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

Price: $.99     Score: 6/10     By M. Schusterman

**Update: price reduced to $0.99 from $3.99**

I believe I understand the intent behind Balance Your Life App, by Mirko Paschke – it’s supposed to be a statistic-based representation of how you value things in your life so that you can make adjustments and assessments based on logic.

I’m more prone to judging these things based on emotion, but they can be fun to play with. However, the set up of this particular app is a little clunky. It opens to a blank page, where it’s easy to figure out how to add an “Area.” Because I wasn’t sure what an “Area” was quite yet, I chose one from the template selections. The pre-chosen “Areas” include education, friends, family, health, hobbies, job, love, etc.

After choosing the “Area,” you can enter the “Start points.” Here I became confused again, because there’s no scale. I could enter, 10, 25,430, or even 198,473 – actually, you can seemingly enter an infinite amount of numbers. So for my first “Area,” which was family, I wasn’t sure what to enter. I chose 10.

You can also either use the little image that comes with the “Area,” or choose your own from the photo album, which is a nice touch. Tap “Save” and that “Area” appears on a list with the number of points you chose, along with the percentage. So my family section with 10 points was 100%. I added friends and health and gave them 20 and 15 points correspondingly, so my three “Areas” were weighted at 44.44% (20 pts), 33.33% (15 pts), and 22.22% (10 pts).

That all makes sense, but again, what does it mean? The only other option you have is to tap the “Time for Experience” icon in the bottom left, which just generates a message saying that in fourteen hours, you will be able to assign points to your “Areas” for today’s experiences.

And sure enough, every day all of your points are open for reassessment, and of course you can add new “Areas” anytime. Like I said before, this would be more of a game for me rather than something I would take seriously, but even if it’s just for fun, I’m still unsure about the set-up. It’s something like a calculator dressed up with images and labeled with your priorities in life. At a cost of $3.99, I’m not sure I can recommend this one.

Balance Your Life App (iTunes Link) requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

Price: £1.19     Score: 9/10     By A. Papachristos

Mobility means an increase in freedom, and when most young adults reach a given age, this independence comes once they learn to drive a car.  For those just learning to drive in the UK, Theory Test by Low Price Lessons helps highlight vital information and study material for those preparing for their theory and hazard perception tests.

Combined with realistic theory test questions and official hazard perception videos, Theory Test works to put students ahead of the game, linking them to Driving Standards Agency (DSA) approved instructors and providing them with ideal material to help in their learning.

Upon startup, users will come to the Home screen, which displays the buttons that link to each of the tabs listed in the bottom navigation bar.  The first button, marked Instructors, allows users to find local driving instructors based on their current location.  Users are guaranteed to find the best deals possible, for all the instructors listed have agreed to offer their best prices in conjunction with the Low Price Lessons website and this very application.  You can compare their prices and user ratings right within Theory Test, so you can be sure you are getting the best deals around.  And, with one touch calling, users can tap the instructor’s phone number right on the screen to call and arrange lessons immediately.

The second button, Quizzes, brings users to a selection of practice quizzes that will test their driving and hazard perception knowledge.  Users can play Single Player, picking a random quiz or choosing one from a specific category.  Single users may also opt for a Full Theory Test.  (The How To Play button below these three selections explains what each choice offers.)  The Multiplayer option allows up to five players to battle each other quiz style in a “last person standing” type showdown to see who knows the most about the rules of the road.  This unique study tool is great for friends, as well as instructors and parents who want to creatively encourage their student or child to learn every detail and safety precaution.  These results can then be shared with everyone via Facebook, Twitter or email.

Users can also find a extensive list of important information under the Hints & Tips tab.  From what to do after an accident, to rules of the road, to how to use various aspects of the application itself, this section covers the majority of information students will need to review in preparation for their theory and hazard perception tests.  The Info tab simply says a few words about Theory Test and Low Price Lessons in general.  And while this section provides an overall summary of what the application has to offer, it is miniscule compared to the true, broad scope of information that Theory Test covers in a single application.

Theory Test [iTunes Link] , which serves only UK users, requires iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

Price: $.99     Score: 3/10     By A. Papachristos

Phones have become a suspicious tool because they simplify one’s ability to spy and cheat.  With the ability to send photos and videos by pressing a single button, users can share vital or incriminating evidence within moments.  However, with My EYE by TouchMeProject, users now have access to an application that promises to serve just this purpose despite the fact that it lacks even some of the most basic features you can access for free with the tools built directly into your iPhone.

With My EYE, users can connect with other users to send messages and videos right within the application.  (Yes, both users have to download My EYE in order for such transfer to work.)  Working in real-time via Bluetooth, My EYE does not require an Internet connection, nor an additional paid messaging plan.

When you start the application, you will see two eyes, one being the actually letter i itself.  Tapping on the letter will provide you with usage information because, without such instruction, it would be extremely difficult to figure out My EYE’s true purpose.  By tapping the actual image of the eye, users can then search for and connect to any local devices also running My EYE.  Once you have connected, you may send text messages by using the Chat button or video by pressing the Video button.  Your friend will automatically receive your messages when connected.

As the App Store description suggests, you can easily use My EYE to spy on someone or copy off another person’s class work.  However, I do believe that this is the exact reason why students must either leave their phones at home or present them to their teacher when taking important exams.  Such cheating can also lead to plagiarism, which can have serious ramifications.

Also, with a special introductory price available until the next update, the My EYE description also includes a list of features to be added in the next version: the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, send audio, send photo and save photo.  Not to be a killjoy, but I can already perform all these tasks with the default features nearly every phone comes with these days, and I will not need to connect via Bluetooth with someone running the exact same application on their iPhone.

I can already send text messages courtesy of the data plan my phone carrier mandated upon purchasing my iPhone.  And, if I do not want to text them, there are multiple applications that provide instant messaging for free.  I can already connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or 3G, allowing me to send information in this respect as well.  I can send photos via text message or email, whichever I prefer, and I can save any received photos right to my photo library.  And I have been sending audio messages since my very first cell phone.  (That was their original use, correct?)

No offense, but if I can already accomplish such tasks without the $.99 price tag and the restrictions that come with only being able to interact with other My EYE users, why wouldn’t I simply use what Apple gave me?

My EYE [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 4.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer in order to speed up the publication of this review.

Clickgamer, the creators of the wildly popular Angry Birds, have released Alien Cab on the app store. Similar to Flight Control, Alien Cab tasks the user with directing alien taxi’s to the correct planets by drawing a path using the touch screen.

Alien Cab’s features include:

• Leaderboards and Achievements using the Crystal platform
• Unique Alien Sound Effects
• Graphics Optimized for the iPhone 4 Retina Display
• Increasingly Difficult and Fun Gameplay

Check out Alien Cab on the app store for $.99.

Alien Cab is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and requires iOS 3.0 or above.

Price: $3.99     Score: 8/10     By A. Papachristos

When you need to send one email to a slew of people, whether it is for business or personal reasons, making sure you include all necessary parties can be a brain strain.  Considering you have to input each contact manually, or at least check them off in your address book, it may be quite easy to overlook a name or two, making your time consuming effort a partially failed attempt.

But, with Group Email! with Attachments by Andrea Vettori, users can create predefined groups of contacts, allowing them to send emails to specific lists of people.  Conveniently, Group Email allows you to send attachments to those on your list, such as audio, video and document files, making it stand out above other mass messengers.

Upon startup, users will see that the main screen lays out all the tasks you could possibly wish to perform, making this interface simple and easy-to-use.  While the i in the top right corner tells you a little bit about the application itself, the gear will let you create and edit your various lists of contacts, as well as manage your document attachments if you have any uploaded to the app.  You may choose to turn your contacts’ work, home or other email addresses on or off, so your messages will only be sent to the designated accounts.  You may also begin a new list from this page.

On the main screen, users will then be able to begin filling in the required information for sending an email.  By tapping on the button under the label Recipients, users will see that they can search for contacts to add individually, or by predetermined lists or address book groups.  They may also choose the appropriate mode for each recipient as well (To, Cc, Bcc).  For those who send the same message on a frequent basis, they may wish to create an Email Template, which allows them to write the message once and then quickly send it out again later.  If writing a one-time message, tap Create Message at the bottom of the screen to begin composing an email in the same format as the Mail app that comes on your device.  The only downside is that Group Email comes with a $3.99 price tag.

But, best of all, users can attach important documents to their group emails right from within the application itself, which makes the higher price a bit more understandable.  Users can attach video clips or photos from their Photo Library, as well as in-app audio recordings, camera stills and video (which requires the iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4).  Users may also attach Google Map images displaying their current location, content from their pasteboard and contacts information.

Users running iPhone iOS4 can also attach documents, while iPad users need only be running iOS3.2 to do the same thing.  Such documents may be uploaded to Group Email! with Attachments using iTunes via USB connection, or by downloading the attachment directly from their email or other applications supporting the iOS4 document exchange feature.  Such a convenience allows you to perform a task you would otherwise need an actual computer for, making life significantly easier.

Group Email with Attachments [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer in order to speed up the publication of this review.

With thanks to Newbyman Enterprises, The iPhone App Review is happy to give away 6 free copies of their $1.99 app MyLaborBags!

MyLaborBags is the only app you’ll ever need to be completely ready when your baby arrives. The promo codes below are redeemable on the US App Store only. First in best dressed, but as always, please do the right thing and leave a comment on the post to let other readers know which code you take. Enjoy!

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Following on from Aurora Feint’s announcement last month that the popular social-gaming platform OpenFeint was coming to Android, they have just revealed a new viral game distribution system which will first go live on iOS devices, with other platforms to follow.

The new system will be available on OpenFeint 2.6 and will allow all of OpenFeint’s 35 million players to send SMS or e-mail messages to contacts on their phones, inviting them to try out their favorite games. The expansion to Android combined with the new social sharing feature is expected to accelerate the viral nature of hit games.

“With Game Center just around the corner and thousands more games coming on the market every year, effective and unique promotion is more important than ever,” says Jason Citron, CEO of Aurora Feint. “By creating this out-of-network invite system, we’ll help players give more organic game endorsements shedding light on the best games out there and resulting in more game downloads.”

“One glaring problem with today’s mobile gaming community is how fractured it is across platforms, OpenFeint is bridging the gap between gamers,” says Peter Relan, Executive Chairman of Aurora Feint. “As we expand cross platform this summer, we’re going to roll out services that will help friends that use different device platforms play against each other.”

Price: FREE    Score: 9/10    By M. Schusterman

Having a picture that corresponds to everyone in your iPhone’s contact book is a cool feature, but few people take the time to actually load those pictures in. My Face, an app designed by Paragon Services, Inc., aims to make the whole process much simpler.

The upside: After you enter your info and load your own picture, your work is done. And the process doesn’t take long at all; when you open the app, go into Settings and enter your phone number, initials, country and carrier. Tap “Choose My Picture” to either take a pic of yourself or select one from your photo album, then back on the main menu, tap “Upload My Picture.” To ensure no one else uploads a photo assigned to your number, My Face will send you a text with a link you must tap to confirm. After that, your picture is up and you’re done.

Another plus: You’re in control of what picture is assigned to your contact information in other people’s phone books.

The downside: Of course, the only way the pictures will pop up in your contact book is if your contacts are also using the My Face app. But honestly, I hesitate to call that a downside; this app is free, it takes half a minute to set up, and after that your picture is automatically in your (My Face using) friends’ iPhones, and vice versa.

Something I think is important to point out is that this app is independent of social networking sites – I admit that when I saw the name, I thought it had something to do with Facebook, and I dislike apps (or anything) that make me register with my Facebook or Twitter info. My Face doesn’t do that – your phone number is all you need.

You can use the “Tell My Friends” to email a little info and link about My Face to your friends, an easy way to get them in the loop and start seeing their smiling faces on your phone when they call. Considering it’s free and simple to use, I highly recommend downloading this one!

My Face [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

Price: $.99     Score: 7/10     By A. Papachristos

No one likes a dull party.  The last thing a host or hostess wants is to find that their party has become the flop of the decade.  But sometimes no amount of chips, dip and loud music can bring a party back from the dead.

But, for those with Trackdance by iWikiPhone.com, you may just be able to breathe a little life back into that shindig you’ve got there.  With Trackdance, users can create a single person light show or, with the help of fellow iPhone and iPod Touch users, turn your party into one large, synchronized light show.

Trackdance begins with an animated introduction that quickly shows you some of the different effects employed by the application.  You will then be redirected to the main screen where you will see four important buttons: View Tutorial, Light DJ, Solo, and Groupie.  To begin, I highly suggest you peruse the tutorial for a wonderful overview that walks you through what each button entails.  As you proceed, the tutorial will highlight each button or characteristic with a pop-up bubble that provides an explanation.  Plus, the tutorial is always available for quick reference later on.

When you tap the first button, Light DJ, you put yourself in the driver’s seat so to speak.  You are in charge of the light effects and anyone wishing to sync with your device will broadcast what you determine.  You must start by picking one of the five light effects: Particles, Strobe, Wave, Text or Spotlight.

Once you’ve chosen an effect, you may change the settings and music by using the small arrow icon in the top left corner of your screen (bottom left corner if holding your device in landscape mode).  Here, you can access the FX Settings, such as density, dimension and color, Change FX, which allows you to switch the light effect quickly and easily, or Add Music from your iPod, an external source or use one of the provided samples.  The ability to use Trackdance with an external source makes this application a truly versatile party companion that can even join you for some fun at the club or a concert.

The two lower buttons on the main screen help you build your light show.  The Solo button prevents others from syncing with your device, displaying the light show on your phone or iPod only.  When you tap the Groupie button, your device will begin searching for nearby DJs to connect with, linking up the main light show to as many devices as possible.  (Obviously, those wishing to sync with Trackdance will also have the application installed on their device, but I would like to think this requirement also qualifies as common sense.)

Unfortunately, however, Trackdance did pose one problem: I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out how to fully quit the application.  Sadly, quitting doesn’t seem to be part of the tutorial.  So, as a result, I was stuck with a red, pulsating bar at the top of my screen that simply said Trackdance.  Perhaps I’m just oblivious to the obvious, but it would not stop pulsating and it would not disappear.  Eventually, I had to reset my phone’s settings in order to finally get that annoying bar to disappear.  And while I will give Trackdance the credit it deserves in the creativity department, I’m not a big fan of the headache it caused after all the fun was over.

Trackdance [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

With thanks to Riverwatcher Studios, The iPhone App Review is happy to give away a massive 15 free copies of their new app Feed a Duck.

This kid-friendly app puts you in charge of your very own duck farm. The promo codes below are redeemable on the US App Store only. First in best dressed, but as always, please do the right thing and leave a comment on the post to let other readers know which code you take. Enjoy!

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Feed a Duck is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and requires iOS 3.0 or later.