2014 was another strange year of simultaneously explosive growth and entrenched maturation; where most of the biggest apps solidified control in their areas, yet tons of new apps appeared and a few were hugely successful. It is a reminder that fast moving trends dominate all of the app stores, and how maturity is now more about equal choices amongst stores.
Puzzle games are like art or jokes in some ways – you either get it or you don’t, if you do it is addictive and if you don’t there is no sense trying to explain. Indie developer Moon Kid is preparing to launch Satellina, a simple color matching game that is anything but simple because it is a ‘puzzle in motion’.
One of my first posts at Gear Diary was the review of the Nintendo DS game Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a game I considered ‘essential and ‘my favorite game of the franchise’, and which remains the best-reviewed DS game. In 2010 I reviewed the game on iPhone and later iPad, and now it is out for Android!
I have enjoyed survival simulation games from G5 such as The Island: Castaway in the past, which was pretty much what I assumed Survivors: The Quest would be like. But it is much more – it is a story-driven, quest-focused adventure-survival game with RPG elements. And within minutes of starting the game I was hooked.
It can be a lot of pressure to get that perfect diamond ring or jewelry piece right for that special someone, especially around the holidays. Now there is an app for that – The Brilliance.com 3D Printing Diamond Engagement Ring Program uses their own “diamond finder” app to let customers try 3D versions of the final rings/jewelry before final purchase.
If you believe you can fly, then the VERT wearable jump rate monitor can measure how high. This device is the first sports wearable to measure and report jump rate data on iPhone, iPad, smart watches and other devices. with an accompanying app for iPhone or the VERTcoach team management app on iPad.
Mahjong is the classic tile-matching game that seems to have existed since the earliest handheld systems, at least since the Newton MessagePad. G5 has released two great Mahjong games in the past, which I reviewed here and here. Now they are back with a free-to play Mahjong game that takes you on a journey through Asia solving puzzle after puzzle.
Think about this – interactive ‘build your own adventure’ storybook plugged into a role-playing adventure, based on the classic Jules Verne story ‘Around the World in 80 Days‘. Seems like a lot – but when put in the hands of Inkle Studios, the result is an amazing game that recently topped Time’s ‘Top 10 Video Games of 2014’!
Mobile web browsers have a unique challenge – delivering an experience optimized for a smaller screen, has less available memory, but also delivers the full content of a desktop browser. The result is browsers that seem to constantly reload tabs, fill up with ads and provide a scaled-down experience. Enter Opera Coast 4.0, the latest from the innovative browser developer.
Having two teenage boys, when I heard about the app Snagajob I was intrigued. Snagajob is a service dedicated to hourly employment, and the apps for iOS and Android are simple and easy to use to search for an apply jobs. And now in the full swing of holiday shopping, Snagajob can help college students grab seasonal work during break!
I discovered the Heroes of Might & Magic (HOMM) strategy-RPG game series with the excellent HOMM IV, but quickly discovered HOMM III was the pinnacle of the series. Ubisoft has announced that they are releasing a HD restoration of the game called Heroes of Might & Magic III HD – Restoration of Erathia, coming to PC, iOS and Android tablets.
As a runner I follow a lot of running and ‘healthy living’ blogs, which means that since mid-November I’ve read about 100 variations on the ‘how to avoid holiday pounds’ theme! The reality is that an old adage from the ‘Bloom County’ comic applies – eat less and exercise more. The folks at Runtastic have a new app to help!
It has been nearly a year since I reviewed The Shadow Sun by Ossian Studios for iOS, calling it “the first original RPG on the App Store that isn’t a port or a pale imitation, and it is actually worth playing”. Now the game is available on Android and the price is $4.99 on both platforms!
Developed by Avalanche Software and published by Disney Interactive Studios, Disney Infinity 2.0 has released the second “wave” of figures, power discs, and other items. This newly released wave includes Merida and Stitch in the Starter Pack and the separate figures Aladdin, Tinkerbell, Maleficent, and Donald Duck plus Hiro and Brymax from Big Hero 6.
Developed by Avalanche Software and published by Disney Interactive Studios, Disney Infinity 2.0 unleashes the Marvel Universe into the gameplay based on playsets, discs, and set pieces all physically placed on a base pad so players can put characters directly into the game with free gameplay options in digital versions.
When I reviewed the original Nightmares from the Deep back in 2012, I remarked that the “pacing is perfect, the story works well, and the overall experience is entirely positive and something you will remember for quite a while”. The sequel was even better, and the final entry saves the best of the series for last!
Brain Training games gained popularity with the Nintendo DS and ‘Brain Age’, and have remained popular for two simple reasons – they work, and they’re fun! But after playing games that feel a little too close to taking a test, it is nice to step back and immerse yourself in something more game-like. That is where KNeoWORLD comes in!
IK Multimedia has their hands in all areas of music creation technology, so it is no surprise that they have now announced iRig Pads, a portable groove controller for iOS, Mac and PC. iRig Pads offers full MIDI controller capability so it can be used with a variety of apps, and is now shipping for $149.99!
I described the IOGEAR MediaShair Hub as the “Mobile Swiss Army Knife” when I reviewed it a few weeks ago. I was impressed by the device and surprised that it is available for under $60 [Affiliate Link] here on Amazon. The ideal multi-functional device for travelers, our review sample is up for grabs. Check them out here on Facebook.
So you’re driving down the road when suddenly your check engine light comes on. Not too long ago this meant heading back to the dealership or your local garage for them to roll out their expensive code-reading machine and in turn hand you a hefty bill. An alternative to this is using the Lemur Monitors BlueDriver OBD2 Bluetooth Scan Tool.
We rarely let our one year old son play with our iPads. It’s not just that he’s little and tends to be rough on objects, it’s that he’s OBSESSED with Siri and loves pressing the home button over and over, rendering attempts to play games and watch videos impossible. However, it turns out there’s an easy solution-Guided Access in iOS!