Entrenched in iOS gaming and productivity and a mobile office conformist, Greg Dawson offers a unique take on app reviews from the angle of an independent consultant as well as a daddy, husband and professional photographer.
Japan is a hotbed for RPG games that are both intriguing in gameplay and sexy in design. Now, there’s one more that has been ported across the Pacific. Japan-based mobile gaming company KEMCO recently announced that its RPG Eve of the Genesis is now available in English on the US app store. To celebrate, they’ve reduced the price 67 percent to $2.99 for a limited time.
As for gameplay, gamers are introduced to ancient times in the Empire of Gadalia, a powerful state who controls the land and is run by mechanical beings. There’s a bit of a Terminator flare to it as these mechanical beings are masked in the form of men and they have the humans under their control. After a battle royale and 2,000 years later, the humans are still under the machines control and it’s up to the player to discover and unlock the key to freeing the enslaved population.
Navigation apps in the app store are a plenty. But one developer that continues to push the bar is NAVIGON, who’s first app was published two years ago and has received almost 10,000 four star reviews. Their newest app, an overhaul of their first app published two years ago that has seen eight major updates packed with new features, is available as of today as a free update to current NAVIGON users. For those new to the service, NAVIGON 2.0 for iPhone North America, USA, Canada, East, Central or West costs between $19.99 and $49.99 depending on the location.
NAVIGON 2.0 received a complete overhaul to its user interface with pull down menus and an easier to use POI menu. It is the first onboard iPhone navigation app that solves the issue of having to save large amounts of map data on the phone to be independent of a data connection because it allows the user to download maps by state, leaving more room for media files and other apps. Also included in NAVIGON 2.0 is an in app purchase option for quarterly map updates, which is key as every road around seems to be under construction.
Fans of Tap Tap Revenge and The Muppets rejoice as Disney Mobile announced the availability of Tap Tap Muppets. The app is free and features music from Disney’s “The Muppets” soundtrack, in addition to the Muppets tribute compilation, “The Green Album.” How fitting, since it’s not easy being green. Well, in this case, it’s very easy since we all love The Muppets and music so this is a great combination to have in a game.
Tap Tap Muppets features all the usual cast of characters, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and a few more to help celebrate everyone’s favorite Muppet music. The game features six full tracks including three songs from the “The Muppets” soundtrack, which will be released by Walt Disney Records on November 21. A few of the songs include “Life’s A Happy Song” which is performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter along with “The Muppet Show Theme” performed by OK Go.
The launch of Tap Tap Muppets coincides with the theatrical release, which hits theaters November 23. The Tap Tap Muppets app is available for free in the App Store.
Dolphin Browser version 2.0 was released for iOS and is now available for download on the App Store. Similar to the company’s recent Android update, the mobile browser for the iPhone and iPad now features Dolphin Connect, which enables the user to sync all of their important bookmarks across platforms. For instance, iPad owners who have an Android mobile phone are good to go with the latest update. This should make for a consistent user experience regardless of mobile platform.
The app’s Webzine received several enhancements, including bringing 16 of the most popular channels directly to the home screen for easy, one-touch access. The company also announced that they’ve surpassed 10 million users and in celebration are giving away a trip to Disneyland for one lucky Dolphin user. This also includes a guest. The prize is five nights at the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Find out all the details on the company’s blog.
Able to remember names in a personal or professional setting? Yeah, neither can I. I’ve said it time and time again that I’m horrible at remembering names. There is nothing more awkward than trying to introduce someone I just met and then drawing a blank when trying to say their name. Apparently, I’m not alone. Namerick, ideated by Jeremy Van Fleet, just launched in the App Store and it’s free for three days.
Jeremy, who was part of the three-day app building contest hosted by BeMyApp, was first inspired to create the app because he needed to remember his girlfriend’s overwhelmingly large extended family. After completing the app over the weekend with a group of colleagues, the app is expected to do more than just remember family names. It might be one of the most powerful networking tools professionals can bring to a mixer.
As Dale Carnegie pointed out in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” remembering a person’s name is the most important thing one could do to win them over. Namerick is an iPhone app that improves memory of people’s names using repetition and mnemonics modeled from memory professionals and studies of the human memory.
Basically, it helps with the “three R’s of memory” including recording notes, dates and categories, retaining new names and reminders and lastly, retrieving names, keywords and notes. The app will even send you notifications on a specific schedule to help you remember the names of people you just met. The name memory app is available now for free during its initial three days, then moves to $.99 thereafter.
Jawbone, known for their award-winning Bluetooth headsets, has announced UP, a wristband and app combo that tracks daily activity such as sleep, motion and eating habits. The goal of it is to help people live a healthier life.
For those who follow Ted Global, they’ll remember that UP was previewed at the event this past July. Tracking sleep, eating habits and motion, the wristband is worn 24/7 and wirelessly communicates with the iPhone app via MotionX technology. The app then calculates daily totals, displays them and works to give users a better understanding of their health, what drives it and ways to improve it. And no, it’s not another weight loss gimmick. It is about visually displaying the hundreds of decisions made every day to be healthy and gives the user the motivation to alter their behavior for an all-around healthier lifestyle.
UP also includes a social aspect with the ability to challenge friends. Within the app friends can send encouragement and challenge each other for most hours slept, who had the healthiest meals and more. The wristband will be available on November 6 for $99.99 while the app is available for free as of today.
Posted October 31st, 2011 by Greg Dawson Our Rating: :: PIRATE ADVENTURE
Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas is for fans of the pirate series as well as the gamer that enjoys a good strategy based game full of adventure.
Posted October 28th, 2011 by Greg Dawson Our Rating: :: HIT TO 21
Learning blackjack is a lot of fun. Before heading out to the casino, try Blackjack by Yazino for its easy to use interface and integration of social gameplay.
Dutch developer Two Tribes has announced that they are bringing Toki Tori 2 to PC and Mac via the Steam digital distribution platform by Valve Corporation in Spring 2012 and are planning support for iOS, Nintendo and more. As in the original Game Boy Color release, the sequel will feature the young chick, but in an entirely new adventure developed from the ground up. The more exciting news is that Two Tribes will utilize an open development model. That’s right. They want gamers to follow their every move and be part of the progress, and more importantly, they’re giving access to playable early versions from day one. Gamers can follow their progress on the Toki Tori 2 development blog.
Collin van Ginkel, creative director at Two Tribes says “We’re starting with a super-early version of Toki Tori 2, which is basically interactive concept art, running on Steam for people to try out and we’re very excited to be able to involve the Two Tribes community in such a direct way.” The original game saw quite a bit of success over the past 10 years on a wide variety of gaming platforms, including Windows Mobile, Nintendo’s Wii via WiiWare and on iPhone in 2009.
As of yesterday, the first 200 gamers interested in checking out an early version can email tokitori2@twotribes.com for an invite to their Steam development version.
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Posted October 13th, 2011 by Greg Dawson Our Rating: :: BIKE NAVIGATION
Bike CycloComputer HUD for iPhone is a heads-up display for viewing all the necessary data when on a bike ride such as pace, speed, inclination and much more.
Posted October 7th, 2011 by Greg Dawson Our Rating: :: FALLING MADNESS
High Flyer Death Defyer breaks out of the side scroller genre with a skydiving fantasy world of comic book style art complete with monsters and visually appealing design.
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Posted October 5th, 2011 by Greg Dawson Our Rating: :: IM & VIDEO CHAT
This app's ability to let users IM, video chat or VoIP with Facebook friends for free makes it an easy download. The user interface and simple functions are added bonuses.
Japan is a hotbed for RPG games that are both intriguing in gameplay and sexy in design. Now, there’s one more that has been ported across the Pacific. Japan-based mobile gaming company KEMCO recently announced that its RPG Eve of the Genesis is now available in English on the US app store. To celebrate, they’ve reduced the price 67 percent to $2.99 for a limited time.
Navigation apps in the app store are a plenty. But one developer that continues to push the bar is NAVIGON, who’s first app was published two years ago and has received almost 10,000 four star reviews. Their newest app, an overhaul of their first app published two years ago that has seen eight major updates packed with new features, is available as of today as a free update to current NAVIGON users. For those new to the service, NAVIGON 2.0 for iPhone North America, USA, Canada, East, Central or West costs between $19.99 and $49.99 depending on the location.
Fans of Tap Tap Revenge and The Muppets rejoice as Disney Mobile announced the availability of Tap Tap Muppets. The app is free and features music from Disney’s “The Muppets” soundtrack, in addition to the Muppets tribute compilation, “The Green Album.” How fitting, since it’s not easy being green. Well, in this case, it’s very easy since we all love The Muppets and music so this is a great combination to have in a game.
Dolphin Browser version 2.0 was released for iOS and is now available for download on the App Store. Similar to the company’s recent Android update, the mobile browser for the iPhone and iPad now features Dolphin Connect, which enables the user to sync all of their important bookmarks across platforms. For instance, iPad owners who have an Android mobile phone are good to go with the latest update. This should make for a consistent user experience regardless of mobile platform.
:: EVIL GRANDMA
Able to remember names in a personal or professional setting? Yeah, neither can I. I’ve said it time and time again that I’m horrible at remembering names. There is nothing more awkward than trying to introduce someone I just met and then drawing a blank when trying to say their name. Apparently, I’m not alone. 
Jawbone, known for their award-winning Bluetooth headsets, has announced 
Dutch developer Two Tribes has announced that they are bringing Toki Tori 2 to PC and Mac via the Steam digital distribution platform by Valve Corporation in Spring 2012 and are planning support for iOS, Nintendo and more. As in the original Game Boy Color release, the sequel will feature the young chick, but in an entirely new adventure developed from the ground up. The more exciting news is that Two Tribes will utilize an open development model. That’s right. They want gamers to follow their every move and be part of the progress, and more importantly, they’re giving access to playable early versions from day one. Gamers can follow their progress on the 
