Tag: London 2012 »

Is it really nearly 2013? How did that happen? And why did 2012 go so fast? I have no answer, but I can answer what I enjoyed so much about 2012. It wasn't the greatest of years for me in many respects, but it was a fantastic year for the technology fan part of me.

Fairway Solitaire

Tell me at the start of the year that my main gaming addiction this year would be a card game and I'd have laughed. A lot. I've always quite enjoyed solitaire games but usually when I have nothing better to do. Fairway Solitaire has established its place in my daily routine ever since I reviewed it at the start of the year. No mean feat given the wealth of games I've played across the year. Its constant trickle of new content each day is all too tempting and I've found it to be very relaxing. Shame that some elements of the game require quite a lot of in-app purchases.

iPhone 5

I've never owned an iPhone since launch before, having always picked them up much later down the line. Thanks to things working out well, I picked up an iPhone 5 two days after its initial launch. I'm so glad I did. Out of all the technology in my house, it's the most used and not just for work reasons. It might not be the most revolutionary of hardware updates, but the extra screen space and processor power is very handy. Owning the 32gb variety (for the first time) is a particular revelation. Finally, I don't have to swap out apps and games all the time.

Summer of Sport

As a soccer and athletics fan, this summer was a memorable one. Euro 2012 kept me happy, if predictably disappointed, as an England supporter. The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, made me proud of my country and ecstatic to watch so much fantastic sport. It also marked the first Olympics when iOS devices played an important part in coverage, which was shown through the plethora of apps available.

The Walking Dead

The most emotional game I've played in recent years. Bar none. It's perhaps a little weak on gaming elements and there are a few plotholes by the end, but it doesn't stop The Walking Dead being a tour de force of emotion. I have no children but I can only imagine the powerful story of a girl desperate to find her parents amongst a zombie invasion, being all the more potent for those who do.

Zombies, Run!

More zombies! Not quite in the same way, though. Zombies, Run! is my exercise companion. I jog, rather than run. A distinct lack of stamina and a continuing foot problem means things are a little slower for me. The key thing is, though, Zombies, Run! motivates me to keep trying. Telling a story linked into exercise is an inspired move and one that genuinely encouraged me to regularly jog. No matter how slow the progress might have been.

iA Writer

Yes, I know iA Writer isn't an app that came out in 2012. It has had regular updates but that isn't why it's in my list, either. It's here because 2012 marked the year that I bought my first Mac. A MacBook Pro, to be exact. Since then, there have been many apps that have made my life much easier but none more so than the Mac version of iA Writer. I'm using it right now to write this. Even better, if I have to go away from my laptop for whatever reason, I can carry on where I left this on my iPhone or iPad. That flexibility has made a massive difference to my year.

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are upon us and, if you're anything like me, you'll have spent all weekend soaking up all the sport. Perfectly timed comes the release of Reuters Olympics London 2012, an app that promises to bring the best live photos of the Olympics, captured by the award winning photographers from Reuters.

The app is free and universal to download, and comes supplied with Apple TV support to ensure it's immensely easy to view the stunning imagery through a variety of sources. All the photos are high resolution and beautiful to look at, with easy navigation through the archive.

Every sport is covered so it's possible to view celebrations from the best runners to the winners of the water polo and volleyball. It captures the spirit of the events perfectly, while also showing off the luscious landscapes of Great Britain. Statistics are available in the form of medal tables and results of each event.

Reuters Olympics London 2012 is out now.

We've covered PlayUp before, appreciating its ability to bring sports fans together in their love of their chosen sport. Just in time for the London 2012 Olympics, a major update has been released geared towards keeping users informed during the summer Olympics.

The app offers users all the latest information on their favorite teams and athletes, as well as the latest news on the medal tally. That's 17 days worth of coverage, across 26 sports, 39 disciplines and 302 medal events. Content is geared towards the geographical location of the user, ensuring that the most regionally relevant content is brought to the forefront when first launched.

It also provides free instant messaging around any event and the ability to virtually hang out with friends in private, as well as direct message them and create social groups.

Whether you're excited by the water polo or thrilled by the BMX biking, PlayUp should have you covered this summer Olympics.

Check it out now, it's available for free.

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are very nearly upon us, and they mark the first Summer Olympics with a hugely successful App Store to tempt us in. The App Store was new and somewhat untouched ground back in 2008, so it's no wonder we're seeing so many titles emerge this time round. Sports Illustrated Live from London 2012 is one such title.

Sports Illustrated Live from London 2012 offers the stunning photography we've come to expect from Sports Illustrated, along with up to the second scores and results. A medal count as well as regular news will be provided, alongside a schedule of all upcoming events.

It's the photography that will hopefully grip users the most, however, with top photos of each day and a daily video recap promised. Throughout, there are features from Sports Illustrated's writers to capture readers' attentions.

Sports Illustrated Live from London 2012 should prove an ideal visual-heavy companion to the Summer Olympics this month.

It's out now for the iPad and is free to download.

So another series of Olympic games is looming. Honestly it’s like they have these once every few years or something. Well in preparation and celebration of the events taking place this summer, NEOWIZ is introducing the London 2012 – Official Mobile Game. In other words it’s summer Olypmics on your phone.

Players can take part in nine different (popular) events: the100M, 110M Hurdles, 100m Freestyle, Double Trap, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, 100m Butterfly, Kayak (K1), and Archery. A player’s athlete can be trained and customized with well over 200 different items, to boot. It may even include boots, actually. London 2012 also offers three different game modes (Training, Challenge, and Olympic) just in case a simple campaign through a series of Olympic games isn’t enough. Although realistically I doubt a single athlete would take part in so many different events in the same year.

London 2012 – Official Mobile Game is available on the App Store right now in two varieties: Premium ($2.99), and Free. The difference between the two being Premium including an “additional 3,000 stars and 5 max. stamina points (Worth $5.50).” So there’s something for everyone. Unless they own an iPod Touch, original iPad, or iPhone 3GS or older, that is. It’s only compatible with newer devices, sadly.