In preparation for the 2012 UEFA Champions League matches hitting this week, Ringier Studios’ recently launched its Champions League app to ensure fans have all the excitement at their fingertips. Marked down from $4.99 to $1.99 just in time for the games, the interactive appzine is aimed at true soccer fans wanting to dive deep into every facet of the tournament. The app will feature the 10 best goals in 3D animation, including ones by Charles-Edouard Coridon, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi as well as saves by 10 goalkeepers such as Oliver Kahn, Victor Valdes and even Jerzy Dudek.

Fans who think they have what it takes to win the coveted trophy can build their very own dream team directly from previous Champions League heros. This team can be shared via Facebook and Twitter to show friends just how great their team is. The appzine also takes fans where the magic happens via 360 degree panoramic stadium photos taken during matches played by FC Barcelona and AC Milan. As for video content, fans have access to exclusive interviews with legends such as Steve McManaman, Stéphane Chapuisat, Ottmar Hitzfeld and even referee Urs Meier. They app also tracks top earners, gives an insider look at the ball and athletic shoe and offers historic timelines for some of the greatest moments of the finals.

$4.99

Ringier Studios’ Champions League: True Passion, Big Business

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-12-05 :: Category: Sports

Even though Alwar’s latest creation features some of the cutest tiny white bunnies in history, Robber Rabbits is anything but cuddly. These are masked thieves who the player must help shoplift delicious carrot flavored ice cream. The physics-based puzzle is set in Valentine’s Day garb and is full of shooting experiments that puts the player in a tough position to obtain high-hanging carrot ice cream.

However, they have obstacles in their way such as swaying platforms that have to be hit to knock off the loot. The big problem is that the platforms are in the way of each other, which creates the puzzle portion. And the obstacles don’t stop there. Broken light bulbs, blowing fans, and other interactive objects make sure that the game will be challenging. Available for both iPhone and iPad, Robber Rabbits features 96 unique puzzles, 3 unique weapons such as a popcap gun as well as the shooting physics to go along with the shot. The game is full of cuter than cute characters and graphics, original music and sound effects inspired by Valentine’s Day and supports OpenFeint and Game Center. Alawar’s other games are all on sell until the evening of Valentine’s Day.

$1.99

Robber Rabbits! HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-12-16 :: Category: Games

NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. recently launched TANK BATTALION BLITZ for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. In the action game players create a deck of tanks in order to obliterate their enemies. However, they must defend their own headquarters in the process. The game features 130 stages, more than 150 tanks, several game modes and local and online multiplayer through Game Center. The tanks have been digitally recreated from real World War 2-era machines. While the common vehicles can be collected for free, premium and rare tanks can only be attained through in-app purchase, but are essential to conquering tough missions throughout the game.

In the main TANK TANK BATTALION mode, players must complete a variety of treacherous missions by themselves, while in TEAM BATTLE mode they can team up to overtake the competition. Coming soon is TANK BATTALION BOSS mode, which puts the players directly in harm’s way with the task of challenging the massive boss tanks. For those not wanting to wait for the upcoming update, there is plenty of action in the 4-player local and online multiplayer modes for both cooperative and competitive gameplay. The game is available now for $2.99 on the App Store.

$2.99

TANK BATTALION BLITZ

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-02 :: Category: Games

Word puzzles have captivated millions throughout history and one company that is pushing the genre in a new direction is Outplay Entertainment with its Word Trick puzzle that rewards players through newly created green “Trick Tiles.” Sure, players can still score big with double word, double letter, triple word and triple letter bonus tiles, but the new green tiles offer even bigger points. For instance, if the user matches four green tiles their score is multiplied by three and if they match five it’s multiplied by four.

After they are used the green tiles turn into yellow tiles so opponents can’t steal points. The game is available now on Facebook for free and is coming to iOS soon. Players are also allowed to compete with up to three others and in as many as 21 games at a time. The game also includes chat features, move histories and reminders via email or Facebook.

Function (X) Inc. launched the first loyalty program for television last week called Viggle. What seems like technology similar to Shazam, the fourth most downloaded app of all time, Viggle automatically identifies the show the user is watching by listening to what the characters are saying. After users launch the app and check in to their show the app awards them with points that can be redeemed later at places such as Best Buy, Burger King, Fandango and Old Navy.

Extra bonus points can be earned by watching featured shows such as “American Idol” and in-app commercials. Currently, the app awards two points per every minute watched. Most $5 gift cards to places such as Starbucks and Burger King cost 7,500 points, but right now the company is running a limited time only special for a $5 gift card to Amazon for only 4,000 points. Users can also set reminders and read detailed information on their favorite shows from within the app as well as share their check-in on Facebook and Twitter.

FREE!

Viggle

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-01-25 :: Category: Entertainment

Abvio, an iPhone fitness app developer, demonstrated its version 7.0 update for Runmeter, Cyclemeter and Walkmeter last week in San Francisco at Macworld 2012. The new update overhauls the stopwatch display to be completely configurable to display data from more than 150 different data items, from total mileage to average heart rate for the previous split. Users will be able to customize and swipe through additional pages of information, including stats, graphs, maps, a music player, and more.

The update also adds a new history navigation feature that provides detailed reports. In addition, all workout information is saved directly to the device so users do not have to navigate to a sister website. The company also demonstrated new app support for the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap (for iPhone 4S) in the Mobile Apps Showcase making it the first to adopt the technology.

$4.99

Cyclemeter GPS - Track Cycling Running and Mountain Biking

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-09-17 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

FREE!

Runmeter GPS Track Running Cycling Walking

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-09-17 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

$4.99

Walkmeter GPS Walking Hiking Running Cycling

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-10-09 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

Canadian-based Incubator Games recently announced that its upcoming iOS match three puzzle Feeding Time will be available sometime in March for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices. Introducing cute and furry little critters such as kitties, doggies and bunnies, the game’s trailer reveals that the game is not a traditional match three puzzle. Instead of getting rid of like objects and more filling in from the top, Feeding Time allows players to attack from all sides. The video also seems to point towards huge bonuses since pets can eat bones or carrots from either side.

And instead of matching blue blocks with blue blocks, players must utilize the game’s intuitive eating mechanic where players match various animals with their favorite snacks. For example, dogs can only eat bones and cats can only eat fish. Players will also be able to challenge their friends on the global leaderboards and if they’re lucky, no pet will go hungry again.

Originally designed for the iPhone, Appigo’s Notebook app has gone through a major update and is now a universal app designed to play nicely with the iPad as well. The productivity app is well known for offering a simple user interface and solid feature set to create, share and edit notes. The new 2.0 version is now optimized for Dropbox syncing, which allows the user to share notes on all iOS devices as well as Mac and PC platforms. In addition to sharing between the user’s devices, this new support makes sharing with friends, family or colleagues even easier.

The update plays off the company’s thought that adding a powerful collaboration tool was necessary for its users. The new version adds a familiar notebook interface with full-screen editing capabilities and overall the update seems to be a cost effective productivity tool for users with multiple iOS devices. The notes are saved in standard text format and is compatible with PC and Mac text editing applications. Notebook is available on the iTunes App Store for $4.99.

$4.99

Notebook

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2008-09-12 :: Category: Productivity

Inspired by singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, THQ’s Margaritaville Online is now available on Facebook and iPad. The game invites players to escape to the laid back tropical paradise where margaritas are a plenty, music is chill and adventure is guaranteed. The point of the game is for the player to build their ideal oasis while partying with friends and turning their experience from a game into a lifestyle.

Featuring an immersive 3D world and hits from Buffett himself, players are encouraged to leave their cares behind. And yes, there are frozen concoctions to serve up to friends from the player’s personal island beach bar. Beyond the adult beverages, players can explore all the island has to offer such as meeting and interactive with the natives, finding forgotten treasure, sailing boats and playing mini-games. Basically, the game is all about relaxing and enjoying the sun, surf and sand with a drink in one hand and a six-string in the other. Finding the lost shaker of salt is just a bonus and not required. The game is free to play with optional in-game premium items

FREE!

Margaritaville Online

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-01-19 :: Category: Games

iSpeedMeter turns the iPhone into a speedometer enabling users to time themselves on the eighth and quarter mile as well as track how long it takes to go from 0-60 mph. The main tab sports a simply designed user interface that features a carbon fiber background as well as sleek silver incased speedometer.

To track distance versus time the user only needs to touch the second or third tabs to get to the distances mentioned above. Within these tabs, the app features a stoplight that signals down from red to yellow to green similar to that seen at the dragstrip only single lights and not double found on the light tree. The app then tracks the vehicle via the iPhone’s built-in GPS feature and displays distance, current speed and percentage completed. As the vehicle passes the various distances the app then displays the splits in mph or k/hm. The app is available for iPhone on the App Store for $.99.

$0.99

iSpeedMeter

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-11-02 :: Category: Utilities