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

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

Enjoy Story Time Electronically with iStoire Chameleon

January 28th, 2011

A. Papachristos

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

Reading truly is a fundamental part of any culture, especially when it comes to educating the youth. And now, with electronic books and stories making it even easier for people to access educational and reading materials more readily, the joy of reading has become not only a fun pastime, but also a typical daily task. With iStoire Chameleon by Laurent Kohler – Artisanat Numérique, parents can spark their children’s interest in reading early with a story about a chameleon working to pursue his very own dreams.

The story itself, entitled The Chameleon Who Wants to Be Blue, features numerous illustrations and a few animations. With such a self-explanatory title, parents know right away that this kid-friendly story falls into the same lesson learning literature that generally covers the shelves of the children’s section at their local bookstore. Available in English, French and Italian, this story was made for children ages 4-9.

Upon startup, users will encounter a simple introductory page featuring one of the many chameleon drawings found throughout the story. Tap on any of the languages listed toward the bottom to be taken to the connecting page that allows you to choose which language you desire. The icon in the bottom left corner of the screen, which resembles the shape of home plate, will always take you back to the home page when tapped.

To begin, simply tap the screen. A drawing will appear on screen, accompanied by a sentence of the story. Those reading in portrait mode will find the words on the bottom, while those reading in landscape mode will find the words positioned to the side. Each time you tap the screen, another sentence will appear, with a new drawing every few sentences or so. Every now and again, the drawing will turn out to be an animation instead.

Unfortunately, at least in my experience, reading the story on an iPhone seemed to take longer than if it were in physical book form, or so I perceive. Also, users must read the entire story in one sitting, for they may not return to the home screen without losing their place in the story. However, for only $.99, parents can entertain their children and encourage their love for reading, which is always a worthwhile investment in the future.

iStoire Chameleon [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.

iMapWeather Delivers Accurate Weather Information

January 28th, 2011

Campbell

Price: $3.99 Score: 9/10 By S. Campbell

Developed by Weather Decision Technologies, iMapWeather is one of the most technologically advanced and intuitive weather apps available for iPad. Serving as both an interactive radar for observing changing weather patterns, and a general purpose weather and forecast app – you’ll never need to look further for more information.

You can enter your location within the app to access local maps (or search for your current location), with up-to-date current conditions displayed for the area. Satellite information shows cloud movement across your chosen map, and you can also access traffic information for that location. If you regularly commute or travel to different cities, you can save locations in iMapWeather as pins which are marked on the map. Tapping on a pin brings up all the relevant weather details for that area.

Along the bottom of the screen are boxes which give you important weather information at a glance, including the conditions at the moment (“Right Now”) and the 7 day outlook under “Daily Forecast”. There is also an alerts section which advises you of any severe or dangerous weather patterns such as tornadoes, ice or storms in your selected area(s).

The interface in iMapWeather is clean and easy to use, with a depth of information available at your fingertips which is simply not available in most dedicated weather apps. If you’re looking for a comprehensive and accurate weather app for iPad at a modest price, you can’t go past iMapWeather.

iMapWeather [iTunes Link] is compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

Rate Items, Read Product Reviews with Ratingly

January 27th, 2011

A. Papachristos

Price: Free Score: 7/10 By A. Papachristos

Just as we provide our readers with insight into the great and not-so-great apps of the iPhone world, many websites across the Internet provide users with product reviews. Some focus on the hottest electronics, while others recommend books, music and fashion. With Ratingly by Mobitics, users can rate and search items of all types by simply scanning the item’s barcode, adding a rating a review to guide others in their purchases.

Using the alliterative slogan “Rate, React, Recommend”, Ratingly allows users to take practically any product they can find and enter it into the database if an entry does not already exist. To begin, login with your email address and password, or sign up for a new account if you have never used the Ratingly website.

The Inbox supplies a tab for all reviews, ones written by you and those written by others. Scan allows users to scan an item’s barcode for quick and easy recognition. Reviews will appear if the item has previously been reviewed. Those not in the system can easily be added by entering a description and then providing the very first review. For those who cannot find products by scanning, just use the quick search feature to find what you’re looking for if it exists in the database.

While Ratingly promises a fantastically useful service, it still seems to be in its early stages, and will only truly take off if many people decide to latch on to its offerings. Ratingly revolves around a very interactive concept, giving users the chance to share their opinions with a community, while allowing them to follow their favorite users, products or categories. Users can even connect with their Twitter account and post their evaluations to the popular social networking site. You can even follow Ratingly itself on Twitter. However, if Ratingly does not become its own networking hub, users will not find quite the array of product ratings and reviews they were hoping for, making the service fairly useless. But with such potential, one can only hope that Ratingly will become a source for consumer information for years to come.

Ratingly [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 4.1 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.

Flash Reader Displays Your Message in the Blink of an Eye

January 27th, 2011

A. Papachristos

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

Reading can be a tedious task when using an iPhone or iPod Touch. After trying to read small type for a decent amount of time, one’s eyes become fatigued, causing headaches in many. However, with Flash Reader by Didstopia, users can now paste any portion of text they wish to read and have the words flash across the screen, one at a time, in big, bold letters.

When you begin, the screen will initially say that there is no text loaded yet, with a Play button at the bottom. The gear icon will take you to the menu, where you will find the Paste, Clip Library and Settings buttons. Use the Paste button so you may enter the portion of text you wish to have appear on screen. Give the selection a name and save it if you plan on using it again in the future, or simply press Play to watch your message blink upon the screen.

The Clip Library will display all those items that you have pasted and saved in the past. Settings allows you to change how fast or slow the words appear on the screen and whether you would like to have the clipboard load upon startup. For those with extremely fast reading abilities, set Flash Reader to a comfortably speedy pace. For those who prefer to read leisurely, slow down the speed to a rate that allows you to take in and retain each word without putting yourself to sleep.

Ideal for those who have no patience, or those who simply hate reading in general, Flash Reader introduces an interesting way to tackle this unavoidable task without just staring blankly at a page covered with writing. And though many may find this method just as grueling if not more so, for you can no longer skim when reading a single word at a time, reading is a fundamental part of our society and any application that helps to promote such an activity seems well worth one’s attention.

Flash Reader [iTunes Link] requires iPhone OS 4.0 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.

Rev Up Your Racing Engines with Monster Truck Mania

January 26th, 2011

A. Papachristos

Price: $.99 Score: 8/10 By A. Papachristos

Everyone who has ever been anywhere near Nintendo’s various gaming systems has probably dappled in the ways of Mario Kart. And with the iPhone’s tilt technology, users have surely tried their hand at first person racing games that put them in the middle of the action. But for users who want all the fun and none of the fuss, Monster Truck Mania by William Garrett offers a new perspective that simplifies, yet spices up the world of racing. By employing the view of a sideline spectator, Monster Truck Mania allows users to race against the clock and other trucks without having to get behind the virtual wheel.

The main menu offers the Play Game, How to Play and More Games buttons. Users will learn all they need to know with the How to Play section, which explains where top tap and how to tilt. To begin, users must choose between one of two vehicles differing in Top Speed and Acceleration. One excels at Top Speed, while the other accelerates better than the other.

Once you’ve chosen your vehicle, you must then choose either Time Trial or Challenge mode. Time Trial requires users to run the track by themselves while they try to achieve the best time possible and unlock new levels. Challenge allows users to play against the computer, racing against other trucks to see who will come out on top. However, users should be aware that they must come in first in order to advance to the next Challenge level, and with over 30 levels to master, this could get rather competitive.

To ensure your success, try collecting nitro canisters to use when you are desperate to regain speed. And, as you fly through the air, jumping off dirt ramps and steel beams, tilt your phone to perform flips and land with ease. Though, as you move through the levels, be cautious as your high-flying fun may be cut short by airplanes, boats and trains. Simple and straightforward, Monster Truck Mania presents the entertaining racing concept and makes it accessible for those who just don’t like the first person, “right in the driver’s seat” experience. Plus, the clear, colorful graphics make it such a joy to play.

Monster Truck Mania [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.

Explore the Puzzling Ocean Floor with Ocean Quest

January 26th, 2011

A. Papachristos

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

While your portable device should never dive into the ocean along with you, your iPhone can virtually drag you into the depths of the sea through mere game play. With Ocean Quest by Thumbstar Games, users will dive right into the puzzling action as they match similar blocks to free the prehistoric creatures trapped at the bottom of the mysterious ocean.

Users will begin by enabling OpenFeint, which allows them to connect to the game’s achievements, high scores and leaderboards. Just sign in with your existing account or create a new one right within the application. The main menu simply consists of various bubbles labeled OpenFeint, Tutorial and Play, linking you to everything you need. For first time players, I recommend beginning with the tutorial.

You, the gamer, are an ocean biologist on a quest to discover lost, prehistoric underwater species trapped in ice cubes below the sea. The tutorial will teach you all about the status bar and what each button or number on the screen signifies. Simply group blocks with the same color or type of animal, connecting at least four of the same blocks at a time. Select them with the tap of your finger, and then tap again to destroy them. Those with animals inside will then release the creatures shall float to the surface.

Ocean Quest offers both an endless Arcade mode and a 20-level Story mode, with the promise of added bonuses and levels in future updates. However, when you first begin, it seems users have no choice but to pick the first stage and level, for it is the only unlocked option. Once you start, you must achieve certain goals as you play in order to proceed and unlock higher levels. The rainbow blocks certainly add one perk to game play, for they allow you to make them any color you wish. But while they block puzzle nature of Ocean Quest resembles Tetris, Line Up and other App Store favorites, Ocean Quest has yet to corner the market on ease and simplicity with its color-matching technique, making it enticing but a bit dull for the fast-paced puzzle-lover.

Ocean Quest [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.