Apple iPhone Apps | Gear Diary

Nightmares of the Deep: The Siren’s Call for iOS and Android Review

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 is here – and it is better in every way, bringing adventure and action to a normally staid genre! Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version here); available in the App Store. Android version at Google Play Developer: Artifex Mundi / G5 Entertainment Description: Here are some of the features: Thrilling storyline and…

Events, Music Diary, News & Features

Blumoo Home Audio Remote Debuts at CES 2014?

The other day the local youth bureau called asking if my kids could help an older person set up a universal remote for multiple devices – and they declined because I was the only one in our house who knew our system! This is true for millions, making it great news as Blumoo Home Audio Remote Debuts at CES 2014!

Events, Gear Bits

JoyTunes Brings Real Music Learning With Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania Apps

For most people ‘playing the piano’ is one of their bucket list items. For many kids – and parents – it means expensive lessons and disruptive trips to teachers, and often a non-stop battle to practice! JoyTunes seeks to make piano learning more fun with their Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania apps for iPhone and iPad! According to JoyTunes: JoyTune’s Piano Mania and Piano Dust Buster 2.0 mobile apps teach users to play the piano through exciting game-like lessons that only take a few minutes each day. The unique program is so effective that kids can transition their skills…

Game Diary

Jet Car Stunts 2 Now Available on iPhone, iPod, and iPad

Jet Car Stunts 2, the follow-up to the popular original racer by True Axis, is now available for iPhone, iPod, and iPad on the App Store. The Jet Car Stunts series takes an interesting approach to car racing by adding the ability to fly using a rear-mounted jet engine and realistic physics. It’s available for free on the App Store.

Editorials, Game Diary

What Does Apple’s ‘Best of 2013’ Tell Us About the State of Mobile Gaming?

This week Apple released the ‘best of 2013’ list, which had what they called ‘the best’ apps in different categories. But the list also had the top paid and free iPhone and iPad games and apps, and the results are not surprising, but tell us much about the trends in the gaming audience on mobile devices. I won’t repeat the entire list, you can check it out here. At the risk of spoiling my own point, can you guess what the Top 10 Grossing (i.e. the 10 apps that made the most money) apps for 2013 on iPhone and iPad…

Gear Bits

Google Glass Goes iOS with Release of MyGlass for iPhone

After a brief appearance earlier this week Google’s MyGlass app has made the official jump to iOS. That’s great news for Glass-wearing iPhone-users since it means more functionality than iOS-users previously enjoyed from Glass. That includes getting directions, capturing screencasts, and more. We’ll see how the iOS version stacks up over the next few days and report back.

Game Diary, Reviews

Ossian Studios’ The Shadow Sun Review – Brings a Deep RPG Experience to iOS

Last week I did a quick hands-on preview of The Shadow Sun, expressing enthusiasm with very few reservations. Now that the game is released, and I’m free to discuss it, my feelings are … the same. This is the first original RPG on the App Store that isn’t a port or a pale imitation, and it is actually worth playing.

Gear Bits

Mailbox Becomes More Universal, Adds iCloud and Yahoo! Mail!

We have discussed the Mailbox App here more than a couple of times, with the initial buzz and hype quickly falling off for all of the editors. But the app has continually improved over the several months since it launched, and this week has taken a huge leap by adding support for iCloud and Yahoo! Mail accounts.

Game Diary, Reviews

Review: Gemini Rue Brings Excellent Adventure Gaming to Android, Launches with New Humble Bundle

Back in 2011 Wadjet Eye Games released Gemini Rue for PC, a sci-fi dystopian adventure with intriguing story and characters. Earlier this year they released the game for iOS devices to acclaim, and now it is available for Android through newly launched Humble Bundle 8! Loved it on iOS, and it remains one of the best mobile games this year! Type of app: Sci-Fi Adventure game Platform/where to buy: Android version in the new Humble Bundle; Also available in the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store Developer: Wadjet Eye Games Description: Gemini Rue has loads of content, including: *…

Gear Bits

‘LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga’ Arrives on iTunes App Store

I was a huge fan of LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Star Wars II way back in 2005 and 2006 when they were released and a fan of the subsequent 2007 ‘Complete Saga’ release. The PC & Mac versions arrived in 2009 and 2010, and now have landed on the iTunes App Store as a universal iPhone/iPad release.

Game Diary, Reviews

The Shadow Sun Hands-On Coming December 19th, We Go Hands-on!

I’ve been talking about The Shadow Sun from Ossian Studios for three years now since it was first announced. I’ve also been able to play beta and preview builds of the game. Now approved by Apple and is headed for a December 19th release, I wanted to give a few quick thoughts with a full review coming next week! Type of app: Role-Playing Game (RPG) Platform/where to buy: Coming to iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch December 19th; will be available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Ossian Studios Description: • A premium, full 3D Western RPG with a story…

Music Diary, News & Features

Spotify Adds New Free Capabilities, 20 Markets, Led Zepplin Catalog!

While some folks express concerns about royalty payouts and business models, the reality is that people love Spotify because it allows them to listen to the music they want to when, where and how they want. And today they are announcing ways that even more people can enjoy the service, and an expansion of the free service for tablet users.

Crowdfunding, News & Features

MyLIFTER Makes Garage Organization Smart

There are two kinds of garages out there: the garages where cars live while shelves of stuff loom over them ominously, and the garages where the idea of fitting a car amongst all the stuff stored there is laughable. No matter which garage you have, myLIFTER is a Kickstarter project designed to organize your garage and control it from your phone!

Gear Bits

Sorry Apple Weather, That Is NOT How You Calculate Wind Chill

When I was a kid, the concept of ‘wind chill’ was new; the National Weather Service didn’t start reporting it until the 1970s, and it took a while longer to become popular with news viewers. Now it has evolved into ‘Real Feel’ or ‘Feels Like’ rather than just ‘Wind Chill’. Either way, Apple’s Weather app doesn’t have a clue.

Gear Bits

Aspects TD Turns Tower Defense on Its Head, Lets YOU Attack!

I love tower defense, and know that with games such as Plants vs. Zombies and Kingdom Rush there are several Gear Diary members who spend way too many hours on just-one-more-turn! But imagine a game where instead of just planning your defense, you actually got to attack your enemies!?! That is exactly what the newly released Aspects TD delivers.

Gear Bits

New Space Runner Game Galaxy Run Blasts onto iTunes App Store!

‘Auto-runner’ games are fan favorites, and I know my kids have enjoyed a variety of them. A new release has gotten loads of attention with some new features and fun twists on standard gameplay elements – Galaxy Run. The game is featured on the app store and feedback from a couple of friends is that Galaxy Run is a blast!

Game Diary, Reviews

Elixir: The League of Immortality HD for iPad Review

Yawn … another week, another fun game from Vogat & G5 Entertainment. Of course I am joking, but it is at the point where seeing those names raises expectations. Fortunately, with Elixir: The League of Immortality they once again deliver a high quality experience with a great mix of hidden objects, puzzles and find-the-item gameplay wrapped around an engaging story.

Gear Bits

Battle Command Brings Multiplayer Combat Strategy to iOS and Android

Spacetime Games is on a roll, releasing multiplayer games for iOS and Android across genres that are free to try and a blast to play. The latest of these games is Battle Command. It uses a standard build, battle, enhance format, followed by upgrades and so on. And while it is familiar – it is a blast to play!

News & Features

PhatPad has (Google) Drive

Gear Diary has written about PhatWare apps on a number of occasions, including here, here, and most recently, here. One of their best known products is PhatPad, a note-taking app that features handwriting recognition. I’ve used PhatWare products, including PhatPad, off and on for years. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of its handwriting recognition.

Reviews

See Spot Run, See Spot Jump, See the Soundfreaq Sound Spot Rock Out

It’s good to know the days of all portable Bluetooth speakers being little, black boxes is coming to an end. Leading the way is the Soundfreaq Sound Spot. This small, $69 speaker packs big sound, good battery life and it looks great in any one of its many colors. Mix and match Sound Spots for a great looking sound.

Health and Fitness, News & Features

PAFERS XSPIN Takes the Drudgery out of Indoor Cycling

With the weather cooling off, it gets harder and harder to convince myself to take my bicycle outdoors for an exercise ride, but spinning for miles on an indoor bike can be a mind-numbing bore. Fortunately, the gear heads at PAFERS have released a new exercise aid to help add some motivation to indoor cycling. Their new XSPIN is a Bluetooth enabled device that works with many exercise apparatuses to inspire harder training.