iPhone Integration Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.2 out of 5 stars
The story of the creation of Fridge Police started with a simple problem that David Jack often ran into. “I would find a moldy container in the back of the fridge and would wish that there was an easy way to keep track of how long something has been open in my refrigerator.”
Instead of acting like a typical person, he decided to take it upon himself to create an app that could track all the items that he bought. With his app he would be able to account for any item in his fridge, ending his (and everyone else’s) long standing food expiration problem.
The app that he created, Fridge Police, is a nicely organized app that lets you easily add items to your “My Items” list to be tracked by the food calendar. As your food expires, the app lets you know via push message so that you can dispose of it easily, or at least have the ability to eat the item as it’s getting near expiration.
Adding items, the key to the apps success, is a bit trickier than it should be, though. The app has an included barcode scanner that detects most big brand items, but if it’s not detectable (like most of the items in my fridge), you have to go into manual entry. There is a “Quick Add” option, but it just has a few basics (milk, soda, bread, cheese, eggs). To me, and I’d bet most of the app using population, manually adding each item of food you open can quickly become a tedious process.
To be successful, the app really needs to add a few things. For starters, the quick add list needs to be editable, and all apps that you have manually entered should be instantly shot over to the quick add list for repeat purchases. Also, you should be able to edit the expiration date on quick add items, because not all items (i.e. milk) goes bad at the same rate. Most importantly, the barcode scanning option needs to find way more items than it does. While it’s great to find most big company items, there needs to be much more support for regional brands. Finally, the barcode scanner itself needs to take its time. Maybe it does indeed scan the barcodes correctly, but it seems to me that the scanner just quits the second it gets a peek at an barcode. Even if it is processing data that fast, make it take a bit, just so I don’t think the app is giving up on me.
The goal of the App Store, from its creation, was to have it be filled with a bunch of apps that would make people’s lives better. Apps like Fridge Police should definitely be rewarded for ingenuity, but they need to have better execution if they want to hit the big time. Given some updates, Fridge Police could be a real winner, but at the moment it would almost be easier to read the expiration date right off the container.
Developer: int13
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
iPhone Integration Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.65 out of 5 stars
Augmented reality is undoubtedly cool technology, but it really hasn’t been implemented well enough to be considered a killer feature. Up to now, it has been best used for things like location searches, but more often than not it is used for flimsy games with very little playability. ARDefender bucks the trend, and is one of the first augmented reality games that I have played that actually works well. I’m not saying that the game is great, but it is a really cool implementation of the technology.
To play the game, you first have to download a PDF file from ARDefender.com. The PDF file has a page with three different size maps that can be cut out, one for your wallet, one for your desk, and a bigger one for your floor. Each map just shows a little blue tower surrounded by 7 black dots, but when viewed by an iPhone, the map turns into a fully playable battlefield.
Through your screen, the small blue tower becomes a 3D tower that can be viewed at any angle by your iPhone. You can easily change between a birds eye view and an isometric view by simply positioning yourself (your actual body) where you want to be. The playing fields are best used on the ground, but they can also be played right off of the computer screen.
The game itself is a fairly standard castle defense game, where you are the tower and you have to kill all the invading forces. Instead of simple tap to aim though, you have to physically move your target with to where the enemy is and then hit fire. As you progress through the game, the waves get harder and harder, but you also get more and more ammo to fire your special guns (lasers and missiles). On its own, there’s really not too much about the game to gush about, but with the added augmented reality twist, the game is pretty impressive.
After a while though the magic of augmented reality wears thin and the lack of depth becomes grating. ARDefender really just boils down to a fantastic tech demo to show off to your friends. As far as games go, it’s fairly run of the mill.
Developer: Magic Games
Price: $1.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad
Graphics / Sound Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars Overall Rating: 3.94 out of 5 stars
Brick breaking games are considered a staple of the arcade genre. The tedious rhythm that swells behind the ping pong of the ball as it’s sent from paddle to objective is one that leaves fans of the game addicted. Now place that on the iPad and a recipe for ruined free time is formed.
Robo Dude allows for two modes of control: touch or tilt. Dealer’s choice here, but the most engrossing way to play the game is through the tilt control. Touch the screen to release the ball or activate power-ups and explosives. The power-ups run the full gamut of brick breaker standards (multi-ball, paddle expander, paddle shrinker, projectile, magnet, etc.) while adding a few newbies to the pile (the laser bomb and guided ball being the most useful). The responsiveness of the game is mostly solid. The paddle travels from right to left smoothly, with only a few odd hiccups between stopping and bouncing. None of which are game breaking.
In the realm of aesthetics, Robo Dude has a nice, brassy, steam punk flavor. The old screws and brushed metal make the game feel robotic, true to its namesake. The techno music that supports the busting is a nice bonus. It’s too bad that tracks repeat too often and typically don’t last long enough.
Stop there and this game is nothing more than another so-so brick breaker. But Robo Dude has two things going for it that separate it from the re-done arcade classic pack. Throughout the game, players can collect gems in order to buy power-ups between levels. These purchasables lead to quicker completion times and even more breaking.
That’s the second thing; busting the large variety of bricks, exploding weapons and blasting objects on the board are the best part of this game. The graphical reinforcement, the screen sized explosions and the solid sound effects make the brick breaking magic. The stimulation caused by objects busting and flying all over the screen acts as a reward system unto itself. This only furthers the potential for addiction, completing the visually striking package.
Solid gameplay, a nice reward system, strong graphics and the addictive nature of the genre make Robo Dude an excellent distraction from real life. Especially for brick layers.
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.35 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.78 out of 5 stars
By the end of the 90’s I was sure that the pixel hunter/puzzle genre was dead. Sure, there would be more that would come out, but gone were the days that Myst, The X-Files, and Blade Runner were the coolest things around. Who wanted to dig for pieces of puzzles when you could blow up masses of online gamers in Quake Tournament?
All of the whiz-bang explosions and fast paced action is nice, but many gamers longed for something slower, perhaps something less bloody. Selling a game devoid of all action on a console or the PC would be a waste but the iOS platform is absolutely perfect for a fun blast from the past.
The Secret of Grisly Manor really isn’t all that different from Myst, except for the fact that the puzzles aren’t quite as cumbersome and the scope of the game isn’t nearly as epic. Instead of wandering a world inside a book that is inhabited by red and blue pages, Grisly Manor is a simple mystery game in which you are trying to unravel the mystery of your missing grandfather.
The puzzles in the game range from obvious to fairly challenging, and the whole game will take around an hour to complete, assuming you don’t get hung up for too long. The overall feel of the game is a bit spookier than necessary (given the game’s ending), but the dim lighting and sinister sounds certainly add a sense of urgency. Because there are no real animations involved, the graphics all look quite nice, even if they are predictably static.
While the game won’t impress people that have become accustomed to crazy action and arsenals of weapons, fans of the old pixel hunting puzzle games will love the challenge. The game does go by quickly, but it is a fun ride while it lasts.
Well, fall is finally here and you know what that means: candy, pie, raking leaves, and partaking of farmers’ bounties. It also means that Mother Nature cannot make up her mind if it should be 90 degrees or 40 degrees outside. To aid in your morning debate about long johns or shorts, we have four weather apps to help you figure out what mood Ma Nature just might be in.
Weather HD When it comes to showing off the weather, Weather HD takes strides in making it a gorgeous and sexy affair. Not only will you get some of the best eye candy, but also you can easily find the forecast, navigate between cities with a simple swipe, and enjoy what would otherwise be a rather boring experience.
+ Universal App – Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Weather
Living Earth HD Maybe looking at a forecast is just not enough to satisfy your weather needs. Maybe you would enjoy seeing how the weather looks on a global scale. Living Earth HD is the answer to those prayers with a 3D simulated globe displayed in real time. It also includes the all-important weather, forecasts, and even times of cities across the globe. If you are a fan of our pale blue dot, this is the weather app for you.
Hurricane Hurricanes do more than just get odd names, they can trash a city with a might even Hulk would be envious of. Hurricane gives those of you living in hurricane zones great tools for monitoring items like wind speed, location, and five-day forecasts of Hurricane Jimbo. Those of you not content with only seeing current hurricane info are in for a treat as well, as Hurricane contains historical data on every hurricane dating all the way back to 1851 for the Atlantic, and 1949 for the Pacific.
iPad Only App – Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Weather
The Weather Channel If you are a Weather Channel addict, then there is only one app to fill your midday cravings for weather. The Weather Channel app brings on useful features like severe weather alerts, forecasts, full screen maps, allergy forecasts, Hurricane Central, and so much more. Those of you who want to brag that it is 70 and sunny where you are to your friends who are digging out from four feet of snow, well, you can even post your locations weather right to your Facebook wall. Keep in mind, when you are sweating and burning up in 100+ degree heat, turnaround is fair play.
Instead of acting like a typical person, he decided to take it upon himself to create an app that could track all the items that he bought. With his app he would be able to account for any item in his fridge, ending his (and everyone else’s) long standing food expiration problem.
To play the game, you first have to download a PDF file from 
All of the whiz-bang explosions and fast paced action is nice, but many gamers longed for something slower, perhaps something less bloody. Selling a game devoid of all action on a console or the PC would be a waste but the iOS platform is absolutely perfect for a fun blast from the past.
:: OUR PRETTY EARTH
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