Articles by Travis Ehrlich

Siri Assistant for iPhone Review

The iPhone has many applications to find restaurants, taxi cabs, movies or weather. Each of these apps have a unique UI to find these places or events. Siri has brought yet another interesting method of search and discovery. No more endless clicking on links and pages to get things done on the Internet. Delegate the work to Siri and relax while Siri takes care of it for you. Need a table for 2 at your favorite restaurant next Thursday? Just ask Siri. Need a taxi right now? Just ask Siri and with a single request the cab’s on its way….

Reviews

Titan TTC-G9TZ Notebook Cooler Review

A constant issue with notebook users is heat. There are many products to assist in heat protection. Some of these products are designed for protecting the user’s lap from heat and some for managing the temperature of the notebook. These coolers come in many shapes and sizes, with or without fans and a variety of material. Some are designed to be mobile while others are to be used on a desk and provide an improved typing angle. The folks at Titan Technology Limited recently released a notebook cooler that combines all of these options in one product and provided me…

Reviews

Words with Friends Free for iPhone/Touch App Review

Word games and puzzles have become my choice of time killers on the iPhone. Particularly games that involve finding or spelling words. For example, Word Scramble 2 is a solo game that is great fun and former Blue Plate Special review. Words With Friends has not only become a method of passing time, but an obsession. It began innocently. I played a few games with random opponents. Then I added my wife, a fellow coach, two of my players, a few more teachers, some friends, Dan, Judie…you get the idea. This game has become the new rage in our high…

Reviews

Puzzlings for iPhone/Touch Review

Puzzlings first came on my radar as it quickly rose to the top of the app list. I heard several podcasters proclaim their addiction to the game so figured I better check it out. To my surprise, the game had become free when I decided to download. As my reviews have shown, I am a sucker for a good puzzle game. Puzzlings is what I would call a strange game with a great puzzle aspect. Read more after the break…

Reviews

Everki Beacon Laptop Backpack w/Gaming Console Sleeve Review

Everki recently supplied me with the Beacon Laptop Backpack w/Gaming Console Sleeve to review. Since school started back up, I have spent the past few weeks using it as my main gear bag. I am pleased with the style and ruggedness of the backpack with daily use; I am able to comfortably carry all of my gear and it is comfortable and looks great. Find out the particulars after the break…

Reviews

Eveningstar For iPhone/Touch Review

Divine Robot has recently released a new scrolling shooter called “Eveningstar.” The game is a sci-fi shoot ’em up packed full of action and enemies. The game includes nine exciting levels, each of which require different skills and puzzle solving skills. Check out the video trailer here then read the review after the break.

Game Diary, Reviews

Dark Nebula for iPhone/Touch Review

Labyrinth style games are nothing new to the iPhone. You know the games where a ball or marble rolls on the screen and is controlled by tilting the phone like it is a table. This style of games are fun, but are usually the same. Move the ball around avoiding the holes and reach the end of the maze. Dark Nebula takes this idea, puts a fresh, futuristic style and adds a new class of obstacles. As the developer puts it, “it’s like a labyrinth game but on steroids.” Check out the review after the break.

Reviews

ProCamera Basic for iPhone Review

One of the lacking points of the iPhone is often the camera. Even though there have been improvements made with the 3GS camera, it is still lacking. Many apps are available to change the camera UI, edit photos or improve the experience. I have used many of these apps with mixed results. One problem with the camera is getting clear shots without blur from shaking. Lets face it, holding the small phone still enough to get a great shot is not like bracing yourself with a nicely weighted DSLR. ProCamera Basic proves to address some of the basic photo taking…

Reviews

AppVault Pro For iPhone/Touch Review

AppVault Pro was released December 29 by C3 Software. The vault contains 25 applications for the price of one. Yes, there have been similar applications containing several smaller apps but often times those apps have a lower quality from a standalone app. After spending the day with AppVault Pro I have to say this is a well polished app with some very good content. Check out what is included for the one low price after the break.

Game Diary, Reviews

Totemo for iPhone/Touch App Review

In my weekly search for the next Blue Plate Special, I search through the iTunes rankings and search newly released apps. I try several apps before deciding on one that is worthy of the Blue Plate tag. This week, my wife, (who never pays much attention to my weekly search) told me she had an app for me for the Blue Plate Special. It seems that Totemo has caught the attention of every free moment of her time. For a week or so she has been fiddling with her iPhone while she stands in the kitchen, while I was shopping…

Reviews

I Am T-Pain For iPhone/Touch

I have to admit, I am not a big fan of music that uses Auto-Tune. On the other hand, I found the Ocarina app from Smule to be fascinating. Of course I had to briefly learn the Legend of Zelda theme. The app is truly amazing. With that in mind, I decided to try out the I Am T-Pain app. Whether you like the genre of music or not, the app works well. Two of my students, Kelsey and Danielle, gave it a try. Both of them can sing and Smule was able to transform them into virtual hip-hop stars.

Game Diary, Reviews

Zlider for iPhone/Touch App Review

Through my search of Blue Plate applications I have learned two things. First, there are some great games and apps available for $.99 or less. Second, well executed simple design makes for a better app than one who tries to throw in the kitchen sink. Zlider falls into this category. The gameplay is a simple concept, but with plenty of challenge and nice graphics they present a really fun game. Guide the little meteoroid through the galaxy and prevent him from colliding with the walls of blue and red stars. You need a bunch of coordination skills with this game…

Reviews

Everki Camber Netbook Case Review

We recently released the introduction of the Camber Netbook Case-Sling from Everki (you can read the release here). Everki was kind enough to supply a Camber for me to review. This new case is super compact fitting netbooks up to 13″. The product is slightly too small to hold a 13″ MacBook Pro (they actually are 13.3″), but a version to accommodate the macbook is in the works for 2010. As the computing devices we use get smaller, so do the ways we carry them. See how the Camber stacks up after the break.

Reviews

Agile Partners Updates Star 6 For iPhone: Get To Mixing!

Agile Partners, creators of some wonderful music apps, have just significantly updated their beat mixing application Star6. I recently reviewed two of their apps for guitarists that have become some of my most use apps. Check out the reviews for Guitar ToolKit and Tab ToolKit. Star6 is a music mixer that utilizes the accelerometer and touch interface to create a truly unique musical experience. I am a musician, but have never done hip hop style beat mixes, so I was unsure if the app would even work in my hands. As you will see, it is quite easy to use!

Game Diary, Reviews

Traffic Rush for iPhone/Touch App Review

We are all feeling the financial pinch! Blue Plate Special is a weekly review of bargain apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Nothing over $.99. Anyone who drives in the city knows the frustrations of a busy intersection. How great would it be to get rid of the stop light and control the traffic on your own? Take control over a busy intersection from above with the addictive game Traffic Rush. The game is currently the top ranked free app in iTunes and will provide some traffic relieving fun for the passing gamer. The object of Traffic Rush is…

Game Diary, Reviews

iAssociate Lite for iPhone/Touch App Review

I have begun to like playing puzzle games, especially word games. Maybe I am getting old, but games that require thought have become more fun for me. I have reviewed many different types of puzzle games, including several word games but iAchieve has turned out to be not only fun and addictive but very unique. One of my Sophomore students showed me iAchieve Lite and told me I must try it because she thought I would love it. She was correct! I was instantly addicted.

Game Diary, Reviews

iFarm for iPhone/Touch App Review

Attention Farmville and FarmTown fans! Many of us spend way too much time on Facebook. If much of that time is spent on one of these farm simulation games, do I have an app for you! This summer I did fall into the Farm Town trap and spent (wasted) a lot of time harvesting and planting crops in hopes to buy more stuff and a larger piece of land. Yes, there is no point, but for some reason it is extremely addicting. So, how about taking this addicting waste of time mobile!?! iFarm will give you the chance!

Reviews

YUBZ Magnum Review: Hands Free Calling and Audio Via Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology is often underused in my eyes. For a long time there was no use beyond sending ring tones and talking over a wireless ear piece. As of late, this technology has found greater utilization allowing for wireless syncing in vehicles and even multi-player gaming. Using Bluetooth to listen to music has become a great option while on the go or for wireless listening. The YUBZ Magnum takes several of these technologies and combines them in one attractive device. I was hesitant before testing the unit since crossover devices often do not successfully execute both tasks. Here’s how I…

Game Diary, Reviews

Orba for iPhone/Touch App Review

My gaming tastes are either changing, or I have become a simple person in my older age. It seems the flurry of simple puzzle games not only entertain me, but also keep me addicted to the small bursts of gaming time I have. Orba is a simple screen clearing game. The premise is simple and has been seen in several games. Tap chains of three or more orbs in an attempt to clear the board.

Game Diary, Reviews

Real Racing GTI for iPhone/Touch App Review

Before deciding this is not an interesting gaming option because it is the Lite version, read this review. You may be surprised on what you find! I have to admit I am usually not a fan of lite versions of paid apps, but this game is different. One reason is Firemint has teamed up with Volkswagen to bring this game as an introduction of the new 2010 GTI. Yes, the game is basically a commercial for the new GTI, but this also means it is a really nice version of the $4.99 Real Racing game for free!

Game Diary, Reviews

Sudoku (Free) for iPhone/Touch App Review

Sudoku is a terribly addictive number puzzle game. The object is to fill in 9×9 grid using numbers 1 through 9 as well as filling them into a 3×3 region with no numbers repeating in rows or columns. Before the iPhone days, I was hooked on sudoku playing the puzzles on with pencil and paper. I even used to carry around a little sudoku puzzle book in my bag so I could play when there was a spare moment. My sudoku play tends to attempt to work quickly and I rarely stop before finishing a puzzle. The iPhone has changed…

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