Application Review: Color Splurge

Rating: 10 out of 10
Pros: Brings awesome color and a high quality appearance to your photographs.
Cons: None.
Overall: Color Splurge  is an application that I looked at and first just thought that the app’s screenshots were just blown up and did not appear like anything the app could actually do. Well I can tell you I was WRONG. Color splurge allows you to do so many different things to your photos. From the traditional things like black and white to adding color to help bring out something in the picture you’ve taken. The app allows you too bring the most professional look to a photo from your phone device possible. I was overwhelming impressed with how accurate I could be when customizing my pictures. Another huge factor to me in any app whether its a game or just app it needs to have good customer support and explaniations. The developer Vijay Doddavala really has made it his job to make sure everything that you can do inside the app is explainded to you before hand. When you first start the app you get an explanation of how the apps work and what buttons do what and in Doddavala’s most recent update to Color Splurge he has added a video tutorial as well. This just screams to me that this developer is dedicated to his app and is going to do what it takes to see it succeed. Finally I do want to mention that you are able to upload the pictures directly to Facebook, Twitter, an email, and save to your photo album right from within the app. The app is free so GO GET IT!

App Cost: FREE
iTunes App Store Link

Application Review: Charades

Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Brings together a classic game on to iOS devices and allows others to compete from all around the world.
Cons: The wait time to play with others is a bit long.
Overall: Last week I did a review on Charades that brought together the classic game straight to the phone. That version of Charades was limited to one person only. I found this creative but did not like the price of the application ($1.99). I continued my search and I found another game named Charades. This one does exactly the opposite of last week.

This weeks application review of Charades focuses on playing Charades through iOS devices. Charades does have a busy menu screen when you enter the application. Once you go through it you learn the gist of everything and its location. Charades allows for a great amount of customization. It goes as far as having an iPod player built right into the application. The application does offer a training option to allow users to practice and learn the ins and outs of the application and what objectives you may face. I find myself personally using the training a lot. I find that my fingers are big and makes it hard for me to draw on the iPhone in general, so the practice area is much appreciated. You could almost play training the entire time, as it will give you many different items to draw helping you improve your skills. The game crashed 2 times on me during the initial setup phase but after that it was smooth sailing and a pretty positive experience. The only other negative I had was that connecting through Game Center took forever. I  waited 5+ minutes to connect to a person who left shortly after we started. I think as more users see this game and  hopefully start playing this issue will naturally be resolved. I know personally I would love to challenge somebody in Charades through my iOS device. There are ads inside this application that pop up in the middle of the screen when doing certain actions such as entering the multi-player area.

There is a free version and a paid version of Charades. The paid version removes the ads, removes the wait time for you to enter game center, and also unlocks a few additional functions

App Cost: FREE
iTunes App Store Link

Macworld | iWorld 2012: New Garmin Apps

MacWorld | iWorld 2012: Interview with Johan-Till Broer, Public Relations Manager for Garmin shows off some of the new offerings from the leader in Navigation. Check out Garmin at www.Garmin.com

A Tethering App Sneaks Its Way Into The App Store.

Apple is fairly quick about pulling these types of apps. So if you’re interested in tethering your phone, without paying your carrier’s fees, you should pony up the $1.99 for this app. As shown in the video above, getting tethering to work isn’t the most straight forward process but it works. If you’ve purchased this app please let us know if it works as described.

Available in the iTunes App Store

Application Review: Bingo Jungle

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Interesting gameplay, Challenging
Cons: Confusing at first.
Overall: Bingo Jungle is a game that takes traditional bingo and puts a complete spin on it create a whole new way to play bingo. The game forces you to be alert and thinking as you pick your skills and watch the numbers spin. What I enjoy mose about playing is the fact that you bet before you play. In real bingo you don’t bet, you just pray the old lady that bought 5,000 cards and has that magnetic chip collector sitting next to you doesn’t win. In Bingo Jungle its just you betting and playing (thank god) Overall though I was a little confused and almost made an in app purchase when trying to choose my skills but after some looking around I figured out however thing works. Stepping back from the gameplay the graphics in Bingo Jungle are awesome and take full advantage of the iPhone’s retina display. If your look for a game that is a little challenging but fun check out Bingo Jungle!

App Cost: FREE
iTunes App Store Link

Free App Of The Day: My Paper Plane 3

Grab stars and rack up massive combos as you guide your paper plane through exciting 3D environments. Celebrate holidays with 50% off regular price! Limited time offer, gift this app to your friends and family! Take to the sky with retina display graphics, original music and easy, ultra accurate tilt controls. Breeze through the game on easier levels or attempt to earn your place among the best on the harder ones with online achievements and leader boards.

FEATURES
* Dynamically generated levels.
* Awesome power-ups.
* Many fun, unique locales. (more coming soon!)
* Many planes and other vehicles to choose from.
* Exhilarating feeling of flight.
* Incredibly fluid motion.
* Easy, ultra-accurate controls.
* Medals and Achievements.
* Online Leaderboards.
* Retina Display Support.

The third installment of the multi-platform hit series My Paper Plane finally lands on iOS, sporting tremendously improved visuals and taking the ultra-fun gameplay up a few notches. Discover the joy of flight that millions of players world-wide experienced already.

Available in the iPhone App Store.

CES 2012: Lights, Camera, Color!!

Application Review: Charades

Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros: Family Fun, Simple, and Different Difficulties to choose from
Cons: Price of application
Overall: Charades is a very simple application. It takes the game we all love to play and brings it to our phones. There’s no need for a board game or limited cut outs of charade ideas. With Charades the application you are able to choose the difficulty of the charade that is presented to you. The charade presented is a random drawing which makes it even more fun for both the person doing the charade and the people trying to figure it out. A nice add in feature to the game is that if you don’t know who or what charade has been presented to you you can quickly look it up with the question mark icon in the application and it will take you to a Wikipedia article on the charade.

The greatest thing about the application and smart phones in general is that applications can be updated. With an update a whole new experience or category can be added into the application. So you should never have to worry about repeating a charade. What I love about this specific application is the fact that the interface is simple. There is nothing unnecessary or annoying that will cause your battery to die or for you to draw your attention to your phone other than simply reading the charade. I like classic things. So a classic game of charades should not be focused on the device rather the game itself.

App Cost: $1.99
iTunes App Store Link

Free App A Day: Nostalgio

With Nostalgio you can freely express your creativity and make professionally looking photo collages in minutes. With a large variety of frame templates, thoroughly selected border styles, effects and other editing options you have nothing left but to produce a masterpiece!

Use the camera to take a couple of new shots or open the photo albums to upload your favorite images! Launch the camera view simultaneously in all frames to assemble your perfect collage by simply tapping within each rectangle. The images can be further resized, rotated and altered by adding a variety of effects to perfectly fit the assigned frame.

FEATURES:
• Lots of collage templates
• Start by selecting number of parts or frame design
• An ability to choose photos from albums or take new ones
• Launch Camera in all frames
• Let the app create a collage for you
• Spin, rotate and resize you photos for perfect look
• Change the style of collage borders
• Try different layouts to make your collage look exactly the way you want it!
• Save and share across multiple social networks

Available in the iPhone App Store.

Free App Of The Day: Coin Dash!

Van Holsing needs money to fund his expedition to Haunted Island. Help him in his task by collecting as many coins as fast as you can – before they vanish. That’s what makes him “Happy”. Little by little your coins will upgrade to rings and even diamonds.
The clock is ticking:
…merciless. When time reaches 0 the round ends. So. Hurry!
You will get a 5 seconds bonus every time you achieve making him „Happy“. Every 10 Stages you will be rewarded for every second you have left. The more time you have left, the more treasure and multipliers will be thrown at you. Then you start over anew with 15 seconds.

FEATURES:
- Tilt Sensitivity adjustable
- Game Center
- Options menu
- Listen to your own music
-“Feedback” & „Like“-Button
- MaxxXReset-Function-Item (Permanently adds +1 Multiplier)
- Reworked Animation System
- Unlocks come faster
- New Van Holsing (he now has a crossbow)

Available in the iPhone App Store.