The iPhone App Review : iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad App Reviews

The iPhone App Review : iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad App Reviews

Zombie: The Rescue – They’re Getting Smarter, Are You?

January 27th, 2012

Valerie Lauer

Price: $.99
Rating:

Zombie: The Rescue: iPhone Written App Review

Zombie The Rescue iPhone App Review Zombie: The Rescue – They’re Getting Smarter, Are You?

Reviewed by Valerie Lauer

It’s been a few months since we’ve had a new zombie app around these parts, so it was actually a nice surprise to see Zombie: The Rescue from GOGN Entertainment come across our desks. Don’t worry, although this title may seem to indicate zombies coming to the rescue, this game still has a healthy dose of zombie slaying action. Find out what it’s all about in our iPhone app review of Zombie: The Rescue.

Gameplay:

In Zombie: The Rescue your job is to navigate 60 maze style levels, using strategy and the occasional special weapon to collect keys, save stranded civilians and escape patrolling zombies. Let’s put it this way. If the zombie apocalypse happened tomorrow, this game’s hero is the kind of fella you’d like to have on your side. Mostly, you’ll be busy trying to avoid being seen by a zombie and completing rescue missions, but sometimes that will mean opening up a big ole can of zombie killing to clear the way. It’s always refreshing to see those brain-hungry greenies biting the big one.

Zombie: The Rescue is deceptively addictive. Game controls are super simple, but the boards are quite smart. The types of zombies you’ll encounter vary as you play. Even the hostages change as you progress through the app. This is an extremely well thought out game that’s a ton of fun to play.

It also integrates with Game Center, so you can keep tabs on top scores around the world.

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Pocket Lists: Much Ado About a To-Do

January 27th, 2012

Luke Patrick

Price: $2.99

Pocket Lists: iPhone App Written Review

Pocket Lists for iPhone 1 208x300 Pocket Lists: Much Ado About a To Do

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

Here at the iPhone App Review we’ve seen more than our fair share of to-do lists. There’s just something about the genre that tends to draw the developers out of the woods, and though we certainly like being productive as much as the next guy, we often pine for an app with a little more innovation: In other words, we sometimes wish there was one offering out there that stood away from the pack. Thankfully, Pocket Lists by developer 1312, is just such a title. The app adds a lot of new functionality to a tried and true milieu, making us excited once again to create to-do lists. For our full thoughts on this killer checklist title for the iPhone, check below beyond the break!

Concept and Functionality

As odd as it may sound, one of the things we appreciated most about Pocket Lists is that it doesn’t try to be more than a to-do list. Rather, the app sticks to its guns, and works on polishing them up. Obviously, the app allows you to create checklist-based items for completion, as any good productivity app should. However, from here things only get more entertaining. To begin with, all of your entries are displayed in a logical and simple way that makes it blissfuly easy to view your agenda. Secondly, we’re absolutely in love with the app’s talking abilities. You can input something as human “Meeting tomorrow with Steve at 3 pm,” and Pocket Lists will understand your input entirely, creating a whole new event, with Steve, at 3 pm the next day. Better yet, you an also collaborate with other users to create lists via WiFi or Bluetooth, making that next boardroom meeting all the easier. All in all, it’s an incredible offering, and one that redefines what it means to make to-do lists on the iPhone.

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Top 5 iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week

January 27th, 2012

Luke Patrick

TOP5 150x150 Top 5 iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

Knock on wood, but it’s beginning to look as if the early year lull in app production is finally drawing to a close! We’re tickled pink about it, but just because we’ve had our hawk eyes glued to the New and Noteworthy section doesn’t mean we haven’t been working: We’ve got your Top 5 Weekly App Roundup just beyond the break, but first have a sneak peek at some of the cool apps we covered this week!

This Week’s Stand-Out Apps

This week brought us a bony education thanks to OrthoCare, as well as a beefier amount of gameplay with Angry Boo. We also reviewed the slick bridge building action of Link! before wrapping up the week with Max’s Mole Mash.

That’s all for our sneak peek, but don’t leave just yet—Your Top 5 iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week is just beyond the break!

Top 5 iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week

Steam Mobile

Steam Mobile – Free

If you don’t know what Steam is, we’re guessing you aren’t much into video games. For those already in the know, you’ll recognize the platform as the community-oriented game distribution system from noted video game developer Valve—that’s the company responsible for Half Life 2, Portal, etc. And though you won’t be able to play your favorite Steam-powered games on your iPhone just yet, at least you can now take Steam with you wherever you go.

The app allows users to comment on their favorite titles, chat with friends, research upcoming titles, and generally geek out over what’s hot and new. You can also manage your wish lists, as well as your game lists to match your tastes. It’s a brilliant offering, and if you’re knee-deep in the service already, the free price tag is a tremendous boon.

Band of the Day

Band of the Day – Free with Monthly Subscription

Out of personal preference, we’ve been following Band of the Day for some time now. The app takes a stance somewhere between music magazine and Shazam, allowing users to log-in daily and discover tracks from a different artist with each passing jour. There’s also a full compliment of photos and bios per-day, allowing for a lot of new discoveries. With 365 new entries every year, it’s a solid concept, and one we’re happy to finally see arrive on the iPad.

The app’s latest 2.0 update brings along support for the iPhone’s slightly larger brother. It’s a slick move, as the app’s exquisite design and breathtaking media make it an ideal candidate for the bigger device. Users are required to have either a $0.99 per-monthly subscription to use the service, or they can pony up $10 for the year. Either way, it’s an incredible bargain for the iPad-owning music enthusiast.

Fliks

Fliks – $2.99

We’ve been pining after Fliks for some time now, just hoping this day would arrive: You see, true-blue Netflix management offerings for the iPhone and iPad are few and far between—especially as Netflix itself isn’t taking up the slack—and we sincerely hoped Fliks might one day become the queue manager we want it to be. Thankfully, we weren’t far off. The latest 2.0 update brings a long a world of new functionality, and we’re just dying to tell you about.

Now, users can drag movies directly from the home screen to their queue for simple management. Additionally, there’s support for instant DVD searches, trailer watching through YouTube, title rating, Rotten Tomatoes content, and even iOS 5 Twitter integration. It’s an unbelievably rich offering, and we’re tickled pink at the $3 price tag, to boot.

AssistantExtensions

AssistantExtensions – Free

Typically we shy away from bringing you the latest in Jailbreak wizardry, but today’s offering is simply too cool to pass up. If you’ve been looking for a way to beef Siri up, and have jailbroken your iOS device, AssistantExtensions is by far the best way to do it. The tweak allows Siri additional administrative privileges, including the right to search YouTube, launch third-party applications, and—thank God—tweet. Yes, with this tweak you an now finally say, “Siri, tweet I’m friggin’ tired of not being able to tweet from Siri!” and the app will take care of things. We’re stoked about that functionality, and now that we’ve got AssistantExtensions, we can tweet it hands-free.

Tiny Invaders

Tiny Invaders – $0.99

If you haven’t already been playing the wildly popular germ-ridden puzzle game Tiny Invaders, now is perhaps the best time to jump on the bandwagon. The app was recently updated with a mountain of new content, and we’re pleased to see the app expanding Angry Birds style. The latest run-up comes loaded with additional puzzles and levels, as well as a free version, should you like to test out the now classic gameplay before buying in. All in all, the latest update is solid proof that a successful app can improve with time, and for the one dollar asking price, you just can’t go wrong with Tiny Invaders.

OrthoCare: Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Dry Bones

January 27th, 2012

Luke Patrick

Price: $14.99

OrthoCare: iPhone App Video Review

OrthoCare for iPhone 1 200x300 OrthoCare: Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Dry Bones

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

Do you have bones? If you’re an human, we’re willing to bet good money you do: To our more gelatinous readers, you might want to skip this one. You see, the app we’re detailing today is called OrthoCare (Clinically Relevant Technologies) and it’s all about your bones. The app is a fantastic, if somewhat pricy, way to learn about your bones, as well as the various conditions they’re likely to endure during their lifespan. If you suffer from specific orthopedic issues, the app might just be a lifesaver. And if you’re a junior surgeon or medical student, the app is just about the best study manual you could ever hope for—best of all, it fits directly into your pocket! All in all, OrthoCare sports an impressive amount of information. For our full thoughts on this bony app, check below the break!

Concept and Functionality

As stated, OrthoCare is more or less an amalgam of various bone-related information, serving as a miniature edition of Grey’s Anatomy with a particular emphasis on the white stuff. Each of the app’s diagnostic packets is broken into anatomically relevant categories, like Upper Limb, Lower Limb, Axial and General. This makes it quick and painless to find an area of the body you’re interested in. Additionally, the app also includes a query bar for the med student in a rush before a test or procedure. Within each category you’ll find a massive list of possible conditions. Clicking on any of them produces a full diagnostic sweep, including information about the condition, symptoms, preop management, surgery procedures, etc. Considering each of these is present for every condition, you’re looking at a mammoth effort that’s perfect for the doctor in waiting. And with the ability to favorite any condition in the list for quick review later, we have a feeling your med-school tests just got more than a little easier.

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Angry Boo: Slingshot Controls Meet Ghostly Platform Action

January 27th, 2012

Valerie Lauer

Price: Free
Rating:

Angry Boo: iPhone Written App Review

Angry Boo iPhone App Review Angry Boo: Slingshot Controls Meet Ghostly Platform Action

Reviewed by Valerie Lauer

If you’re tiring of platform games or think you’ve seen the last great slingshot title out there, prepare to be scared out of your wits by Angry Boo. This universal iOS game from Yubi Games combines these two tried and true gaming styles for a game so unique it’s spooky. Read on, our iPhone app review of Angry Boo will let you know you have nothing to fear, except possibly missing out on an awesome game if you don’t download this app.

Gameplay:

In Angry Boo it’s your job to aim and launch Boo, a ghostly traveler webbing his way through 28 levels in four unique worlds. Aiming is all about the slingshot control. You’ll be familiar with this, it’s as simple as tapping on Boo and drawing your finger away from him. But aim with care! You’ll be traveling from platform to platform, or web to web technically. If you overshoot or undershoot you’ll send Boo to a foggy grave, and go back to your latest check point.

We’re really glad this game has check points, especially while we were getting used to the shooting mechanism. It’s pretty straightforward, and, thankfully, there’s a guide line that can show you how your shot will start. You’ll also be collecting coins. The more coins you get, the better your score will be.

As the levels progress they get harder. You’ll start running up against barricades and tricky shots, but it’s all in good fun. Angry Boo integrates directly with Game Center, and you can even set it up with OpenFeint, so you’ll be able to compete against other players worldwide for top scores.

Angry Boo is deceptively simple, and extremely addictive. We really dig this app.

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