Vortex Dream Review

Vortex Dream is a sort of visualizer app with an interesting concept, decent graphics, and room to grow into a fun and useful app. However, as it stands it's less than a one-trick pony. Since I do believe that there is decent potential for it, I will try to highlight what is great about this app before providing my 'constructive' feedback.

Firstly, the graphics are wonderful, and the methods of interaction with the 'vortex' are responsive. You can pinch or stretch, using multi-touch, and you can brush the vortex to speed up or spin around inside the vortex. You can also tap to change your color scheme; this is my favorite option as it flashes between colors - it's quite pretty. Finally, you can shake your iPhone to quickly 'zoom out,' which offers a cool effect too. So, being honest, this technique of visualization is very appealing and well done. However, it doesn't do anything. If you're not playing with it, it just sits there. What this app is lacking is a function or purpose.

Here is what the developer should think about adding - and then it would be a more appealing and useful app. First, remove the top-bar from within the app - it's distracting and useless. The second most logical step would be to build in the option to listen to your music while having the vortex affected by it, as a visualizer, while keeping the manual effects, too. I can see this perched in a cradle on desks everywhere spinning and pulsing along to Dance Music and Smooth Jazz alike. This would make this app infinitely cooler. Worst case option, include the ability to 'start up' the motion at whatever speed you prefer, add a clock and call it "Vortex Dream Clock" - that, at least would be worth the $0.99. Until then, this app should be free.

As the photos don't really show the animation very well, check out the video below to see this app in action.

[gallery size=”thumbnail”]