Doubtless most people these days carry around one or two club cards. Virtually every single retail and grocery store in existence uses them and they’re a great way to save some money with (typically) no initial cost. The only problem is having to dig out a given card at the register. I myself sometimes get annoyed with flipping through all the little tags on my keyring to find the right one. 1Card exists specifically for this sort of thing.

The app lets users to store and organize a number of different membership cards in one non-physical place. Even better, it can accommodate virtually any card because it allows for barcode scanning/copying with the iPhone’s camera. Assuming the company in question doesn’t already have a listing on the app in the first place. But the handiness doesn’t stop there. 1Card also displays promotions and coupons associated with a selected card with the push of a button, and another push or two can bring up a store’s phone number or even location on a GPS map (via the tracknose website).

1Card is already sitting in the App Store, just waiting to be used by disgruntled card-carriers. And much like the memberships cards most of us have no doubt accumulated, it doesn’t cost a thing.

FREE!

1Card

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-12-31 :: Category: Lifestyle

How many sick days do I have left? Do I have enough personal time saved up to make that doctor’s appointment? I really want to get away for a couple of weeks, but I’m not sure I have enough vacation time for it.

We’ve all had these problems. Well with the magic of technological innovation and smart thinking, we can use Time Off to keep track of it all. And I do mean “it all.” Sick days, vacation days, personal days – anything that ultimately equates to paid days off – can be documented. It can keep track of multiple jobs, display accrued time in hours or days, and account for rollover. But perhaps the most impressive (and ingenious) feature is that users can send time-off requests to their employers via email from within the app itself.

I know it seems a little silly but I honestly find the concept behind Time Off to be incredibly exciting. And I think anyone who’s dealt with any (or all) of the issues I’ve mentioned about will probably agree with me.

$1.99

Time Off

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-06-14 :: Category: Business

With all the freebies that have been flying around each week, it’s a wonder we haven’t run out. Then again, how many hundreds of apps and games are released each week? Yeah, I suppose when I think about it that way it’s no wonder we’re still going strong. Strong with savings!

… I’m sorry. Just ignore me and take a look at this week’s list. I’ll be sitting over here. In the corner.

Baseball Superstars 2012 – People love baseball. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. So yeah, here’s a baseball game. But what about the rest of us who aren’t nuts for “America’s Favorite Pastime?” Well we have this, too. Because it’s absolutely insane, anime-style baseball. Like with unnatural pitching abilities and totally wacky players. That, and the last one was pretty cool, too.

FREE!

Baseball Superstars® 2012.

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-01-26 :: Category: Games

Derby Days – Now I know there are a lot of free-to-play “build X” games around these days, but none to my knowledge combine the concept with horse care. It’s usually either or as far as I know. So why not get excited about being able to build and run a horse ranch, while also caring for and breeding horses? If it were possible to trade the diminutive equines with friends than I’d say this is a sure-fire thing. Wait a second, we can do that already? Well then I guess there’s no point in holding off on downloading it.

FREE!

Derby Days

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-01-26 :: Category: Games

Zombie Battle – Zombies staggering in from the right side of the screen across several “lanes.” Seems a tad familiar. This isn’t a strategy game, however. It’s more of an action defense thing. Sure, zombies have been done to death (har-har) these days but that’s no reason to discount this upgradable blast-em-up. Besides, vaporizing the living dead is almost always tons of fun.

FREE!

Zombie Battle

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-01-24 :: Category: Games

2XL MX Offroad – Some people out there might argue about the superiority of dirt bikes versus ATVs. People like that can now have tons of fun with various what-if scenarios thanks to 2XL MX Offroad. People unlike that who don’t care much either way can also have plenty of fun with 2XL MX Offroad because it’s a crazy motocross-style racer with lots of stuff to do and stunts to (hopefully) perform.

FREE!

2XL MX Offroad

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-01-24 :: Category: Games

Music is a passion that parents have been forcing on their children since the creation of instruments. Sure, they will love it when they are older, but when they are kids many rebel against it like the plague. But what if there were a way to combine the benefits of music instruction with their favorite tablet or phone?  The new ION Piano Apprentice peripheral addresses that question brilliantly, while offering up an interesting new educational tool to boot.

Using only ION’s free iOS software and this intriguing new contraption, musical perfection may only be a few practice sessions away.  On the keyboard peripheral itself buttons will light up to correspond to those being demonstrated within the application, helping to further bridge the gap between the instructional software and the actual playing of the instrument.  In no time at all users can be well on the way to learning their first concerto.

For more details on the peripheral check out the ION Piano Apprentice’s official site for more information.  Check out the video below to see this new tool in action.

FREE!

Piano Apprentice

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-08-22 :: Category: Music

Gogobot, the useful social-networking travel website, has just released Gogobot, a useful social-networking iPhone app. It’s less confusing than it sounds. Trust me.

The website allows users to chronicle their travels throughout the world and post questions for recommendations on where to eat, stay, etc… Other users can then make their own recommendations, which are automatically linked to database entries with images, addresses and contact information. The app allows users to access their trip plans, check for recommendations, write up their own reviews for a location on-the-spot and even create their own digital postcards to commemorate their travels. The only feature that really seems absent is the ability to post recommendations for other users, but on-the-spot reviews will be saved to their account to be used later if need be.

Given the sheer amount of useful applications, the whole “make a postcard” thing seems almost quaint by comparison. That’s not to say it’s not a neat idea, though. I can imagine it would save a lot on postage. Additionally, their look can be customized somewhat, and who doesn’t enjoy creating nifty looking photo-things to send to friends and family?

Anyone who travels or plans to do any traveling should take a look at Gogobot. It’s totally free, and it’s in the App Store right now.

FREE!

Gogobot

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-10-16 :: Category: Travel

MochiBits‘ SwipeTapTap is a surprisingly engrossing game despite its utter simplicity. Following on-screen prompts involving (what else?) swipes, taps and various combinations as quickly and accurately as possible is one of those things I’d never have expected to keep me entertained for very long, but it does just that. Not only that, it keeps things from getting stale by including a total of four game modes. And it’s free at the moment, did I forget to mention that? Nah, I’m pretty sure I did.

Each of the four modes uses the same basic mechanics in different ways. Classic is all about inputting the correct gestures as they scroll across the screen in a timely manner. Take too long or screw up too often and they’ll fill the screen and it’s Game Over. Memory is more like a classic game of Simon, only with a touch screen interface. Speed is a race against time, requiring almost super-human-like reflexes at the higher difficulties. Finally, Endurance is one big continuous level with no end in sight and steadily increasing speed. Losing isn’t so much a question of “if” but of “when.”

And yes, for a limited time (in conjunction with “OpenFeint’s Free Game of the Day”) this finger-flexing homage to Simon is completely and totally free. All of the games modes. No money down. Zero dollars. There’s absolutely no legitimate reason not to check it out.

$1.99

SwipeTapTap Pro - A fun and addictive gesture game

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-03-04 :: Category: Games

2010 is shaping up to be the year of Tron, with Tron: Legacy set to hit theaters near the end of 2010. While it is still five months away, Disney is getting the hype train for Tron: Legacy started up immediately, and one part of this push is the release of a Tron app for the iPhone and iPod touch. While the standard features like movie trailers and information on tie-in products are included, there is one huge and compelling inclusion to the app – the Tanks Arcade game.

This is a reimagining of the Battle Tanks mode of the Tron arcade game as something more resembling a dual-stick shooter. There’s a singleplayer mode that gives you 15 levels to play through that teach you how the game’s mechanics and upgrade system work, as well as providing a reasonable challenge. The real meat here is the online multiplayer mode, which lets you take part in 2, 4, or 6 player deathmatches. It isn’t strictly a free for all, though – you choose from a blue, green, or red faction, and in online games, people of the same faction are your teammates, and the kills you accumulate go towards your faction’s overall progress. It’s a great mechanic for an iPhone game, and makes it more than just a random deathmatch game.

What hasn’t been mentioned is that this app, with the Arcade Tanks game and all, is free to download. Disney also promises more features (both free and premium) to come as Tron: Legacy nears release. As well, for those attending San Diego Comic-Con this week, the app will unlock features for those who show up to the ComiTRON booth (Aisle #3172) and use the app. Disney will be showing off a lot of Tron: Legacy related content at the convention, which we hope to show off to you (as well as anything else iOS related) as it happens at SDCC.

FREE!

TRON

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-07-18 :: Category: Games