"If there is an app for that"

RunNoahRun Is a Promising Retro Side-Scroller for iOS

June 06, 2016 by macjeff

Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon

RunNoahRun is a retro side-scrolling game for iPhone and iPad has potential and seems like a more controlled version of Flappy Bird.

Developed by Bereket Tewelde, this fairly new game is off to a decent start but it needs a bit of work.

Concept and Gameplay:

If you’ve read other reviews of mine here on The iPhone App Review, you’ll know I’m a stickler for tutorials, whether they’re interactive or just helpful text bubbles when you first start a game.

Tutorials make it easy for new players to pick up a game and play it without getting frustrated. Unfortunately RunNoahRun doesn’t include a tutorial, but the four buttons on the screen control your characters vertical and horizontal movement.

I truly love retro 8-bit games, but RunNoahRun was a bit of a disappointment. The menu looks squished and distorted on my 6S Plus, and actual gameplay is very choppy.

Noah stutters across the landscape, which is frustrating. Character motion definitely needs to be smoothed out in order to make the gameplay experience better.

There are four stages to unlock, but it’s unclear how to do so. I couldn’t find anything in RunNoahRun that shows your score. You don’t earn points during gameplay, but you do get three lives before the game is over. Lack of score and direction on how to unlock additional stages is irritating to say the least.

Features:

RunNoahRun iPhone Game

Unfortunately RunNoahRun is pretty bare on features. It doesn’t include Game Center integration so you can’t earn achievements or compete on leaderboards. I definitely think the game would benefit from powerups at the very least so players have something to actually work towards.

As I mentioned before, RunNoahRun doesn’t even keep track of your score, which is something that’s generally included in a game. Hopefully an update will include score tracking functionality so players are motivated to keep playing the game.

Value:

RunNoahRun is available to download from the App Store for free and is universally compatible with iPhone and iPad. The game is supported by ads at the bottom of the screen, but they don’t seem to appear during gameplay.

Overall, RunNoahRun certainly has potential when it comes to being a retro side-scroller. The basics are there, but vital features such as scores and smoother gameplay are missing. Once these issues are addressed, this will be a great iOS game to enjoy.

RunNoahRun requires iOS 6.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Checking out Focus, a minimalist task manager for iPhone

June 06, 2016 by macjeff

Focus for iPhone, a new task manager by Oslo, Norway-headquartered digital marketing agency Dots Design, is a beautifully conceived application with a minimalist user interface which makes creating lists built around your lifestyle a breeze.

Available at no charge on the App Store, Focus, as the name suggests, is all about focusing on the task at hand. The minimal user interface lends itself nicely to keeping the app very easy to use, with gestures-driven actions and a single screen on which everything takes place.

Simplicity is the name of the game

While not as fully-featured as other task managers, Focus will be more than adequate if all you want is a simple to use app that helps you get things done.

As I mentioned, the app leans heavily on gestures. There are no multiple screens in Focus, no settings, no menus—just the highly focused UI with the tasks at hand.

Focus comes with built-in task lists that are based around a typical user’s lifestyle, but you can easily edit them, or create your own.

Gestures, gestures, gestures

To open or close a task list, tap its title.

To create a new task within a list, tap the plus button next to the appropriate task list. I like it that Focus lets me add multiple tasks within a list quickly by tapping the Another button after entering each one.

To mark a task as completed, simply swipe over it.

You can rearrange tasks within a list by tapping and holding, then drag a task to the new location. To edit a task’s title (which can be up to 26 characters), tap it.

And that’s about it when it comes to Focus’s feature set and ease of use, but don’t let the app’s simplicity fool you—if you need a minimal task manager to quickly create and manage shopping lists and other task lists on the go, this is it.

Final thoughts

I have a few smaller quibbles with Focus.

For starters, I would have most definitely welcomed some sort of settings interface to change the typeface and color scheme. Don’t get me wrong, I like Focus’s minimal UI but also understand that an all-red interface may not suit everyone’s tastes.

This app also begs for 3D Touch Peek and Pop gestures, which I have no doubt in my mind will be added in a future update.

Other than that, Focus is a cool app for those who are looking to simplify their productivity with a highly focused task manager for their iPhone. That it’s a completely free of charge app with no In-App Purchases is a plus as well.

The 26-character limit for task names should be removed, in my opinion.

Pricing and availability

Focus requires an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad with iOS 8.1. The app is English-only and lacks a native watchOS 2 component for the Apple Watch.

Grab Focus for free on the App Store.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 06/06/2016

June 06, 2016 by macjeff

Siege Hero HD , Siege Hero , WikiLinks ‐ Smart Wikipedia Reader and more

iPhone:

Instead of chucking stones from the sides of the screen, you’ll be taking out your foes via a first-person perspective. Just tap to throw stones and watch entire structures crumble. You can tap and hold to zoom in as well. The game includes 400 levels with star ratings for each, the ability to unlock additional levels by gathering loot, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

Universal:

WikiLinks allows you to start off with an idea and branch out from there with its exclusive mind-map navigation system. Each search suggests different paths to take and allows you to retrace your steps at any time. Instead of jumping back and forth between searches and articles, tap and hold your finger on any link to get a quick preview. WikiLinks is loaded with other great features as well, including fullscreen image browsing, suggested YouTube videos, offline viewing, and iCloud support.

Pin Points allows you to create trips with multiple waypoints. Each trip can include any number of points. You’re able to add points by your current location, dropping a pin on the map, or address. Points can also be deleted and reordered at any time. When you’re finished adding points, tap calculate and you’ll be presented with the distance and time it takes to travel to each point by air, foot, or car. Your’e also able to visualize your trip and access it offline.

Instead of chucking stones from the sides of the screen, you’ll be taking out your foes via a first-person perspective. Just tap to throw stones and watch entire structures crumble. You can tap and hold to zoom in as well. The game includes 400 levels with star ratings for each, the ability to unlock additional levels by gathering loot, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

Henry Sykes has completely lost his mind, but that doesn’t mean he’s given up trying to figure out what happened to him. You must follow along with the flashbacks that appear distorted and twisted in order to solve intricate puzzles and progress the story. Think hard and hang in there, because Henry is depending on you.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free

Apple Gives Homepage Tribute to Commemorate Muhammad Ali’s Life

June 05, 2016 by macjeff

To honour the life of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, Apple has updated its homepage with his picture and a quote from him.

The legendary boxer passed away on Saturday at age 74. Ali was admitted into hospital earlier in the week due to respiratory issues. He was also suffering from Parkison’s disease from a long time that further worsened matters.

Ali’s photo is accompanied by one of his legendary quotes – “Tye man who has no imagination has no wings.”

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." Rest in peace #MuhammadAli

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 4, 2016

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and Phil Schiller had also tweeted commemorative tweets about Ali.

The great boxer had featured in Apple’s ‘Think Different’ ad in 1997.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 06/05/2016

June 05, 2016 by macjeff

Shadow Vamp , Cameraxis - Edit photos, Design graphics & add Creative typography, beautiful artworks over picture , Parker Planner and more

iPhone:

The app's main view allows you to see upcoming events for the day, any notes and ideas you may have, and any tasks you need to complete all at once. You're also able to view each of the three separately. Tap once on an open spot on your calendar to add an event or tap twice to add more details. The app syncs with your iPhone's built-in calendar or any of the other popular online options. It also includes multiple themes to choose from, icon badging, and sound effects.

Universal:

Dawn has arrived, blasting harmful sun rays down towards the nocturnal creature. But the sun is still low, allowing large shadows to stretch across the ground and structures, providing a viable path back to your crypt. As you cautiously travel down quiet streets, you must utilize a magic amulet to spin the island and create seamless routes of darkness. The game includes wonderful 3-D graphics, an eerie soundtrack, 48 levels spanning four stages, six variously skilled vampires unlocked by collecting coins, iCloud support, and leaderboards via Game Center.

Cameraxis is a graphic designer’s dream come true. It allows you to import any photo from your library, take a new photo from within the app, import content from social networks, or utilize pre-designed patterns and backgrounds. Whatever content you choose can be cropped down to size manually or automatically. Cameraxis then allows you to adjust the properties of your photos in a wide variety of ways, and apply hundreds of different artistic designs, text, and filters.

The objective is to connect all of the numbers in ascending order without touching the lines you’ve already created. The process of doing so, however, requires a deft hand and a little strategy. Make sure to utilize the viewfinder in the top left corner of the screen, otherwise you won't stand a chance. The game includes an unlimited number of randomly generated levels, adaptive difficulty levels, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

Uncle Henry is back at it again. This time he needs you and your newly acquired archeology skills to help him track down a mysterious artifact known to be hidden in the Castle Blackthorn in England. To find the long lost treasure you must pick the correct paths, solve puzzles, and search through old structures with just a tap. A built-in hint system will assist you when you’re stuck, and a dynamic map will ensure you won’t simply go running around in circles.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free