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Freemium city-building games have been hugely popular on the App Store for nearly as long as the App Store has been around. With their trickle feeding approach to progress, and that temptation to spend real money to expand one’s virtual empire, it’s no wonder that everyone ends up intrigued. Like any genre, though, there are good and bad examples. I take a look at four of my favorite city or village builders.
CityVille Hometown
The mighty behemoth of Zynga starts us off, courtesy of the rather charming CityVille Hometown. Players focus on building up their town, keeping the residents happy and getting new people involved. There’s a little bit of everything here with decorating, farming and business growth all playing a part. Keeping things focused on the residents gives the game a suitably homely feel.
FREE!  + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-29 :: Category: Games PLAYMOBIL Pirates
When I was a child, I adored playing with Playmobil, creating stories with the constantly happy, plastic people. PLAYMOBIL Pirates brings such fun to iOS with players able to develop their own pirate camp, recruit new members of the crew and complete a variety of fun missions. Yes, it’s not city building in the conventional sense, but it’s charming and cute. The allure of in-app purchases isn’t too strong either, with patience fixing that problem.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-12-13 :: Category: Games My Little Pony – Friendship is Magic
A series that has benefited from quite a resurgence in recent times, My Little Pony transfers the city building motif to Ponyville. Usual village building techniques play a role here, but it’s all backed up by a selection of mini-games which keep things more interactive than most. The cute factor is off the scale, too!
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-11-08 :: Category: Games Pixel People
Quite different from the others in the list, Pixel People is more focused on the genetic splicing of people rather than village building, but it’s still an important part of progression. There’s charm aplenty here, plus immediately accessible yet addictive gameplay, with players combining characters to create new ones. It’ll take quite a while to collect every single one of the over 200 characters, as well as some careful thought, but it’s terrific fun along the way.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-31 :: Category: Games
Hey, that iPad of yours has a nice big screen. Why keep it all to yourself? Grab some friends and play some games together with them! Here’s four of my favorites.
 Fingle: It’s time to get intimate with this two-player iPad game. It starts out simply enough: each person moves their finger to the dashed box on screen. Sure, we can do that! Then multiple fingers get involved. Then the target boxes keep moving. Then the targets move in and out of the other person’s hand, and action is getting incredibly touchy-feely here. Oh, and the game’s use of innuendo means that it knows what’s up. So grab a friend and be ready to become really close…or make things really awkward. Great memories or terrible memories are sure to come.
$1.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-01-12 :: Category: Games  Bloop: Some of these games are fun for just two people, but here’s one for up to four people. The objective? Each player picks a color on the screen, and when the action starts, they need to tap it whenever it pops up. Oh, and the colors are rapidly popping up all throughout the game, so reacting quickly to where colors are coming up is extremely important! Expect to be shoving others’ arms out of the way all while playing this. It’s got the best facets of an iPad multiplayer game: an easy concept to pick up on and plenty of chaos that creates for memorable moments.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-26 :: Category: Games  Monkey Boxing: Sure, abstract competition is great. But sometimes friends just need to beat each other up by using simian avatars. That’s exactly what this game provides, with two players on one iPad. The two-button gameplay is easy to dive in to, and there’s enough variety to keep things from ever being monotonous. Don’t just jump in to the game, though. Make sure to customize your monkey’s outfit before fighting. Half of success is looking good while doing so. That’s a fact.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-04-18 :: Category: Games  Hundreds: This is something of an out-of-left-field choice in that it’s not really a multiplayer game, right? Well, what you made you think that it was explicitly a singleplayer game? Given that the game is very much based around multitouch, get some other people and try to solve some of the fiendish challenges that the game throws out. However, more independently-working fingers means more opportunities to screw up, so it really just brings a different approach to the title that can really change the game.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-03 :: Category: Games
With the arrival of Mothers Day, children everywhere will be scrambling to show their appreciation. Perhaps consider one of these iOS options as well. Not that they’d replace quality time, of course. By all means go and treat your mom to a nice dinner, give her a call, or whatever else you were planning to do. We just ask you to consider adding one (or all) of these digital possibilities to your Mother’s Day plan.
 Flower Garden
Who doesn’t think of getting their mom some flowers on Mothers Day? Nobody, that’s who. Flower Garden allows users to grow their own flora, as well as acquire new seeds for more exotic (and in some cases fictitious) examples. After some TLC they can then harvest their flowers and create a bouquet. A bouquet they can send to anyone on their Contacts list. And if the price seems a bit steep don’t fret; there’s a possibility (nothing official, just guessing) that it may go on sale like it did last Mothers Day.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-04-10 :: Category: Games  Let’s create! Pottery HD
Mom always likes it when you make her stuff. She always held on to that hideous ashtray you made for her back when you were in first grade, even though she doesn’t smoke. Now you can shower her with a ton of virtual ceramics without the hassle of any cleanup. Much like Flower Garden it’s possible to send photos of a piece to anyone you want, including mom. Unlike Flower Garden it’s also possible to give a particular favorite physical form through a little in-app purchase of some 3D printing.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-07-16 :: Category: Entertainment  Cards
Moms also like to get cards. Not just on Mothers Day, either. Downloading Apple’s official custom card creation app is practically a no-brainer for such an occasion. And as an added bonus you can send her customized greeting cards of the family/kids year-round. Think about that: the ability to send your mom personalized (and physical) greeting cards whenever you’d like, for any occasion. All without having to browse through the paltry selection at the store.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-12 :: Category: Lifestyle  ComicBook!
Giving your mom some eFlowers or making her a card is cool and all, but putting together a comic book that chronicles your adventures fighting crime (or even something a bit more tame) is just plain fun. I dare any moms out there not to laugh, or at least crack a smile, when their sons or daughters present them with the first issue of The Incredible Mom, Spidermom, or even Iron Mom.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-07-05 :: Category: Photography
In the midst of planning a vacation for the near-future? You lucky person, you. There are plenty of apps keen to help people along their way, but I take a look at four of my favorites for taking some of the effort out of the experience. In exchange, all I ask is to be able to sneak into someone’s suitcase for the trip. No? OK then, just enjoy the read instead then!
TripDeck
Aiming to be the Swiss Army Knife of travel organization, TripDeck is an itinerary planner, allowing users to manage their hotel reservations, car rentals, flights, cruises, restaurants and meetings, all in one place. Early access is offered for details such as check-in times and baggage claim information, amongst many other things. Plenty of contact numbers and maps are easily accessible too, for the easily worried. Best of all, for those travelling with others, it’s easy to share all this information.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-11-11 :: Category: Travel Suitcases
Packing is often a much bigger task than anyone anticipates, especially if there are children or other dependents that need to be organized. Suitcases is one handy app for such a task. It’s a very simple list based app, dividing items into categories right down to reminders of things to do before leaving, as well as the all important stuff that needs to be packed. Being able to split suitcases up according to the type of trip proves particularly useful for regular visits.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2013-02-21 :: Category: Travel GetPacked
The other ideal packing app is a little more expensive but it’s also more featured packed, encouraging users to figure out what they need by asking them a series of questions. A customized packing list is offered once some answers have been supplied, giving users a great starting point for what they need to do next. It’s just as easy to add extra information, too.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-06-10 :: Category: Travel Triposo
Whether you’ve made it to your destination or you’re still figuring out where to go, Triposo is a handy app to consult. It offers a series of free travel guides to many different cities and countries. There’s an overview map for the country, along with detailed information for major cities, useful phrases, and even a currency convertor. It’s a great starting point for ideas of where to visit, places to dine at and places to stay.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-04 :: Category: Travel
Make your voice be heard! Or perhaps your music as well. Whatever sounds you need to record, there’s an app to make that happen. Here are four of our favorites.
 iSaidWhat?!: I’ve used probably 6 different iOS devices over the past 3 years, and the list of apps that I’ve installed on all of them is short; iSaidWhat?! is on all of them. This audio recorder is perfect for recording audio anywhere and everywhere from the iPhone or the iPad (though it’s not universal, it still works), with the ability to trim files down. But really, the reason why it’s so great? It’s possible to reduce the gain on the mic, so in particularly noisy situations, it’s possible to prevent audio clipping. It’s perfect for loud situations, and makes it the app that I keep using. It could use a modern update, but it’s still great.
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-12-19 :: Category: Business  GarageBand: Want to record some music? Why not use Apple’s mobile version of their famous music app? It supports recording through the mic port, including from third-party accessories like iRig for guitar, and external microphones. As well, there’s MIDI support for using devices like keyboards with the app. When it’s all arranged, the files can be exported to SoundCloud, to a desktop iTunes library, or even to Facebook and YouTube.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-10 :: Category: Music  Mixlr: Pre-recorded audio is for suckers. To paraphrase Bill O’Reilly: “We’ll do it live!” This app is perfect for that. Just fire up the app on iPhone, and start broadcasting over wifi or 3G/4G/LTE! Want to play music for strangers on the internet? Go for it! Want to start up a live podcast with friends? Sure! Just have random grumblings and rantings that need to be shared with people right now? This app is perfect for that as well. The audio can then be saved for posterity to SoundCloud, Mixcloud, or Dropbox. The revolution will be broadcast live!
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-12-19 :: Category: Music  AudioNote: Need to take some notes with the audio you record? This app is a perfect choice to use with it. You can record audio and type notes along with the recording. Best of all, it’s possible to tap on text and go right to that part of the recording. It’s great for transcription or taking notes in class. Plus, the app is universal, giving it an advantage over the similar Notability.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-29 :: Category: Business
Taking photos with your iOS device is immensely useful and often produces good results. Nothing can quite beat the power of a DSLR camera, however, as much as many apps try. Switching to a full DSLR camera doesn’t mean having to leave iOS devices alone, though, as there are plenty of great apps to make taking good photos even easier. We take a look at four apps ideally suited for helping photographers.
Triggertrap
It’s not quite as free as the price suggests, given users need to buy a separate Mobile Dongle, but for those with a compatible camera, Triggertrap is an ideal tool for activating one’s DSLR camera remotely. Even better, it offers plenty of options so that it’s simple to initialize a long-exposure HDR shot, adjust the time-lapse or distance-lapse, as well as even trigger at the sound of a handclap. It’s a very effective app.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-04-29 :: Category: Photography Master Your DSLR Camera
Learning all about how to use a DSLR camera is an important part of capturing great images. Master Your DSLR Camera is a great, coffee-table-esque app with plenty of advice. With a mixture of text based advice, HD video tutorials and great imagery, there’s a lot to take in. Fortunately, it’s all clearly explained and easy to browse. Plenty of situational advice is offered too, courtesy of 25 common shooting scenarios via the app’s cheat sheet section.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-16 :: Category: Photography SetMyCamera Pro
Besides offering similar remote triggering facilities to TriggerTrap, SetMyCamera Pro also comes with plenty of ways to figure out the Depth of Field calculations required to take a great photo. Alongside that, it offers Shutter Speed recommendations, Field of View assistance and a distance unit conversion calculator. With plenty of functionality, it should make photographic calculations a lot simpler.
$5.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-25 :: Category: Photography Photo Academy
A little like Master Your DSLR Camera, Photo Academy lends itself to quick consultations while out and about. There’s plenty of detailed advice on how to achieve the best composition, as well as tips on specific subjects. Alongside that is a great guide to the best settings according to each topic, plus a glossary of important terms. Users wanting to track their experience can record their expeditions in the Shoot Diary, while also recording notes on how they feel they did and what settings worked best for them.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-08-18 :: Category: Photography
As interesting (and surprisingly tough) as it was to put together a list of RPGs that have nothing to do with fantasy stuff, that’s no reason to ignore more “typical” examples of the genre. So now we’re back to fantasy RPGs in all their kobold-bashing, dragon-taming, evil-conquering, zombie-slaughtering glory. I’ll admit that none of the games on this list is a real “traditional” role playing game, but they’re all still RPGs (of a sort) and all chock full of fantasy goodness.
 Dragon Island Blue
If you’re ever in the mood to hunt down and capture dangerous monsters, delve through perilous dungeons, and create the ultimate team of badass creatures then Dragon Island is the place to be. Most if not all of the enemies (and by extension potential allies) are fairly typical fantasy archetypes, but they each manage to look so much cooler than the typical examples and feature a pretty diverse range of abilities. Constructing a well-balanced team with complementary skills is a must for higher level encounters.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-08-30 :: Category: Games  Nimble Quest
An action RPG crossed with Snake. Who would’ve thought such a combination would work so well? Nimble Quest might feature plenty of typical fantasy baddies (i.e. bats, skeletons, evil wizards, etc), but its emphasis on a conga line procession of heroes with their own unique abilities really sets it apart. It’s also one of the few action RPGs where I’ve found the super-frail magic wielders to be easier to use than the melee fighters.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-03-28 :: Category: Games  Brogue
Roguelikes are something of an acquired taste, but those who can learn to accept their brutal difficulty and typically steep learning curves will be able to enjoy virtually limitless hours of dungeon exploration and desperate fights for survival. So why Brogue and not any of the other fantastic examples of the genre that are also on the App Store? Well first off it manages to make use of its ASCII visuals to create some truly impressive-looking environments. Secondly it’s high fantasy to the core; filled with kobolds, goblins, wands, spell scrolls, and more.
FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2013-03-21 :: Category: Games  Slayin
Slayin might be the least traditional RPG on the list but it’s possibly the most fun by virtue of its addictive arcade style gameplay. All the expected baddies make an appearance here – slimes, bats, dragons, minotaurs, etc – and all are ready to fall before your sword in the name of the almighty High Score. Character levels are constantly climbing, and enemies are always getting more numerous and aggressive, equating to one crazy bite-sized action RPG.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-04-04 :: Category: Games
RPGs are incredibly popular, and probably will be for quite some time to come. The weird thing is that for some reason people seem to have trouble adapting the genre’s concepts into a world that isn’t full of magic, goblins, dragons, and so on. These games certainly do exist but they’re few and far between, especially on iOS. Hence our shoutout to four of our favorite iOS RPGs that aren’t saturated with dwarfs and elves and such.
 Mission Europa Collector’s
One part dungeon crawler, another part shooter, a sprinkling of horror, and a ton of stat driven RPG elements make up this offbeat adventure. Players must brave the abandoned tunnels of Jupiter’s moon as they attempt to piece together what happened to the crew that was initially stationed there, as well as try not to get torn to pieces by the hideous amalgamations of rotting flesh and electronics that continue to roam the halls. It’s a very action and loot-heavy RPG with nary an orc to be found.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-15 :: Category: Games  Corporate Fury
When a new CEO takes over a company, they can sometimes really shake up the way things are done. Corporate Fury takes that concept to a whole new level when salary men (and women) are forced to fight each other one-on-one for every little thing. Want a promotion? Then beat the snot out of the person above you. Thinking of passing that report along to the intern? You’d better hope they’re a pushover. Amidst all the goofy violence and mayhem players can improve their character with new skills, equipment, and combat moves as they attempt to fight their way to the top of the corporate ladder, leaving a trail of broken bodies in their wake.
$1.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-08-25 :: Category: Games  Penny Arcade’s On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
Zeboyd’s latest convention-defying RPG might be full of all sorts of fantastical creatures, but they include things like mollusks with a love of mimes and giant crab-wizards. It’s a vaguely steampunk world filled with semi-Cthulhian horrors and a remarkably goofy sense of humor, not a series of dark forests filled with giant spiders and ogres. There’s still plenty of evil afoot only this time it’s a bit less conventional, as are the protagonists and their rampant multi-classing.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-10-24 :: Category: Games  The World Ends with You: Solo Remix
When putting together a list of non-fantasy RPGs I knew I just had to include The World Ends with You. It’s a fantastic RPG in its own right that still manages to set itself apart from most other titles in the genre thanks to its style, music, characters, and plot. And it all takes place in modern day Shibuya as Neku and his accomplices attempt to survive the Reaper’s game and save themselves from a horrible fate.
$17.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-08-27 :: Category: Games
Like it or not (I personally like it), retro-inspired pixel graphics are here to stay. A lot of people love the nostalgia that comes with such visuals, but it’s also interesting to see how pixel artists interpret different ideas. They can squeeze a surprising amount of detail out of a few well-placed squares. This list chronicles four of the pixilated worlds we find the most impressive. Not just the characters, mind, but the overall artistic style of their universe.
 Arranger
I’ll admit that it’s a bit rough around the edges. Some of the mechanics aren’t fully realized and the movement controls, while much better after an update, are still a bit tough to use. However this is a list about fantastic, pixilated worlds, and Arranger has definitely got that. Part homage to Atari classics, part acid trip through a 1970s arcade cabinet, it’s nothing it not incredibly imaginative and unique.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-11-15 :: Category: Games  Pixel Kingdom
I know I’ve already mentioned how much I love the visuals in Pixel Kingdom but I’m going to reiterate because I really love them. Capturing so much personality and charm in characters that sport such small dimensions is no easy task, yet here it’s pulled off almost effortlessly. At least it seems that way. Simply watching the heros walk across the field brings a smile to my face. The added draw of discovering what other bizarre and wonderful creatures lurk just off-screen on higher difficulties is another big draw.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-04-05 :: Category: Games  Canabalt
What impresses me so much about Canabalt is how minimal its visuals are. Aside from the main character, I mean. His animations are pretty spectacular. There’s no color and practically no fine details to the backgrounds, yet it manages to tell a rather harrowing story. It’s a world on the brink of destruction, under attack from seemingly invincible extra-terrestrial aggressors, all depicted through the use of various shades of gray and some silhouettes.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-10-02 :: Category: Games  Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Of all the worlds I’ve visited that can be expressed through “bits,” Sword & Sworcery‘s is definitely my favorite. It’s a world full of whimsical forests and foreboding caves. The magic floating in the pixelated air is almost tangible. And to say it’s gorgeous would be a rather terrible understatement. The warrior monk’s quest might be sorrowful (and a tad short), but it’s stayed with me ever since its completion.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-24 :: Category: Games
I think most people can agree that we probably don’t need quite as many first-person shooters on the market as we actually have. There are some great games to be had, sure, but with so much over-saturation it starts to become difficult to get excited about it. That’s why we’ve got a list of four of our favorite first-person games that aren’t shooters. They use the same perspective, and in some cases the same “floating hands” motif, but there are no firearms to be found. See? Just because a game is in first-person doesn’t mean it has to involve shooting stuff in the face.
 Dark Meadow
Okay, so technically you do shoot some stuff in the face here, but not in the traditional sense. That’s kind of a weird thing to say now that I think about it. Anyway the crossbow isn’t actually a gun, and it functions are more of a way to chip away at an enemy’s health before they close the gap. Dark Meadow is primarily a first-person adventure/action game with an emphasis on exploration and melee. A combination that ends up being pretty awesome.
$5.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-06 :: Category: Games  The Quest
Now The Quest is definitely not a shooter. It’s an old-school inspired, first-person, turn-based RPG that isn’t afraid to force those who write about it to use lots of hyphens. It’s also an incredibly robust adventure that allows players to create a number of various custom characters and tackle the world and its various quests as they see fit. And that’s all before taking the ridiculous amount of expansions into account.
$4.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-02-20 :: Category: Games  Ravensword: Shadowlands
If you were to ask any console gamers about first-person games that aren’t shooters, one of the first titles that would pop into their head would have to be either Oblivion or Skyrim. This is the iOS gamer’s equivalent. Ravensword is a huge RPG full of little nooks and crannies to explore and unique creatures to slay. It can, of course, be played in third-person as well but in this instance first-person is far superior.
$6.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-12-20 :: Category: Games  Minecraft – Pocket Edition
Betcha didn’t see this one coming. Minecraft is a lot of things to different people: gaming’s most amazing sandbox, a great way to be creative with friends, The Second Coming, a boring and over-hyped piece of junk, or even just “meh.” But what isn’t debatable is the fact that it’s one of the least shooter-y first-person games currently available on iOS devices. Not only is there little to no emphasis on shooting (plus there’s only a bow), but it’s a game that’s actually about building rather than destroying. At least for those who wouldn’t jump into another player’s game just to troll.
$6.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-17 :: Category: Games
Tons of people, myself included, talk about wanting to get healthy. Often that means taking up running. Of course the reality of the situation is that we almost never make good on those promises. That’s where this particular list comes in. For your consideration we have four apps that should, in theory, get you out and jogging. For real this time.
 RockMyRun
Music can be a big motivator for a lot of people. It can get the blood pumping and really gets us in the mood for doing stuff. RockMyRun is a collection of specially mixed tunes for runners from a variety of DJs from all over the world. Sure there’s always the option of listening to your own music, but why not try some tunes that have been specifically created to keep you running?
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-10-23 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness  RunKeeper
RunKeeper is great for tracking progress for running, hiking, biking, etc. It features a number of detailed stats to monitor, lets users take photos to chronicle their activities, and will notify them when personal milestones have been reached. It’s full of useful features but what’s really bound to get me using it is the feature that lets me compare and compete with my friends.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-01-13 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness  Walkathon + Fitness Games
This particular app features a lot of games that can be unlocked via in-app purchase, ranging from fantasy kingdom construction to racing with friends. However, as motivating as gamifying running and walking can be, what’s really impressive is the way it automatically links with sponsors to make donations based on your activity. I mean, it is Walkathon after all.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-10-15 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness  Zombies, Run!
Personally, I think Zombies, Run! is the app that will finally get me running. It doesn’t just turn jogging into a game, it turns it into an awesome and robust game. Constructing strongholds, completing quests, finding supplies, and running like mad from hordes of shambling corpses. It sounds awesome all by itself, but it’s powered by physical activity!
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-27 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness
We’ve all found ourselves in the unfortunate situation of being out of our element and desperately needing a toilet. It’s an awful scenario to be in; not knowing where to find one or how long you can hold out. For that very reason we’ve compiled a list of four restroom location apps that might not be super-versatile, but they can sure come in handy when they’re needed.
 Public Toilets
This isn’t just a bathroom-finder, it’s an extensive database of close to 50,000 toilet locations across several different countries. Users don’t just find bathrooms with it, either. They can also submit their own entries, complete with photos and ratings, for everyone’s benefit. Just don’t go too crazy with the toilet pictures.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-06-30 :: Category: Reference  Where to Wee
It’s not as user-driven when it comes to submissions, but Where to Wee is still a handy at-a-glance restroom app. Not only does it display the necessary location info on a map, it also highlights the highest-rated toilets with a vibrant green icon. In addition to finding restrooms and displaying properly on the iPhone 5’s screen (yay!), it can also help roadtrippers and other out of towners find some nice out of the way spots to eat.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-09-07 :: Category: Lifestyle  Can’t Wait
Canucks (and tourists) rejoice! Can’t Wait is a Canada-centric toilet app that chronicles various porcelain thrones, displays their locations in relation to the user’s iOS device, lists amenities, and allows for submissions that can be shared with friends or all users. It’s the perfect app to have after a huge breakfast full of syrup and ham slices that they refer to as “bacon” for some odd reason.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-10-27 :: Category: Medical  Pottys
Pottys offers up all the expected perks of a toilet app – locators, ratings, reviews, bookmarks, photos, and so on – with one interesting addition. Users can also earn “potty points” and achievements for performing various actions (using a restroom, submitting photos, etc). So with enough use it’s possible to become a Knight, Emperor, and so on. It effectively gameifies potty time.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-26 :: Category: Travel
iOS devices are great for using as e-readers, iPads in particular. Besides being great for reading books and novels, they’re also ideal for comic book reading. Whether you’ve been reading comics for decades, or just discovering the magic within for the first time, here’s a look at four of our favorite apps for enjoying some of the best comics and graphic novels out there.
Comics
From Comixology, Comics offers a huge wealth of comic books. With a 30,000+ library of books, it’s the comic equivalent of iTunes which is pretty awesome indeed. There’s something for everyone’s taste here, with Marvel and DC residing happily alongside Disney, The Walking Dead, Star Trek and even My Little Pony. It’s simple to browse around and a web-based interface ensures purchases can be read anywhere.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-07-22 :: Category: Books Marvel Unlimited
For those keen to buy individual comic books, Marvel Comics has things covered. For others who signed up to a Marvel Unlimited subscription and had to be restricted to only browsing on a PC or Mac, this recent app is a huge help. It’s not the finest of apps to navigate (although it works much better on the iPad), but the sheer wealth of comic books that can be read while on the move and for a fairly low annual fee, it’s well worth a look. It’s kept me entertained on many a journey, as helped by the read offline feature.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-03-07 :: Category: Books Comics Unlimited
Offering a little bit of everything, amongst a subscription service and a way to check out freebies, Comics Unlimited is a jack of all trades. Archie, CSI, Transformers, Dragon Age and Grimm Fairy Tales all happily reside together on this service and flexible subscription options make it all the more appealing. It’s simple to browse too, with intuitive controls and an attractive layout.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-08 :: Category: Books VIZ Manga
We’ve focused a lot on Western comic books, but there are plenty of great apps for Manga fans too. VIZ Manga is one of the best, providing a similar experience to Comics but with a focus on Manga. Naruto, Bleack, Death Note, Dragon Ball and many more are available here, with monthly free previews ensuring it’s easy to find something new to entice one in.
FREE! iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-11-02 :: Category: Books
Feeling creative and want to write an epic on your iPhone or iPad? We’ve got you covered with our favorite four writing apps. I’ve rounded up some of the best of the bunch, each helping users write all kinds of different texts, from the next bestseller to a formal letter. There’s even a great app for film scripting.
iA Writer
My personal favorite (I’m using the Mac version to write this article), ia Writer is ideal for the minimalist writer. Focused entirely on offering a simple and clear screen to enter text, it’s easy to get wrapped up into the words rather than distracted by status bars. That’s not to say it’s a basic app, though, with iCloud support and Dropbox integration ensuring users can get back to writing, no matter where they are.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-09-21 :: Category: Productivity Pages
A great all-rounder, Pages is a fine word processing tool. It’s a little expensive but it offers plenty of functionality with a choice of 16 different and relevant templates, for projects such as simple letters to posters or reports. iCloud support is here, along with the ability to edit different document types including all the popular formats. There’s even basic functionality for creating pie charts and other diagrams. It’s suitably varied and full of features.
$9.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Productivity Daedalus Touch
Returning to the minimalist trend, Daedalus Touch is ideal for those who want even more freedom for their words. No folders or file lists are needed here. Instead, users are presented with a virtual paper stack of sheets to navigate through with some very intuitive controls. For those looking to do more free writing and simply throw themselves into the words, Daedalus Touch is quite the delight. Plus, there’s syncing functionality with Mac app, Ulysses III.
$4.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-05-21 :: Category: Productivity Contour
It’s quite a specific tool but Contour will prove to be ideal for those who always reckoned they had a great movie idea but didn’t know where to start. It’s a story development system that makes it easy to start small and grow big, with a fill-in-the-blanks style approach. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never had script writing experience, Contour will fix all that. Created by an Emmy Award-nominated writer, it’s got the pedigree to be worth taking note of, too.
$14.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-06 :: Category: Productivity
Remember when scanners were big, bulky things that plugged into obtuse parallel ports and almost never worked as well as they should have? Long gone are those days, both in terms of the ports they use and being so restricted to bulky equipment. Now, there’s a whole selection of iOS apps out there, keen to make things easier by turning an iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner. We take a look at our four favorite OCR apps.
Image To Text
It might not be the most feature rich of apps here but, crucially, Image To Text is a free app and thereby, an ideal starting place for anyone keen to scan in content. All the user has to do is take a photo of a document that they want to extract text from, then leave the app to do all the work, thereby converting everything to a text file with editable text. It’s not perfect, and it’s restricted to text only, but it’s a handy and reasonably quick tool to try out.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-04-20 :: Category: Business Prizmo
The most expensive entry here, Prizmo offers plenty of different features. The app can be used to scan and recognize many types of documents, including business cards, bills and whiteboards, making it easy to share via various services. With the business card interface, it’s possible to create contacts through the information gleaned, while receipts and bills can be exported to a spreadsheet. Crucially, it’s often very accurate, especially under a bright light. A text-to-speech facility completes the package.
$9.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-08-18 :: Category: Business Evernote
It’s easy to forget that Evernote does everything. Ok, maybe not everything, but it does a whole bunch of useful things, including offering a free way to scan in useful pieces of information. It’s possible to create notes with content that has been scanned in, both of the picture and text variety, all for future reference at a later date. Searching functionality is as powerful as one would expect from the Swiss Army Knife of productivity apps.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Productivity Scanner Pro
Providing a high level of accuracy, Scanner Pro works well in its efforts to turn someone’s life paperless. Users can scan receipts, notes, book pages and mostly everything else they can think of with this app, with everything converted into a PDF file. With email and print features, the app is particularly useful for those who need to sign contracts before sending them off via email. Online storage capabilities are also there, meaning it’s possible to securely store many different types of document through this app.
$6.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-10-09 :: Category: Business
Anyone who ventures outside with any regularity needs to know what the weather is doing, no matter how they get around. Thing is, people are often in a rush and need to either figure out how to plan for the day or wing it and hope for the best. For anyone who often finds themselves flying out the door and subsequently caught in the rain without an umbrella or sporting a thick coat in 60 degree temperatures, this list of at-a-glance weather apps is for you.
 Weather Neue
What makes Weather Neue so great is that it pretty much embodies “at-a-glance.” As soon as the app starts up users are greeted with a screen displaying the current temperature and weather conditions, wind speed, and a peek at what the next three days will bring. All with a big, bold, easy to read presentation.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-07-03 :: Category: Weather  Climate Clock
It might seem odd to have this and Weather Neue in the same list since they’re so similar, but what sets Climate Clock apart is the way it displays information for most of the day on a single screen. Users can see how hot or cold it will be later on that evening, and even if they should think about bringing an umbrella, without touching a single menu option.
$1.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-12-13 :: Category: Weather  Daily Weather
It’s not as elegantly simple as some of the other apps on this list, but Daily Weather is still great for avoiding awkward weather situations. The current temperature, highs and lows, cloud cover, wind, humidity, and a general sense of what it feels like outside (i.e. “warm”) is all front and center. In a handy and familiar newspaper-style format, no less.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-08-28 :: Category: Weather  Beautiful Weather
It’s perhaps the most complex out of these four apps, but Beautiful Weather is still a cinch to use and great for figuring out how to dress. A title of the device and a single upward swipe will call up a window with virtually every bit of weather-related info the user would most likely want to know (temperature, conditions, high, low, humidity, moon phases, sunrise and sunset times, etc), along with random historical facts.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-04-29 :: Category: Weather
Problems sleeping is a major issue for many, myself included. Not getting a good night’s sleep means one’s productivity the next day plummets, plus you turn grouchy, irritable and no fun to be around. There’s no iOS app yet that will send you to sleep within seconds. There are, however, a few great options for helping wake you up in a more appropriate manner than through an incredibly loud alarm clock. Here’s my (sleep-deprived) look at four highlights of the bunch.
Suno
Recently reviewed, Suno offers the delights of a sunrise in order to gradually wake one up, and get the day going just right. It’s not quite as simple to navigate as one would like but, once set up, it provides a great, gradual sunrise, all lined up according to when you want to get up. It works best in a particularly dark room, of course.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-12-17 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness Sleep by MotionX
Analyzing everything possible in a bid to wake its users at just the right moment in their sleep cycle, Sleep by MotionX is a useful life aid. It’s just a matter of placing the iOS device on the bed with the app doing the rest. A graph facility makes it simple to see how one’s sleep is progressing over time. Even better, the app comes with daytime activities too, such as a pedometer feature and heart rate monitor.
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-07 :: Category: Medical Deep Sleep
Offering a form of relaxation therapy, Deep Sleep is a different change of pace to the other apps featured here. Through the voice of therapist, Andrew Johnson, users are guided gently to sleep through a series of meditational audio programs. Thanks to the soothing voice, it gradually calms the user, slowing their breathing down, thereby enabling them to relax and fall asleep. It might sound a little gimmicky but it can work impressively well.
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-11-05 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness Sleep Cycle
It’s been quite the phenomenon since its launch nearly 4 years ago, but Sleep Cycle has remained relevant ever since. Solely an intelligent alarm clock, it does similar things to Sleep by MotionX but at a lower price. Tracking different phases of sleep, from light to deep sleep, the app works out the optimal time to wake you. It’ll even work out which days provide the best form of sleep. It’s both interesting and potentially very useful.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-07-23 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness
I love grappling hooks in games. There’s nothing more pleasant than swinging around to get from place to place, because running is for chumps. Who wouldn’t want to swing around to get places? If Tarzan ran around everywhere, would he be as cool? No, he would not be. As such, I have collected 4 of the best games on iOS that feature this mechanic prominently in different ways.
 Super QuickHook: Rocketcat Games has made three absolutely brilliant grappling hook games in its time on iOS, and they’re all brilliant, but this one gets the nod for featuring a great selection of endless swinging modes, where learning the optimal paths and coin locations is handy. This is along with its fixed levels, where trying to get fast times and collecting all the secret items becomes a challenge. But Hook Champ and Hook Worlds are both well worth a download.
$2.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-06-17 :: Category: Games  Super Knights: Initially released under the far cooler Knights of the Round Cable title, this game features 360 degree swinging in an open arena. Collecting all the gems in their increasingly-complex patterns becomes the goal, and it becomes a challenge to try and do this while navigating all the hazards. The game also features plenty of upgrades and things to unlock while playing the game, enabling long-time players to get higher and higher scores. I have lost countless hours to this one.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-12 :: Category: Games  Gravity Hook: Here’s one that’s less about swinging horizontally with some vertical action, and more about grappling upward. The goal is to latch on to floating orbs, using them to launch upward without falling off the screen. Some of the orbs function as mines that activate when latched on to, or even if just contacted, and some orbs fall when latched on to! The game has a definite learning curve, one that takes a while to get down, but when it’s mastered, it’s absurdly satisfying.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-07-29 :: Category: Games  Rope ‘n Fly 3: From Dusk Till Dawn: Who doesn’t want ot swing around a city like Spider-Man, latching from rooftop to rooftop, flying through the air without a care? Well, perhaps there’s a care whenever one’s face hits the ground, but it’s a pretty sweet ride up until that point. That’s this game in a nutshell, a long-time iOS franchise that has multiple ways to grapple throughout the city. It’s not a looker but it’s a ton of fun.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-16 :: Category: Games
Ahh, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is here again. The day of the year where hope springs eternal, where ace takes on ace, and the long haul of 162 games starts with one exciting burst. Well, unless you’re a Marlins fan, it’s just all hopeless until Jeffrey Loria mercifully sells the team. Oh, and even if the Astros won on Opening Night, they’re still gonna be a pit of despair this season. And lest we forget, the Cubs are still cursed. Regardless, there’s plenty of reason to be excited on this holiest of days. And there’s plenty of apps to enjoy the baseball season with. Here’s our favorite four apps for Opening Day 2013.
 MLB At Bat: MLB’s official app is still the best way to enjoy the MLB season. There’s the Gameday experience with live pitch tracking. The app has a new interface on team pages for easily seeing team highlights, news, schedule, and even getting tickets. Oh and of course, At Bat subscribers get full access to the app and to live game audio, and MLB.tv subscribers get to watch most live games, with the blackout exceptions being in-market games, and national TV blackouts for Fox’s Saturday games and ESPN’s Sunday game.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-29 :: Category: Sports  At The Ballpark: Why just check on the status of games when you can actually go to them? This app from MLB is designed to make going to games easier. You can see which ballparks are near you, and when the next game there is. You can buy tickets, and check in to the ballpark. See the team’s schedule for upcoming games, including upcoming promotions. There’s ballpark directories, transportation guidelines, and even a guide to the music of various players and from the stadium.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-04-02 :: Category: Sports  Flick Home Run: If the home team’s down by 10 but you don’t want to leave because it’s the 4th inning yet are so bored that you start to think maybe this sport is slow and boring after all, perhaps a good baseball video game is worth playing. Nothing gets the baseball fan going like this game’s flicking of virtual home runs out of the park, off of some cars, rooftops, and further than any baseball has any right to go. Beware if playing this at the park, as an actual ball hitting your face will hurt badly.
$0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-10-14 :: Category: Games  Topps Bunt: There’s a lot of MLB card games out there, which is a natural fit because of the proud tradition of baseball cards. So why not play the baseball card game from a well-known baseball card company? Their official card game has been updated for 2013 with the ability to now buy card packs for additional players, along with trading with players all over the world to build the best team possible. Results are based on real-life player performance, so it’s more of a fantasy baseball game than a game built around cards representing players. The game does try to balance out the different player types, from closers to catchers.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-04 :: Category: Sports
Having a four legged companion in your life is pretty wonderful for many of us. The unconditional love they offer is heartwarming and it’s great for one’s mental health, as well as exercise levels, to have an awesome pooch to take out for walks every day. We take a look at four apps that go some way to making dog ownership even simpler or more positive.
Positively Dog Training
Dog training is pretty great for all involved. You have a dog that behaves well and doesn’t get into trouble, and the dog knows exactly what’s expected of it. Everyone is generally happier. Positively Dog Training is an interactive ebook app that offers plenty of tips and instructions on how to train your dog to behave well, as well as learn some great tricks. A series of video tutorials and step by step instructions keep things straight forward so you can focus on getting everything right for your dog.
$9.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-12-13 :: Category: Books Pet First Aid
Unfortunately, much like us humans, pets do get ill and injured sometimes. Pet First Aid is a guide to how to deal with various problems from cuts and burns to poisoning, drawing and even giving CPR to your dog. Plenty of videos, articles and instructions ensure that clear advice is easy to find here. it might just make the difference when dealing with a seriously ill or injured loved one.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-05-17 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness My Dog
It’s wise to keep safe plenty of important information relating to your dog, which is exactly what My Dog enables. The app makes it possible to store a photo of them, medical information, vaccination history and their ID details all in one place. At a glance, it’s easy to see when vaccinations are due (with iCal integration) plus anything specialist such as a dietary schedule or training log. It’s all easily emailed to other useful sources, too, such as a vet or boarding facility.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-11-05 :: Category: Lifestyle Dog Park Finder Plus
Completing our selection is the rather fun Dog Park Finder Plus. The app offers information on more than 6,000 dog friendly parks and beaches across the US, along with over 12,000 dog friendly restaurant details. Directions are offered along with information such as opening hours and park size. It’s simple to use and there are photos and reviews throughout, so dog owners are guaranteed to find somewhere ideal for them and their pooch.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-08-30 :: Category: Travel
An iPhone or iPad can be used for many different and fun purposes, it can also be used to help those in need of medical assistance. I don’t just mean in terms of being able to call 911, either. Here’s our look at four great apps that help assist users in some way, either through providing medical information or reminders just when they need it most.
RxmindMe Prescrption/Medicine Reminder and Pill Tracker
It’s not the newest of apps but RxmindMe is still a great one. The app is a prescription reminder service that should help keep track of all the medication that some people need to take. Nine different types of reminders mean it doesn’t matter if the medication needs to be taken every hour or even just on a particular day of the month, this app has its users covered. Further details mean it’s possible to track quantities, export information, take photos of the medication and search extensively for any FDA approved drug. Impressive going for an app that’s free to use.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-09-27 :: Category: Medical iPharmacy
Want to know everything about a type of medication, from dosage and side effects to how it interacts with other drugs? iPharmacy should have you covered. The app does a little bit of everything with simple reminders, an encyclopaedia of drugs and relevant information about them, as well as the means in which to find the cheapest pharmacy to buy them. iPharmacy proves a handy guide to all the latest recalls and alerts too, keeping its users safe.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-06-16 :: Category: Medical Glucose Buddy
For the diabetic, it’s vital to keep track of various important information such as glucose levels, carbohydrate consumption and insulin dosage. Glucose Buddy does all that and offers syncing options to keep such things safe. Graphs and logbooks make tracking everything a breeze, and safe and easy to demonstrate to a doctor when attending a regular check up. There’s integration with CalorieTrack, too, making it easier to log food and exercise details.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2008-10-28 :: Category: Medical iTriage
While it’s ideal to go visit a doctor with concerns, it’s not always possible or convenient. iTriage offers advice for many symptoms, diseases and conditions, helping its users figure out whether they need to go visit someone or whether there isn’t a concern. Alongside such information, there are details on where to find the nearest ER or relevant clinic, as well as emergency hotlines and even an average wait time for certain facilities.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-02-18 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness
I think Terminator lore might have gotten it wrong. Skynet wasn’t developed by the military, it was the natural progression of cloud gaming and AI functions. Most iOS users already take advantage of wireless data transference between devices, and there are a surprising number of games out there these days that involve very little player feedback. So think about that while taking a look at this list of games you can play without having to devote a lot of time or effort to the process. I mean who knows? Maybe the real Skynet is just a free-to-play sequel away…
Mega Mall Story
Kairosoft is pretty much the reigning champion of high quality (yet accessible) iOS sims. Their entire library is fantastic, as far as I’m concerned, but Mega Mall Story stands out as the least gameplay-intensive of the bunch. Constructing new shops and researching new mall technologies is important, but most of the time players simply have to sit and wait while their mini consumers consume and fill their virtual bank account with millions. Gotta love making money hand-over-fist for doing nothing.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-08-09 :: Category: Games The Blockheads
This surprisingly entertaining mix between Minecraft and The Sims is its own reward, but it’s also pretty low-impact. Once players queue up a large list of actions, ranging from crafting multiple tools to hollowing out an entire cave system, they can just sit back and watch their tiny minion do their thing. Or not, since the latest update now allows the virtual prospectors to finish their actions even when the game is turned off.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-10 :: Category: Games Rivals at War
I’m pretty sure I’ll catch a little flak from Carter for including this in the list but I’m willing to take that chance. Rivals at War is about as hands-off as a war game can get. Players construct a team of soldiers using cards, upgrade their abilities, swap them out for better killers when needed, and send them off to battle. Completely automated battles that don’t even have to be viewed if players would rather skip ahead to the results. Aside from occasional team maintenance there’s little player influence, which is great for some quick on-the-go play.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-03-06 :: Category: Games Godville
Of course I’ve saved the best example for last. As far as I can tell, iOS games don’t get any more hands-off than this. Players get to name their character, who’s really a pawn that blindly follows their iPhone-toting god, and that’s it. The game does everything else – combat, quests, equipment, guilds, PvP, etc – on its own. Players can stop in and encourage or punish their follower as they see fit, but that’s about all they can do aside from simply checking in to see how things are progressing. It’s the ultimate game for people who don’t have a lot of time to commit to playing games.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-07-18 :: Category: Games
Spring is (technically) here again, with the herald of college basketball’s annual tournament, the aptly-titled March Madness (though the final game is in April). There’s plenty of ways to enjoy the basketball mania from your iOS device. Here’s our favorite four apps for March Madness 2013.
 NCAA March Madness Live: There’s an obvious choice for inclusion in this article, and that’s the app that lets you experience the madness live from anywhere. All the tournament’s games are available from this app. So watch a scrappy underdog from a tiny college try to beat a team with first-round draft picks working as towel boys. Or watch an additional game to the one on TV. Or get three iOS devices and watch all the games at once, even if it drives you…mad!
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-09 :: Category: Sports  ESPN Bracket Bound: The other half of the fun during March Madness is filling out and following your picks for the 64 teams in the bracket. If you use ESPN, their app lets you track your bracket and see how well you’re doing. You can also compare your bracket with a variety of other sports analysts, celebrities, and even President Obama. You can also track scores, watch video from ESPN analysts about the games, and track the latest news from the tournament.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-03-14 :: Category: Sports  SideBets: Of course, anyone can make a bracket full of their wildest picks with no repercussions if they fail, sure. But what about if there was a little something extra behind it? Not real-world gambling because that’s illegal, right FBI? But you can legally bet something intangible: your pride. That’s what SideBets does, it lets you wager virtual currency with your friends on game results to see who wins. The app features actual gambling lines, so you can get the thrill of gambling on sports without the massive crushing financial losses and broken kneecaps from bookies you owe money to.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-08-10 :: Category: Sports StarDunk: All the roundball action might get you thinking that you’re gonna want to go out and pound the rock a bit, show those youngsters how it’s done. This will probably not go well. Afterward, how about you instead play a game of virtual basketball? And since we’re playing virtual basketball, let’s go nuts and play a game of basketball…in space. Godzi Lab’s classic basketball game features plenty of fast-paced basketball shooting, basketballs with special properties, and online competition to try and take down. Regain some pride if your team gets knocked out or if your bracket gets busted.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-07-12 :: Category: Games
Ever use an app and think “Wow, if I knew how to code, I’d be able to do something better than this?” I know I have! Which is why, of late, I’ve been slowly trying to pick up more knowledge about how to do exactly that. It’s a slow process and, no, I’ll never be a millionaire because of it, but it’s an interesting hobby. There’s a wide selection of iOS apps already out there, keen to make the process simpler for enthusiasts. Here are our favorite four.
Developer Cheat Sheet for iOS
Previously covered on the site earlier in the year, Developer Cheat Sheet for iOS is an immensely handy resource by one’s side. Offering a mixture of tutorials and quick reference tools, the app covers a variety of useful skills and abilities in a simple to read format. It even offers source code for users to evaluate and learn from.
$1.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-08-22 :: Category: Utilities Objective-C Programming
For aspiring coders who already have some experience in the C Language, Objective-C Programming is a handy app, building upon that knowledge to get users up to scratch with Objective C, the language used by Xcode to develop apps. Approaching the subject from a different angle than most, the app offers a series of training videos to educate its viewers with over 12 hours of material and 30 lessons. Significantly, it keeps light hearted at all times so do expect some adult humor within.
$5.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-01 :: Category: Education iTunes U
Still one of the best kept secrets on iTunes, iTunes U is ideal for learning about pretty much anything imaginable. It’s an app that offers many thousands of free courses, often from some of the best known Universities across the world, for anyone who’s interested. Over 600,000 free lectures are available, with plenty of videos, slides and other information, too. Crucially, for the purposes of this feature, there are plenty of different lectures on learning Objective C as well as many other programming languages. It’s a fantastic resource to consult.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-01-19 :: Category: Education Koder Code Editor
There isn’t an Xcode client for iOS, unfortunately, but Koder should prove handy for those testing their skills while on the move. It’s a code editor that works with a variety of web development languages, as well as C# and C++, both languages that are useful foundations for iOS development skills. No matter what kind of code you want to produce, while on the move, the simple and clear to use Koder has you covered.
$5.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-13 :: Category: Productivity
Card games are one of the oldest methods of gaming out there, so it’s no great surprise that they’ve converted well to modern technology such as our beloved iOS devices. The App Store is overflowing with different card games, ranging from typical solitaire games to trading card titles. We’ve taken a look at our four favorite card games out there, at the moment.
Fairway Solitaire
Fairway Solitaire is a modern interpretation of the classic card game of Solitaire. Free and backed up with some very tempting in-app purchases, it offers a huge number of different solitaire games, all based around the game of Golf Solitaire. There’s even a glimpse of a story through a mischievous gopher out to cause havoc on the gold course. Even better, there’s regular new content thanks to a new courses each day. It should keep both puzzle and card game fans happy for many, many hours.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-15 :: Category: Games Rage of Bahamut
It’s far from the prettiest of card games out there, but Rage of Bahamut has proven to be quite the phenomenon. It’s even hooked the site’s Rob Rich since he reviewed it last year. A trading card game full of mystical creatures and magical items, there’s a surprising amount of strategical depth to it. Just don’t expect it to use iOS’s graphical prowess to its full potential.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-14 :: Category: Games Assassin’s Creed Recollection
Moving onto a card game that does use some of the graphical potential of iOS devices, Assassin’s Creed Recollection is ideally suited for fans of the Assassin’s Creed world. A war between the Templars and Assassins is brewing in this real-time card game, with plenty of information about the titles available to unlock. There’s a story mode, too, offering hours of intriguing missions and political battles.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-01 :: Category: Games Full Deck Pro Solitaire
Returning to traditional card gaming, Full Deck Pro Solitaire is a solitaire game that dispenses with all the bells and whistles that Fairway Solitaire comes with, sticking to pure cards. A variety of different games are available within, such as Klondike 3 Card Pyramid, Spider, Golf and Freecell. There’s an extra pack to buy, too, including my all time favorite variety: Grandfather’s Clock. Those after the classic one player card game experience should revel in this.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-09-11 :: Category: Games
St. Patrick’s Day is quite the “holiday.” Like Valentine’s Day, another day named after a saint, the original meaning has strayed far from the original intent of the day, but unlike Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day is fun for the single and taken alike. Here are four apps to help make the day better.
 St. Patrick’s Day Live: Can’t make it out to a good St. Patrick’s Day parade? Well, you can watch the New York City parade live with this app from EarthCam, or just watch Dubliners celebrate live. Then, use the Photo Booth feature to share festive photos with added leprechaun hats or “Kiss Me I’m Irish” buttons because why not? It’s a day to celebrate and be Irish!
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-03-03 :: Category: Entertainment  Untappd: Drinking cheap beer that’s dyed green is a tradition of this ‘holiday’, definitely. But look, once you’ve drank one cheap plastic cup of it, there’s no reason why you can’t drink good beer after that. And you can use Untappd to share the beers you’ve been having. Why not find some nice, classy Irish beers to celebrate the day? Just search for “Irish” in this social drinking app and it’ll list a bunch of Irish beers to try out. If you drink one, share it with your friends. Drinking is more fun with friends, after all.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-09-30 :: Category: Social Networking  BreathalEyes: So, you’ve had a lot to drink, but just how much have you had? Well, this app can estimate how much you’ve had based on your eyes. It measure horizontal gaze nystagmus to detect how much a person has been drinking. Version 2.0 of the app, recently released, promises more accurate results with the addition of video capture, not just photo capture. It can detect blood alcohol content from .02% to .20% with a margin of error of .02%. The app is for entertainment purposes only, but if someone’s BAC is too high, it might be time to send them home in a cab.
$1.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-21 :: Category: Entertainment  Uber: …and yes, there is an app for that. Summon a cab directly to where you are with this app. Or if you’re feeling extra-classy, call for an Uber Black ride, which sends a black town car to pick you up. The app handles payment and tip automatically, which will especially come in handy if you have enjoyed a little too much of the fruits of Ireland’s labors. Uber’s more well-known, but also consider Hailo, a service that’s run into far fewer legal hurdles than Uber has, but is available in fewer cities. However you get a ride home, be sure to do it safely. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because getting arrested is an expensive pain, and would totally ruin this glorious day.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-05-20 :: Category: Travel
Anyone who’s ever been to Manhattan, let alone actually lives there, can tell you that getting around is something of a pain at times. Actually that’s not true. Getting around Manhattan is a nightmare most of the time. Between subway re-routes that aren’t even mentioned in their respective stations to obtuse maps, simply getting from Point A to Point B can require a stop over at Points X, Y, and Z. It gets even worse when you’re in a hurry.
With the ineptitude of the MTA in mind, I’ve compiled a list of apps that should help anyone, resident and tourist alike, find their way around with a bit less hassle.
iTrans NYC Subway
The App Store description claims that this is the “ultimate NYC transit app,” and they aren’t wrong. It’s not perfect because the MTA is rarely “on schedule,” but it’s about as close are you’re going to get. Predicted train arrival times, schedules, maps, location based navigation to nearby subway entrances, step-by-step directions for a planned trip, bus info, and real time train delay info when connected to WiFi will all make getting around beneath the city streets as painless as possible. Provided you don’t get elbowed in the face by one of those dancing panhandlers.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Navigation HopStop Transit Directions for iPhone
Now this is the app for serious trip planners. It covers virtually all possible transit routes ranging from cabs to buses to trains and beyond. It can call up schedules, maps (even viewable offline), ETAs, lists several possible routes, and even allows uses to set their preferences to avoid or stick to specific modes of transportation. Heck, it can even save recent searches to be called up later.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-02-05 :: Category: Navigation NYC Way
What makes this one so notable is that it’s essentially dozens of useful NYC-centric apps in one place. It can call up video from live traffic cams to plan ahead for a road trip. It can call up a bunch of info for various galleries, shopping hotspots, and more. It can search for parking and WiFi. Museums and various tourist attractions are on the list, too. It’s kind of the one-stop shop for any and all information you may need to plan a trip into the city; whether it’s for a few days or a couple of hours.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-12-04 :: Category: Travel Central Park
A lot of people don’t realize it until they see it for themselves, but Central Park is big. So big, in fact, that it warrants its own app. This “insider’s guide” covers events (concerts, etc), notable locations to check out (did you know it has its own zoo?), and even helps you find a bathroom. It can guide you wherever you’d like to go using its GPS functions or even let you wander at your own pace while tossing up alerts every time you near a spot you want to check out.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-10-13 :: Category: Reference
With less than a week to go until Valentine’s Day, it’s the ideal time to think long and hard about what to buy a loved one. A more thoughtful idea, however, would be to make something personal for that special person in your life. It’s sweet, considerate and often a lot cheaper and more original than buying something from a store. The App Store offers plenty of inspirational apps for those looking to try out some craft based alternative presents, and here are my four favorite apps to use.
Skrappy
Scrapbooking has been all the rage for quite a while now. It can get fiddly, expensive and messy, however, so why not use a virtual alternative? With Skrappy, users can create a personal scrapbook for their loved ones, encompassing images, audio and video clips before sharing the creation. It’s simple yet fun to create such books with plenty of inspiration there, too. Why not create a book all about your first date together? Or a memorable holiday? Or even as part of a romantic proposal?
$2.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-05-23 :: Category: Lifestyle Craftgawker
Not quite sure where to begin but convinced you want to make something craft based for your partner? Craftgawker should be able to provide some great ideas. It’s an app that’s a photo gallery of inspiration. Users can search through the many thousands of ideas, before learning more via the tutorial connected to such photos. A voting system ensures that the ideas are all of a high quality and bound to get the creative juices flowing.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-05-13 :: Category: Lifestyle Wilton Cake Ideas & More
Everyone loves cake, right? All the more so when it’s a cake made entirely for you. It’s a nice and sweet (in every sense of the word) touch and can prove distinctly romantic. Wilton Cake Ideas & More helps users bake some delicious and amazing looking creations with hundreds of different designs, catering for every occasion and interest. It doesn’t just include cakes either, with cookies and cupcakes also included. For a loved one with a sweet tooth, this could be the ideal thing to make Valentine’s Day extra special.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-07-27 :: Category: Cards
For those not as creative as they’d like to be but with a few ideas still under their sleeve, Apple’s own app Cards should make things a little easier. The app allows users to create their own cards and customize them exactly how they want, all through their iOS device, before getting a physical copy sent out to their beloved. It’s simple, straight forward and still offers the personal touch for those that don’t want to get their hands dirty with glue or glitter.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-12 :: Category: Lifestyle
I play games on my iPhone a lot, as I’m sure many of you reading this do. The thing is, while many iOS games are great in their own right and function well for gaming in small bursts or extended sessions, there aren’t a whole heck of a lot that can be picked up, played, and stopped at the drop of a hat. Oh sure most can be suspended but I’m talking about games that actually allow you to quit entirely and come right back to where you left off no matter how long that may take. Games that auto-save constantly, can be saved at any time with a single button press, stuff like that. Here are our picks for four of the best.
Penny Arcade The Game: Gamers vs. Evil
Most of Playdek’s card games fall into this category but I’ve chosen this one because it’s the most recent. And because I happen to really like it. Gamers vs. Evil tracks progress in each match, however many there might be at once spread out over single and multiplayer modes. This means you can play a single hand or even stop in the middle of one, quit for whatever reason, and then start it right back up again from wherever it left off. It’s as perfect for micro-gaming sessions as it is for lengthy ones.
$0.99 $4.99
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-12-19 :: Category: Games Junk Jack
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this 2D Minecraft-like since its release for many reasons, but it’s the save system that’s always impressed me the most. Pausing the game at any point will save progress automatically, so stopping at a moment’s notice is never a problem. Even more impressive is the way Jack’s inventory can be saved and transferred between worlds, so even if you get tired of your current game you can always start a new one and keep all your cool stuff.
$2.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-07 :: Category: Games Game Dev Story
Kairosoft’s first iOS release continues to be their greatest as far as I’m concerned, but really all of their games are perfect for quick starts and stops of game time. That big Save button sitting on the main screen for every single one of their titles that saves progress instantly makes it incredibly easy to stop what you’re doing and get back to actual work. Not that I’m condoning that sort of behavior, of course.
$3.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-10-09 :: Category: Games Zenonia 5
Much like Kairosoft, GAMEVIL also has the handy Save button down pat. Their action RPG series is plenty of fun and this most recent release is absolutely packed with features, and yet they’ve (thankfully) kept the one that makes it the easiest to play whenever and wherever. It’s comforting to know I can tap once to save and then bolt off of my train without having to worry about losing all that progress.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2013-01-10 :: Category: Games
It’s time for the biggest sporting event of the year: the Puppy Bowl! But what’s the second biggest event? Why, it’s the Super Bowl! This year, hotshot upstart QB Colin Kaepernick leads the San Francisco 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens, who are led by Bert from Sesame Street. Oh, and the coaches are brothers. It shows the promise of being a compelling showdown. Here’s 4 ways to follow the big game from your iOS device.
 CBSSports.com: We kick things off with something that’s not an app per se, but could be very handy. If it’s Super Sunday, you need to need to watch the game and you’re nowhere near a TV, what do you do? Just grab your iPad and go to CBSSports.com, where they’ll have a tablet-optimized layout and video feeds available that include the main video feed of the CBS broadcast, the “all 22” angle that shows all 22 players at once in a high overhead angle, along with other alternate camera angles. As well, there will be stat tracking and social networking features for tracking the game.
 CBS SportCaster: Hey, CBS is airing the game, so why not use their official app for score tracking? Well, it’s a worthy inclusion because not only does it provide a solid box score experience for if you’re not able to watch the game (hipster book club meeting?) but also tracks social media feeds to get the scoop on the game from those that have opinions on it. And trust us, there will be plenty of people with things to say about this game.
FREE! iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-08-31 :: Category: Sports  FanCake: You think Phil Simms, a man paid highly to analyze the biggest sporting event of the year as it happens, is a dolt? Well, why not put it to the test with this app that lets you try to predict the big game (and others) as it happens? Correct predictions earn points that can be spent on various rewards. You may not pull down Phil Simms money with your predictions, but at least you’ll get free stuff and free smugness.
FREE! + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-10 :: Category: Sports  NFL Kicker 13 : The halftime show is usually worth skipping. Beyonce this year is at least somewhat contemporary, but while she’s the queen of many adoring fangirls, I prefer my pop stars to be democratically elected, thank you very much. So, why not play a fun football game on that ol’ iOS device while she wails on the stage, or at least looks like she’s doing so? Full Fat’s flick sporting game may celebrate the underappreciated art of kicking, but it sure beats actually tossing the pigskin around, especially if the weather is way too cold because it is the heart of winter. Also, their virtual players do a better job at throwing and catching the ball than you and your buddies. Also, this may come in handy if the game is a blowout in the fourth quarter. I mean, Kaepernick is starting only his 10th game, and Flacco is the real-life version of Bert from Sesame Street, this could go badly in either direction rather quickly. Be prepared.
$0.99 + Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-09-06 :: Category: Games
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