scale. Google maps pinpoints the exact earthquake location including its didtance from you and its depth.

Quake Watch is to receive a dedicated page on this site for a more in depth look at its functions and options.

But don't wait for me to finish that whether you live in an earthquake zone or not you will find this app fascinating and I am sure, like me, it will be used regularly by you.

10/10 a very worthy download from

Chuzzle App Review

2010-02-16T17:18:00.000Z

Price at time of writing £2.99 (approx $5)

"Match 3 to delete" type games seem to be available everywhere at the moment.

To stand out in the crowded marketplace of such games you have to do something a little different.

Chuzzle , by Pop Cap games, has been around on the PC for several years now and its transition to the iPhone and iPod touch works well.

Chuzzles "stand out" factors are the cute and puzzle factors.

Cute because you are moving around "living, breathing" little fluffy ball creatures rather than diamonds or the normal objects in this type of game.

The puzzle factor really comes to the fore as you progress in the classic game when larger chuzzles appear several times the size of the little creatures these can make moves increasingly difficult.

The sounds are simple but effective for this type of game. If you eventually get tired of the classic game there are other game modes available including a zen mode, speed mode and a mind bender mode. Mind bender tests the patience and skills of the most commited puzzle lover as you try to match the layout demonstrated by moving your chuzzles around.

It's a very popular game on the PC and it has gained good reviews on iTunes.

Critisisms? At the price I quote above it could be seen as a little expensive compared to similar applications. Local high scores only are available - so many games have global high scores now that it would not have taken a lot of effort to build this in.

Chuzzle is still an entertaining pick up and play game and is a great addition to any game collection - but £2.99 is a little expensive - watch for it to be reduced in price as it has been lower in the past and I feel it will have to fall to retain consumer interest.

8/10 check out the current price at

Animation Creator App Review

2010-02-13T18:02:00.002Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Look I'm clearly no artist but short as it is I knocked the above short sequence together on this app in literally a matter of minutes.

I'm honest in saying I read absolutely no instructions (I still haven't) and just learned as I went along.

To be fair it's received very mixed reviews but realistically this isn't the app for everybody. Animation is not complicated it just requires subtle changes from frame to frame and not everybody has the patience for that type of experience.

Me? I love this. I love the fact you can build animations way longer than my small effort here. It is really just limited by your imagination. You will find that where it has been given good scores by users it appears to be from the more "mature" user who seriously loves animation and has a little patience in the knowledge that superb results can follow.

There's a basic colour pallette which can be adjusted to practically unlimited via sliders. Brush sizes can be changed. Shadows can be added automatically or not. Zooming in for touch-ups is so easy using the "pinch technique" There's an eraser for mistakes together with an undo function.

Upload direct to you tube (like I have) and tweet your you tube link direct from the app. You can draw freehand, draw lines, shapes and more from one simple tool menu.

Oh I almost forgot what you see above is a fairly slow frame rate. You can actually change for frame rate instantly from between 1/2 and 24 frames a second. This makes for incredible animations for the longer creations.

For a bloke I have relatively medium sized fingers - even then this can make drawing a little fiddly trying to see what is under your fingers. Someone with very large fingers may struggle and accidentally open menus whilst drawing. But this is not an application fault - the developer has done an excellent job in creating an app which includes so much for such a little price.

One thing's for sure my next creation will be longer than 6 seconds!

An amazing app for the creative type at a real bargain price!

10/10

Download directly from

iSpy Cameras App review

2010-02-09T22:01:00.001Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

For the full review on this please see my dedicated page on this wonderful app as I will be adding to that page.

In short though if you find the idea of watching the world from your armchair this is the app for you.

Watch animals in San Diego Zoo, holidaymakers in Hawaii, try and spot relations on a New Zealand beach, have a look at the bicycles outnumbering cars in The Netherlands. Watch life in hotels, bars and streets worldwide.

I have to be honest I find this app addictive with cams being added all the time and an incredible number to choose from already you really are spoilt for choice.

Add your most visited cams to a favourites menu, choose a random selection, look at the most recently added cams, just browse the whole lot or choose a category or country.

Many cameras can even be controlled by you with multiple views available.

You can even submit new public cameras if you have the details.

This really is the world in the palm of your hands.

It is the best cam app I have seen for the iPod Touch or iPhone by far.

I also must add here that I have hundreds of apps and that this is easily my favourite and most used.

For the small price it's a must-have-addition to a decent app collection.

10/10

If you use iTunes USA get it here

Or for iTunes UK here

Paper Toss Ad-Free App (or maybe not) Review

2010-02-07T18:02:00.002Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

Paper toss is a legend in popular apps. A simple concept. There are several locations to choose from including an airport, office and a basement.

The aim is just to throw a ball of paper into a waste paper basket positioned at various distances away from you according to your chosen level.

You are also hindered by wind, no not flatulence, the variety that eminates from a fan the positioning of which varies in the game. You are given an indication of the direction and speed of your obstructing breeze.

All you have to do is gain your highest consecutive number of throws into each location's trash can with your high score being uploaded to a global high score table.

The graphics are great, the sounds are excellent, the gameplay is great and essentially it's a 10/10 app.

So I'm giving it 8.

Why?

Because there is a FREE version of this app which is supported by advertising. It is a fabulous app and to be honest the advertising isn't too intrusive either.

I went for this version with the promise that it is ad-free.

Well Backflip Studios have told a bit of a porkie pie here because no there is no advertising during actual gameplay - they've just got it all over the high score tables instead.

An app advertised as ad-free should be exactly that - no ads anywhere.

I hope Backflip Studios see sense that this is more than a little deceptive and see fit to remove the ads. If they do so I will gladly come back here and give it back its deserved ad-free rating.

Until that happens users need either to consider that this is not FULLY ad-free or go for the free version instead.

8/10

Paid for version

Free Version

Currency Master App Review

2010-02-07T15:17:00.003Z

Price at time of writing FREE

Please note : This app was renamed Currency Master so please excuse references to it's original name, Currency Pad.

Please note as I write this the currency pad app is on a free promotion - I do not expect it to stay this way. I would still give this app it's given rating even if it had been charged at the $1.99 (£1.19) level as I think it's worth up to that amount.

I make use of currency conversion regularly - mainly from US$ to £UK - so I like to be able to keep up to date with currency exchange rates.

I just wanted something with a simple layout, easy to use and reliably updated.

Currency Pad fits all those requirements and more.

On the front page you can simply set up your favourite "currency pairs" this gives you your most regularly used exchanges at a glance.

Beneath that are your customizable currency lists. Pick a list - add or delete currencies as required - and set your "base" currency entering an amount of your choice for comparison to all chosen currencies.

The developer has made added more interest into this very capable application by adding commodity prices into the mix. Want too see the current cost of a barrel of oil in any currency? No problem just click and then get furious over how much it's just cost you to fill up your car with petrol! The same goes for silver, gold, aluminium and other commodities.

For simplicity this is a marvellous app for the iphone or ipod touch. There is no need to make something as simple as currency exchange complicated or try to create marvellous graphics.

The only thing I would change is the name from Currency Pad to Currency Master because that is what this little app is.

10/10 and available from

iPint App Review

2010-02-04T18:56:00.002Z

Price at time of writing free

This is an extremely popular app provided free as a promotion by brewer Carling.

In reality it is little more of a novelty but it does demonstrate tremendously the iphone's or ipod touch's tilt control ability and super graphics.

The first part is the iPint - the ability to pour a graphically impressive virtual pint (well given the size of your phone or touch a virtual couple of hundred mls anyway). To impress your mates you can then pretend to drink your virual pint and your "glass" empties accordingly.

The second part to this is the guiding of a pint of lager from one end of a bar to another to your virtual buddy at the other end of the bar using tilt control. The length of the bar and the number of obstacles are factors decided by your chosen difficulty level of beginner, intermediate or advanced. In reality intermediate is just a longer easy and advanced is a longer still easy. Reach your "mate's" eager hand at the other end and you are rewarded with........ yes you've guess it ....a virtual iPint.

Look this app is not going to serve any long term function but it is a bit of fun as a short term novelty and better still it's free.

You may as well download it and have a go just to see what all the hype has been about!

8/10 Download your virtual tipple at

(You must be over 18 and remember to "drink" your iPint responsibly)

The World Factbook 2010 App Review

2010-02-03T18:53:00.002Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx $1)

This app is a bargain at the price above and to be fair although it is 75% discounted at the above price I do think it would still be worth the full price too.

The word factbook has become an extremely popular resource for keeping up to date with interesting facts and figures from all the countries of the world.

The actual World Factbook database is used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world from students to government agencies.

The database is kept up to date with regular upgrades so for those of you interested in transnational issues with countries regularly in the news, like Afghanistan, you will not be left feeling you have been deprived of topical information.

A bonus for me is that the app is an offline app so all that application can be called up whether you have a web connection or not. I find it a great app when you have 10 minutes to spare and just want to read something interesting about any country of your choice.

I can't fault The World Factbook - it does what it states it does - and does so very well.

Extremely recommended for facts, figures, current affairs and information addicts!

10/10 Get it now from

Wordflick App Review

2010-01-31T20:29:00.003Z

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

Scrabble is a classic word game made by Hasbro it's a superb game and I gave it 10/10.

Wordflick is less than half the price, made by a small, independent developer, Michael Thomason. It is equally as addictive (more so in some ways) and deserves to have considerable success in the difficult App Marketplace.

The concept is simple. Letters appear at the top. Just drag them within the allocated time limit to form words at the bottom of the screen. The more impressive the word - the more points are scored. You have a limited number of "letter refreshes" on each level.

Local and on-line high scores are available. The online high score not only recording the highest overall scorers but also the highest scoring words.

I love this app for so many reasons:

1. It's not hard to play but it is refreshingly hard to get a good score. Scrabble is a game which can easily go for over an hour. Wordflick? You'll be doing well if you survive over 9 minutes - and I'm not joking! Why so hard? Because as you figure out the words you are going to play the letters randomly change if you don't "go for it" quick enough. Seeing a 10 letter word only to lose letter 9 can drive you mad in a great way on this game. If you get to level 5 you almost feel like throwing a party and at the time of writing this I've only done that once!

2. I like the random bonus letters that pop up giving you things like bonus time and points.

3. It is very well presented with a colourful background.

4. The sounds are spot on for a game of this type

5. The difficulty is just right making this a great game to pick up and play safe in the knowledge that it is unlikely to consume more than 10 minutes of your life at a time.

6. I like the high score options (I have struggled to 34th - I won't be there for long!)

7. I like the fact if you wish you can have your own music while you play.

8. Most importantly I like the way this developer has incorporated a development blog into this app where he seeks feedback from users - how refreshing is that?

I have contacted the developer regarding this great app and I know further enhancements are still on the cards.

I have to admit to being a total Wordflick addict at the moment and for £1.19 ($2) that can't be bad!

If you like word games this has the potential to consume your life!

10/10 Get the app from

LiveCams EarthCam App Review

2010-01-24T20:46:00.003Z

Price at time of writing FREE

EarthCam needs no long explanations. It is simply a collection of live webcams from around the world (granted the vast majority are in the USA & Canada).

The user is able to watch any of these feeds. Time lapse videos are available for many cams - the one in Trafalgar Square (London) I found fascinating.

You can add ANY still to your photo album.

This has received mixed reviews - one complained that there were only 2 in England (both in London) , a scattering in Europe and the vast majority from the USA.

True enough, but there are still a vast number of interesting cams to take a look at. I've pictured only a few but I found it incredible watching the Niagara Falls and then people wandering around the streets of New Orleans unaware people around the world are watching them.

Not all the countries in the menu (note I've only pictured part of the menu) currently have cams listed and there are some very noteworthy countries not listed including Australia and New Zealand.

I hope we see more countries added in due course as this app really has some potential.

It is more than worth it's FREE price tag and if cams can be added for more countries this could become one of the most popular apps ever. Watch out pickpockets and muggers you never know where in the world you may be being watched!

Excellent app 9/10 Download at

Arcade Hoops Basketball App

2010-01-24T14:05:00.002Z

Price at time of review £1.19 (approx $2)

Like NBA Hotshot this is a simulation of the basketball machines you get to play in arcades. This app is slightly more expensive but boy you get what you pay for and more.

Graphically amazing on the small screen with great animation of the moving basket. Spot-on sounds add to the experience.

I would have given this app 10/10 without the new mode "3 point classic" which has just been added for all users completely free of charge - but it is a welcome addition - with the basket fixed in it's 3 point position and nice new balls.

The other modes are Classic (45 seconds of 2 point shooting) and Progressive (99 seconds of trying for 2 and 3 pointers). Both local and global high scores for each mode are available.

This is one gaming app which just feels right in all respects. It looks good, sounds good, even the variation in "flick" needed for the moving basket feels right.

The quality of this game for the price I am reviewing it at is outstanding. Skyworks have pitched the pricing well to ensure good sales and recommendation and adding a new mode for free will keep existing owners very happy.

A small amount of money very well spent!

10/10 Get it from

NBA Hotshot App

2010-01-24T13:34:00.002Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

A nice looking arcade basketball machine simulation with good sounds and graphics.

The objective is, as you may expect, to score as many points by tossing as many balls through the hoop as you can in the time limit.

Two modes are currently available to you Classic Play (time limit mode) and Three Strikes (as it sounds - three misses and your time's up).

A flashing ball indicates a ball which will give you bonus points. Personally I would have liked to have seen bonus ball as an additional mode as you won't find flashing balls in the arcades!

Multiplayer is also available if other players are within range of you.

In my view, there are other arcade basketball simulations out there which are better. But at the price quoted above this is superb value and you will get more than your money's worth by way of regular pick-up-and-play entertainment.
Local high scores apply and the Plus+ network provides a variety of achievements to aim for. You can also win virtual prizes as you accrue points.

NBA Hotshot by Freeverse is a really nice, recommended application.

8/10

Buy and download

ITN News app review

2010-01-21T20:47:00.002Z

Price at time of writing FREE

Obviously having reviewed the Sky News app I have to compare the two.

There's 4 tabs at the bottom giving you a choice of news stories from News Headlines, Sport, Business and Fun. This selection gives a good variety of content.

There's a good number of stories and a number carry video footage.

I love the fact there is no advertising but it is a little odd that there is no option to get the latest weather - not even as a video on the news page.

However on balance as far as usefulness goes I think that at the moment it's on a par with Sky's new offering.

And who can complain as long as it stays free?

9/10 Download from

Arcade Bowling app review

2010-01-21T18:37:00.005Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

You may wish to compare this with my review for Skee-Ball - the link can be found in the label list to the right.

There isn't much to say on this worthwhile application as it is remarkably similar to Skee-Ball primarily because it's based on the same game. Graphically there isn't much to choose between them - down to personal preference I guess.

Sound wise I think Skee Ball has the edge but I really like the progressive game mode on this one. This is as it sounds you are given a points target and you need to achieve it with your 9 balls - do it and you get a higher target - and so on.

With online high scores on both the Classic and Progressive modes you can see how good you are compared to others.

Which should you go for Skee Ball or Arcade Bowling? Oh come on at the prices I am quoting at the time of this review it would be a little silly not to have both. They are both great little games to pick up and play when you have a minute or two to spare.

9/10 Click to buy at

Peggle App Review

2010-01-21T15:09:00.003Z

Price at time of writing £1.79 (approx $3)

Peggle is a delightful, addictive, game which has seen the light of day on so many consoles and systyems - from the PC to a mobile phone and from a Nintendo DS to an XBox360. It has a huge fan base across all versions.

For those who are unfamiliar with the game the format is simple - launch a limited number of balls in the right direction to clear all orange pegs which appear randomly on each level. There are various obstacles to hinder, and power ups to aid you. As you would expect bonus points and extra balls arise from skillful ball launches.

The multi level adventure mode is huge and a challenge mode (achieve set targets for each level), quick play (select a level) , duel mode (against another player taking turns or against AI opponent) just add to a great game.

At the price I mention above it is superb value in fact if the game was as "polished " as it's versions on other consoles I am sure this would warrant a higher price.

However whilst the gameplay is as wonderful as ever there are a few ways this version of Peggle falls behind very slightly in quality.

1. Sound - One of Peggles highlights is it's sound - the app version has a distinctly tinny sound to it both in sound effects and music.

2. Background graphics - Again another console highlight for Peggle is the crisp colourful background on each level. Whilst the backgrounds are the same here they don't have the same sharp definition. Indeed I'd go as far as to say the graphics are good rather than great.

3. The button to launch your ball is at the top right of the screen? Why? I just can't see why anybody thought this a good idea. The fine positioning "wheel" at the right is a nice, useful touch so why nobody thought it a good idea to put this above the launch button is anybody's guess. This may seem trivial but it just seems odd that the decision was made to put the launch button in a position where a large hand could potentially obscure the on screen action as the ball is launched.

It does seem that a few corners were cut when this version was created and perhaps Pop Cap Games were aware this didn't quite match up in looks and sounds to other versions and priced accordingly?

So why the heck am I still giving it 10/10 given the factors above?

Purely because it's still a superb hand-held game and the price above represents an extremely fair price for such entertainment - it still has the capacity to consume many hours of your life.

Just bear in mind the factors mentioned above if te price does increase in due course. For example if this had been a £3.99 ($7 approx app) I would have given 8/10.

10/10 (at a price of £1.79 approx £3)

Buy and download at

Daily Star app review

2010-01-20T20:24:00.002Z

Price at time of writing FREE

The Daily Star is the first of the UK tabloid newspapers who have created a mobile app featuring their actual news reports.

For FREE which it is at the time of this review it's certainly worth having for a bit of gossip.

Obviously a web connection is needed to get the latest stories. The category headings are currently News, Gossip, Babes and Sport in line with the content of the actual newspaper.

The amount of content is fair, especially for free. After all if they allowed any more to go online there would be little point in buying the actual newspaper which wouldn't be too good for profits.

The Babes section includes a gallery of celebrities and page 3 girls. In accordance with Apple's no nudity policy in apps this is a nippless-app.

For the current price of NOTHING this is a nice little piece of light entertainment to keep up to date with national gossip and sport.

8/10 Download from

Sky News App Review

2010-01-20T15:24:00.003Z

Price at time of writing FREE

As I write this Sky News tops the charts for free news apps. The Guradian app tops the paid apps.

Obviously this app relies on a web connection as it is mainly provided to give you up to date news.

It's a simple but useful little app for bringing you up to date with the latest headlines (world news, UK news, sport & politics), together with video bulletins. Other features include access to the blogs of the Sky News team and the opportunity to send your own news report (with a photo) to the sky news team using a simple to use form.

For free there isn't much to moan about apart from the fact I have to agree with the criticism from some users that an irritating banner ad at the bottom of each news page has to be one of the most irritating page-obstructing ads ever. Hopefully somebody at Sky may eventually agree this reduces the enjoyment of this app.

9/10 Download app from

Scrabble app review

2010-01-18T20:33:00.005Z

Price at time of writing £2.99 (approx $5)

One of the most popular game apps available. A premium game at a non premium price.

There's no need to say much about a game which functions perfectly and provides brain stimulating entertainment at a bargain price but I'll just mention some of the features.

The graphics are as excellent (well as excellent as you can make a scrabble board). You've got one player solo, one player vs AI opponent with various difficulty levels, up to 4 players with pass-the unit-play, 2 player wi-fi.

Your game is saved if you have to quit. You can zoom in or out of the board easily. There's the option to play various different game modes, such as a points target round as well as the classic rules.

This is a game which has transferred perfectly to a hand-held format. In fact I prefer it to the board format. No setting up of the board, nobody looking over your shoulder at your pieces and no calculation of points scored as it's all done for you.

Like so many others before me I can't fault Scrabble. 10/10

Click to buy at

Lottery Results app review

2010-01-18T18:52:00.004Z

Price of app at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

iTunes and you will be rewarded with almost as many apps as the odds of winning a lottery. OK a slight exaggeration but there are a heck of a lot.
Well as far as the UK Lottery goes I looked for an officially licenced app but not finding one I gave this one a go. It's a popular app but receives widely ranging reviews.

I don't know why- what it should do it does - and it does so well.

After the lottery draw results are regularly published quicker that on the National Lottery website. You can check many previous results in case you've been on holiday. Euromillions, Daily Play and all the regular UK National Lottery draws are included - even the "Millionaire's Raffle (the Euromillions extra draw).

For fun there's even a number generator if you would like your Apple hand held to choose your numbers for you.

For the price it's terrific - I'll award it 9/10. Perhaps the random number generator could be made a little more interesting by simulating a lotto machine or something rather than the numbers just appearing?

A nice app which sdoes what "it says on the box"

Click to buy

9/10

Pianist app review

2010-01-18T15:18:00.004Z

Price at time of writing £2.39 (approx $4)

Take absolutely no notice of anybody who has given this less than full marks or at least very close to it. Those people, I assume, must be those who have never played a piano or keyboard before and thought they could compose a master piece at first attempt.

There's a deluge of keyboard apps available but this is a masterpiece.

A full 88 key piano available anytime for you.

The ability to display between 8 and 15 keys on screen. Scroll with ease up the keyboard. Record your creation, play demo tracks. Label the notes on the keys (if you wish), use the optional metronome. If desired have two sets of keys on screen at the same time in split screen.

Need more help? Then use the excellent 16 page user manual included. You've even cost virtual soft and sustain pedals. And most importantly the sound - is excellent!

What more could you want?

Nothing is the answer.

This is about as good as it gets for a hand held piano experience. A full size keyboard is the only way you'll get a more realistic experience and that will cost you many, many times the extremely reasonable price of this wonderful musical app.

Pianist is superb and well done to MooCowMusic

10/10

Click to buy app

Open Maps

2010-01-18T14:04:00.005Z

Price at time of writing £1.19 (approx $2)

Using the maps of OpenStreetMap.Org you literally have the word at your fingertips.

The current price is very reasonable for such an application.

You can easily search for any location in the world and the software will quickly locate similar locations (my screenshots show a search for "Venice")

From world view it is easy to scroll in to street level.

You need an online connection to initially search for your desired area but you can then download as many map tiles you wish for your specified area as the amount of memory it will use is clearly shown.

Actually Venice was probably a good example as the Italian city is so easy to get lost in. Such an app could be invaluable if you were planning a trip.

Route planning and many different display options are available and there is little to moan about.

I will however mention that it seems you can only display in portrait rather than landscape which I find a little odd for a map. I don't think the coding for having horizontal orientation is that complicated and I hope this is planned as a future update.

Until that happens Open Maps gets awarded a very reasonable

9/10

Buy at

Flight Control app

2010-01-18T13:17:00.005Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c) - a total bargain!

Flight control is an app that is raved about - and rightly so.

This is what game apps should be about - pick up and play entertainment that provides just as much enjoyment and utter frustration when you lose each time you use it.

The aim is simple. Using a selection of simply displayed airfields you wait for aircraft of various types and speeds to enter your airspace. each aircrafts runway (or helipad) is depicted by it's colour and you simply "draw" the flightpath for that aircraft from the aircraft to the runway with the aim of course for every aircraft to land safely.

Understandably as the number and of aircraft increases and the speed of these aircraft differs more you find yourself frantically drawing and then two seconds later correcting your chosen flightpaths to prevent a crash.

I am sure everybody has their own method that they thinks works best for preventing disaster but in truth the inevitable always happens in the end - the trick is delaying it as long as you can so that your highscore (or lowscore as it may be) can be uploaded.

There are various airfields for you to choose from and in addition to the simple (but just right) sound effects you can either have no music or choose from supplied background music or use your own tracks.

With the developer wisely choosing the low price for this app they have assured it is being recommended by word of mouth, magazine reviews and web reviews such as this one.

I'm just adding my complete recommendation to everyone else's

10/10

Buy at

iTheatre (your mobile guide to London's West End)

2010-01-17T21:06:00.003Z

Price at time of writing FREE

This app promoting and trying to help you book theatre tickets in London's West End I am just about allowing to scrape in at 8/10 primarily because it does currently serve a purpose and because of its price (currently zero).

If it worked as it should this would, without a doubt, be a 10/10 app and a must have for anybody with an interest in West End Theatre. In fact people may even eventually be wiling to part with the smallest fee for using it.

As it stands it does some things very well. It's impressive at showing you what's on in the West End. It's great at showing you current special offers on tickets and helping with bookings.

What it does not deliver well is the promised media which would make this app so much more appealing. Click the REVIEWS tab under most productions and you are rewarded with a blank page. Where a review does appear there is hardly a review just a small quote from a paper or radio show. The IMAGES tab is equally as poor where there is an image it is barely recognizable image resembling something worse that the earliest digital cameras could manage.

This app needs some TLC by the developer to realise it's full potential. It's on my iPod touch so I have a vested interest in seeing how this app progresses and as to whether it turns into the hive of interesting information it should be!

8/10 (as long as it's FREE)

Download at

AppSniper

2010-01-17T18:17:00.003Z

Price at time of review 59p (approx 99c)

This application was actually recommended to me so I expected good things anyway.

The application has the ability to keep an "eye" on any app for the iPhone or iPop touch you are interested in and to notify you when the price goes down accordingly to a figure you specify.

A useful feature in itself if you are interested in watching every penny. But given that most apps are probably priced from 59p to £2.99 it surely has to have some other use?

It does and it is for these reasons I find it extremely useful - not so much for saving a few pennies.

I find you can browse and search for applications far easier than you can ever do on iTunes or on any other application database. You can also easily see all apps currently on sale, you can take a look at the hottest apps at the moment. If you want to you can even see the price hitsory for a particular app.

A couple of users have moaned in feedback that this is in $$ rather than ££ but these are probably whinges by people who can't add 4+4. After all with the price of the average app we are hardly talking high finance!

It's also a bit sad that Apple asked the developer to stop the star ratings from appearing in the app - this does seem a little harsh as he is heavily promoting their products in promoting software for them.

If you are into saving money, no matter what, this app can pay for itself in one "Snipe". But equally if you are looking for a powerful alternative to iTunes to go app-hunting this could be just what you are looking for.

10/10

buy at

Cat Piano App Review

2010-01-17T16:54:00.004Z

Price at time of posting 59p (approx 99c)

Please note the "best app ever" label was not added by me. It is the actual app logo - probably the developer's (optimistic) view.

Well the best app ever it may not be. But a funny, entertaining, well made and presented piece of light entertainment it most certainly is.

There's just over one octave (with 14 notes per voice) and 10 nicely varied moggie "voices" to choose from you are really spoilt for choice as to which voice you are going to compose your musical miowsterpiece from.

For relative beginners to piano playing (like me) you can even have the notes displayed on the keys if you wish.

There's not much to add apart from the fact it's a bargain app that everyone ought to have some fun with - not the best app ever - but a purrfect novelty none the less.

9/10

Buy at

Hooters Crazy Eights App

2010-01-17T15:31:00.005Z

AS AT 23/2/10 THIS APPLICATION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM BOTH THE USA AND UK APPLE STORES AS PART OF THEIR PURGE ON OVERTLY SEXUAL APPLICATIONS - PERSONALLY I THINK THIS IS COMPLETELY OVER THE TOP FOR A PREOFESSIONALLY PRODUCED APPLICATION LIKE THIS - SEE MY POST OF 23 FEB 2010

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

With the emphasis on sexy rather than sleazy this is one of the best 'sexy apps' currently available.

There's 52 beautifully photographed women (all in swimsuits) on 52 playing cards, the ability to save these pictures to your photos should you wish and a decent game of crazy eights as well.

And there's the added bonus that there are no adverts either.

For this price it's a great little app to combine a great little game with some sexy tastefully and professionally shot, high quality pictures that shouldn't offend anybody.

It justifies its current price well and hopefully will maintain this price level.

10/10

Buy at

Parking Mayhem App

2010-01-17T14:58:00.004Z

Price at time of writing 59p (approx 99c)

There's a few vehicle "Parking Apps" available for the iphone and iPod touch.

This isn't a bad one and certainly warrants the small investment of the price paid above.

However whilst there is plenty to do it's one of those apps that I think suits it's price above and no more.

The aim? To park your allocated vehicle (sometimes with trailer etc.) within the time limit allowed, avoiding obstacles and collecting bonuses along the way.

There's currently 18 levels (for the low price stated this is fair) and once you have persevered though the practice mode you can do the same levels again in competition mode trying to get on the global leaderboards.

Graphically, as you can see, it's functional but not exactly the best and there are a few gameplay irritations.

Personally I don't like the irritating 'kid' that keeps wandering about bouncing off objects and walking in front of your car. Once you splat the brat or crash you have to start again. I find myself regularly calling this little b*****d some not very nice names and I have to say I don't think this particular obstacle is needed.

Other parking apps seem to have other obstacles implemented better too - you don't have constantly opening and closing barriers before you in real life - so why here?

With some more updates and more concentration on realism this little app could have much more potential.

It's only 59p currently, the lowest possible price for a paid app. You'll get your money's worth but I am sure the developer will be aware there are better similar apps for exactly the same price.

8/10

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