Fans of PBS Kids TV show Cyberchase will be delighted to see the arrival of Cyberchase: Ruckus Reader, an iPad app aimed at continuing the educational fun that the TV show is so famous for.

Aimed at 5-8 year olds, Cyberchase: Ruckus Reader offers a new story for fans to delve into, following an exciting problem that Hacker has left the Cybersquad with. Three hours of puzzles are promised as players set out to save Solaria from being transformed into a garbage dump.

Puzzles range from word hunts, spot what’s wrong with the picture, mazes, and create your own story sections. Topics that are taught include things such as alphabetical knowledge, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, as well as reading comprehension.

Together, it should prove an educational yet highly entertaining experience for kids.

Cyberchase: Ruckus Reader is available now for free, with an in-app purchase of $3.99 to unlock one story, or $5.99 to unlock both.

FREE!

Cyberchase: Ruckus Reader

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-08-03 :: Category: Books

Throughout history there have been far too many people who have instilled fear with killing sprees.  Looking back on these monsters with curiosity would take an especially morbid soul, so the announcement of an iOS app dedicated to the study of Jack The Ripper is equally shocking.  Wow, I guess there really is an app for everyone.

Over a century after the monster’s killing spree came to an end, Jack the Ripper still somehow remains a household name.  For this very reason, the new app Ripperpedia: The Jack the Ripper Who’s Who is hoping to cut through much of the urban legend surrounding this historic yet deplorable character.  Chock-full of first hand accounts, police data, even photos and videos from the actual crime scenes, the app is sure to be an interesting download for those with an eye for history.

Just be careful, I wouldn’t want to be caught dead (pun intended – Ed.)with an piece of software like this in my download history.  Call me crazy, but I hear spouses frown upon the study of serial killers.

$5.99

Ripperpedia: The Jack the Ripper Who’s Who

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-06-05 :: Category: Entertainment

InStudios, developed by Veena Karthick, is a visualization tool for the iPad that allows users to explore their creativity and imagination on the iPad. InStudios is a tool to visualize new inventions, landscapes, or anything imaginable.

The tool uses photos users can find all over the internet to help them create what they’re envisioning. The app boasts a powerful search engine that aids users in finding high quality images to use for their creations. Search images can be saved for later use. Images can be viewed in a full screen mode. The app also includes information guides to help new users to get started, is usable in both portrait and landscape modes, and has social networking integration to share ideas with others.

InStudios has recently updated to its 1.2 version of the app. The update has added an enhanced user interface, info guides with improved graphics, and an exclusive new interactive feature.

InStudios is available for $5.99.

$2.99

InStudios

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-01-27 :: Category: Lifestyle

Phosphor Games’ visually-stunning, Unreal Engine-powered game The Dark Meadow has gotten a new free-to-play version, Dark Meadow: The Pact. This is the same game as the full Dark Meadow released last October, but now designed to be free-to-play, with gold and Sun coins available for in-app purchase, that can be spent on equipment, health kits, and bombs. Originally, the full version of the game was going to just transition from its current $5.99 price to free-to-play, but there was user backlash to this move. However, the plan was apparently for those who had purchased the game to get the Premium pack of items, which disables ads, grants 5 health kits, 13 bombs, 15,000 gold, 150 Sun coins, and disables ads for free. Now, the two versions are split, with the Premium pack gifted to those who buy the $5.99 standalone version, though the free version also offers this pack as a $5.99 in-app purchase.

However, a new business model is not all that comes with the game. There are new levels and a new boss to fight, new weapons to use, a map to help explore the world, and new “Fast Travel” warps so players don’t have to restart from the beginning of the game. Plus, it’s now compatible with the iPad Retina Display. The 1.1 update with these new features and The Pact version are both available now.

$5.99

Dark Meadow

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-06 :: Category: Games

FREE!

Dark Meadow: The Pact

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-03-29 :: Category: Games

The built in Voice Memos app does its best to help those who need a voice recording app. It is pretty limited in its execution, however, and frequently lacks functionality that would make it essential for the likes of journalists and voiceover artists in need of recording an audition. This is precisely where iAudition springs into action.

As the name suggests, iAudition enables users to record and edit audio files wherever they are. One of the neatest functions is the ability to send completed files as MP3s directly to anyone via email or FTP site. Such functionality immediately makes iAudition a much faster app than those that rely on a PC connection to convert and send files.

Controls are simple yet effective with the ability to record multiple takes and cut and paste segments together. It all works just right, removing all the effort for the user. There’s even the ability to perform background recording sessions so that the user can read something from the iOS device while recording at the same time.

iAudition is out now priced at $5.99.

$4.99

iAudition

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-10-31 :: Category: Entertainment

It seems like more and more people are taking self defense classes these days. It’s a practical skill, sadly, but I also think some of them do it because it’s a lot of work and can burn off calories and tone muscles like nobody’s business. But unless someone’s nine, it can be hard to make time for lessons X number of times a week. Sometimes people just can’t make it to the dojo.

This is why we have Self Defense for All, courtesy of YawaraJitsu. This “interactive self-defense course” sticks to the basics with a chronicle of many different techniques to learn. Each one also includes 3D video (featuring models with MASSIVE HANDS) that can be viewed from multiple angles to help users to fully understand the motions.

I want to stress that I don’t believe this app will truly teach anyone to be a self defense master. Something like that requires a senei with years of experience to point out inconsistencies in forms and other students to toss around so as to get an idea for what the moves actually feel like. But I do think it’s a useful tool for students that want to keep practicing off the mat. Self Defense for All is available on the App store right now in English, Spanish and Dutch for $5.99.

$0.99

Self Defense - The Best Martial Arts Course with 3D animations

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-09-30 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

American Idol has ruined the country.  Now everyone thinks they are the next Carrie Underwood, despite the fact that they have the pitch and charisma of Ben Stein.  I am guilty of the same misconception, which my fiance is more than happy to inform me of every time I start belting out a tune that far exceeds my range and register.  Thankfully someone decided to help the world learn what terrible vocalists they really are, by introducing the new app Passaggio.

In the simplest terms, the tool is designed to help you visualize the pitches that are being belted out as actual notes.  Drilling down, users will be able to glean details about their pitch and intonation, all from the easy to read interface.  Aspiring musicians should definitely give this a look before their next run by Randy Jackson and crew.  In the end it might just save you from international shame and a lifetime of potential ridicule.

Trust us, you don’t want to end up like this poor guy:

$0.99

Passaggio

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-06-09 :: Category: Music