Should Nymphs & Wets Be Your Go-To App for Fly Tying Techniques?
June 14, 2017 by RSS Feed
When you're first picking up fly fishing, or when you want to up your game, knowing how to tie the knots and make the flies is crucial. After all, you want them to look real enough to attract the big one, and that's not always easy to do. Nymphs & Wets does a great job of showing how to do those things, but does it offer enough to make up for the ads and other in-app purchases? Let's find out.
App Feels Like
Knots 3D
David Boren
Fishing Knots Real 3D
Gabor Toth
DIY Fly Fishing
Kenneth Sperry
When learning how to fly fish, the most difficult thing for many people is knowing how to tie flies, knots, and various patterns. It's definitely an enjoyable past-time, and can pay off with some great fish, but you've got to get a start somewhere. This free app will get you this beginning, teaching you the most basic nymphs, wets, and other fly fishing essentials. Once you've mastered those, you can unlock more advanced flies, knots, and patterns and learn them as well. The app uses detailed pictures along with great text to help you get things right the first time and every time.
When you're trying to learn how to tie a fly, you need a good instructor. This app does provide that, with excellent tutorials on how to tie the flies you need, from the most basic to the highly detailed and complex. It offers various categories of techniques, and gives you a healthy selection of different knots and patterns to make use of.
If your eyes aren't very good, each image in the tutorials has a zoom function. You just tap on it, and you get a more detailed, larger view of the image and its accompanying text.
Whether you want to learn the Alexandra, the Black Zulu, or one of dozens of other fly fishing favorites, you'll find them within this app with detailed images and well-written instructions.
Now, the drawbacks. This app makes heavy use of full-screen advertisements. I'm not opposed to monetizing your app, but the developers seem to have gone hog-wild here.
With every screen change, you have to wait at least five seconds for an interactive ad to play before you can tap the X to dismiss it and go where you wanted to be in the first place.
If you're in a hurry to get that fly tied, this isn't the app for you. The ads are annoying enough that I'll be deleting the app from my iPhone in very short order. Then again, maybe I'll forget about fishing and just download one of the games the app keeps pushing on me. Not really, but you get my point.
Not only does Nymphs & Wets make extensive use of in-app ads, but it tries to monetize in other ways, too. This app has more in-app purchases than I've ever seen in its type before.
First, there's an in-app purchase to get rid of the ads. That's one purchase.
You can also spend money to unlock all of the tutorials in each category.
Finally, the app offers you the option to remove all ads and unlock all of the fly tutorials, for another, heftier charge.
Truthfully, the ads shouldn't pop up so often. Most apps only have them once or twice a day. The lack of much content also makes this app pretty frustrating.
This just isn't the app for me, and it's a shining example of what happens when developers get a bit too much on the greedy side. There are far too many ads, and not enough free content, to make this worth the space it takes on my iPhone. Truthfully, it's probably a great app, but I just can't get past all of the ads and other in-app purchases to make the most of it.
5.4
OVERALL
Does it well 8.5
User Interface 7
iPhone Integration 5
Lasting appeal 3
Is engaging 3.5
Nymphs & Wets: Fly Tying Techniques Knots Patterns
Stojan Pesic
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Get on the Road Again and Don't Miss a Thing With Roadtrippers
June 14, 2017 by RSS Feed
When you're preparing for a long road trip, or even a short one, you want to make the most of it. While you could go to AAA and let them prepare a TripTik for you, along with buying all of their guides to help you identify places to stay and visit, that's just not the best way anymore. Instead, you should harness the power of the internet and your smartphone, and let an app help you plan. That's what Roadtrippers is all about.
TripIt: Travel Organizer
TripIt Inc
inRoute Route Planner & GPS Navigator
Carob Apps, LLC
Roadside America
This Exit LLC
With Roadtrippers, you can find the hottest spots as well as the most offbeat highlights along your trip. All you have to do is start your new trip, give the app your location and where you want to end up, and then choose what kinds of things you want to see. After that, the app will calculate the best route for you to take and what sites and other attractions might be along your travels. It's all quite easy, and very comprehensive.
Roadtrippers has a lot of great features. It will help you plan your trip, and has a comprehensive catalog of locations that you won't want to miss. You'll be able to find gas stations, restaurants and diners, as well as historical landmarks with ease. Roadtrippers also helps you locate campgrounds, if you want to rough it along the way. It even includes points of interest that aren't quite on the beaten path, like the world's largest wicker basket.
The app also allows you to browse pre-planned trips, if you need some inspiration. Just visit the Guides tab, and Roadtrippers will provide you with a treasure chest full of possibilities, like the ultimate Route 66 road trip or a week-long drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
While overall the app is easy to use, it has its drawbacks. There's no easy way I could find to plan legs of your trip, so you may find yourself using another map to plan stops for really long road trips. Once you figure out where you need to stop for the night, though, you can pretty easily add that to your itinerary.
The other drawback to Roadtrippers might not be a bad thing after all. There's just so much to see and do, and the app can create maps that are downright overwhelming with how many options they provide you. You have to pick and choose, since you won't be able to see everything and still get to your final destination.
Finally, the app ships you out to another title for actual navigation. While it includes its own map, Roadtrippers doesn't do turn-by-turn navigation. It works with Apple Maps and Google Maps, though, and sends you straight to those apps with your start and end points preselected.
All in all, this is a terrific choice for planning your next road trip. It's not perfect, but few apps are. What Roadtrippers does, plan your sightseeing, eating, and refueling locations, it does very well. I just wish I could do everything in a single app, even getting my turn-by-turn navigation.
8.8
OVERALL
iPhone Integration 10
Lasting appeal 9
Does it well 9.5
User Interface 8.5
Is engaging 7
Roadtrippers - Trip Planner Map & Travel Guides
Roadtrippers
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
With Scheduled, You Don't Have to Forget to Text People Just Because It's Late
June 13, 2017 by RSS Feed
I think everyone's had that brilliant idea they wanted to text to someone, but it was the middle of the night. We've all forgotten to send that "Happy birthday" text message until either the last minute or the next day. What if you had an easy-to-use app that would remind you with a ready-to-send text message? That's what Scheduled is all about
Schedule SMS Pro - Send Text Scheduler
Chuan Xu
SMS HERO - Schedule any sms to be sent on time
SOFTBROKE OU
Here’s how Scheduled works. First, you schedule a text message by choosing the contact you want to send it to, entering the text message you want to send, and specifying the date and time you want the text message to be sent. You will then get reminded when it’s time to send the text message, and you can choose the messaging app you want to use with the text message already copied in the message field — the app supports Messages, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, Mail (for emailing the message), and Phone (for calling the contact to deliver your message yourself).
Scheduled does a fantastic job of reminding you when it's time to send that text message. You get a notification, you choose which messaging service you want to use, and Scheduled fills in everything for you. All you have to do is tap send. The app works with a wide variety of messaging platforms: Messages, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and email, just to name a few. It is reliable, works well, and even supports repeating messages so you can schedule your happy birthday text messages once and never forget them again. If you have your birthdays on your calendar, Scheduled can even import them into the app to make setting up those reminders even easier. The only thing it doesn't do is automatically send those messages, but the developers say they are working on that.
Without an in-app purchase, you are limited to just three scheduled text messages. That's rather limiting, and a fairly odd number to cut you off at. If you don't make the in-app purchase when you first launch the app, it's difficult to find a way to buy the upgrade short of searching in the App Store again. Finally, choosing the date to send your text is a bit cumbersome. I'd like to see calendar popup, instead of the date wheel selector.
Scheduled is an excellent choice for managing your text messages before you send them. It integrates well with your contacts, works with just about every messaging platform you can imagine, and even supports repeating messages. The only thing it doesn't do is automatically send the message for you, but few (if any) of its competitors are able to do that yet. It's not something that Apple encourages or endorses. If you're looking for a way to make sure you remember to send that important text message, look no further.
8.8
OVERALL
Lasting appeal 9.5
iPhone Integration 9.5
User Interface 9
Does it well 8.5
Is engaging 7.5
Scheduled — Schedule your text messages
Brthrs Agency
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Rediscover Your Love of Podcasts With Breaker
June 12, 2017 by RSS Feed
Podcast apps are nothing new, but most of them encourage solitary experiences. What if you want to share your podcast love with others, or learn about new shows from your friends and a growing community? There hasn't been much of that, despite how popular podcasting has become. Breaker aims to fill that gap, so let's see how well it does.
App Feels Like
Overcast: Podcast Player
Overcast Radio, LLC
Castro: Podcast Player
Supertop Software
Castaway - Podcast Player
Philip Viso
There are plenty of podcast players available on the App Store, but it's still refreshing to find one that's easy to use and also makes sharing your experience fun. Breaker does that, and more. The app allows you to manage your podcast subscriptions, importing them from the iOS Podcast app, Overcast, Castro, or Pocket Casts. That's a great way to get started with the app, and a welcome feature. Once your podcasts are subscribed and you've followed some other users of the Breaker community, it's time for discovery. You can find new shows to watch or listen to, share your favorites with the community, or even let Facebook know what you're enjoying. Breaker makes podcast discovery easy and fun.
Breaker does an excellent job of helping you discover new podcasts to listen to. You can read about what your friends are listening to or watching, as well as find new content from a growing community. You can also quickly share your own favorite podcast episodes with others, letting them see what's hot and what's not. The app has a quick on-boarding process, so you aren't bogged down with tens of minutes of filling out forms. It also imports your podcast subscriptions from the most popular competing players, making it simple to switch over to Breaker. This app was clearly developed thoughtfully and with plenty of attention to detail.
The user interface behind Breaker isn't as elegant as some other apps. You might even say it's fairly basic. However, even that can be good, because it's an easy app to use. The main downfall to this app is that the main feed screen doesn't offer enough variety in the trending podcasts. Only a few show up, when there are plenty more that could be listed. Breaker should, in my opinion, give me my playlist of subscriptions as well as a comprehensive discovery list after that, all from the main screen. We don't need two separate screens for discovery, so the discovery tab should either be eliminated or all of the hot episodes today moved to that location.
If you're looking to make your podcast experience more social, this is the app for you. It provides a simple, easy-to-use interface. Breaker makes discovering new podcasts a very social and enjoyable experience, and the community is growing daily. You can easily invite your friends to Breaker, and share your favorite podcast episodes through a wide variety of social media and other channels.
8.0
OVERALL
iPhone Integration 10
Lasting appeal 9
Does it well 9
Is engaging 8
User Interface 4
Breaker
Breaker Inc.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
It’s All About the Pyramids in YANKAI’S PEAK
June 08, 2017 by RSS Feed
YANKAI’S PEAK ($2.99) by Kenny Sun is a unique puzzle game that serves as a love letter to pyramids. If you enjoyed other abstract puzzle games, such as Stolen Thunder, then you will like what YANKAI’S PEAK has to offer.
Usually, in my times of stress, I turn to good old video games to take my mind off of things. It’s a great escape for me for several hours, or even minutes if I just need a breather. And while I like to play games of all genres, my favorite to turn to are puzzle games, because they’re both relaxing but stimulating at the same time, which I love. Even though I feel like I’ve gone through a majority of the puzzle games that the App Store has to offer, I can’t help but always be on the lookout for new ones. And while this week saw the surprise release of Monument Valley 2, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other hidden gems that have been released lately. I saw YANKAI’S PEAK on the App Store and was intrigued because it didn’t seem to be like many other puzzle games that I’ve played before. I had to give it a try myself, and needless to say, I’m not disappointed.
App Feels Like
Stolen Thunder - A Unique Action Puzzle Adventure
Jason Nowak
The visuals in YANKAI’S PEAK are stunningly beautiful, and while it looks simple at first, it is rather distinctive and unlike many other games in the puzzle genre. The game features gorgeous, softly-colored gradient backgrounds that make it easy to see the triangles and pyramids that sit on top in the foreground. The stages are all made up of connected triangles that form a path, and there are even intricate geometric patterns on the colored triangles, which are the spots that you must position the colored pyramids into. The shading on the pyramids is done excellently, so it’s easy to tell the pyramids apart from the triangles. The color palette in YANKAI’S PEAK is well done, as it includes soft pastels, muted earthy tones, and even bold and vibrant hues. All-in-all, everything is rather eye-catching and appealing. To top things off, YANKAI’S PEAK has a soothing ambient soundtrack (composed by JACK+JIM) that is rather mesmerizing and immersive, and it only completes the zen-like experience.
In YANKAI’S PEAK, players will have over 130 levels to go through, but the game itself is not linear at all. In fact, the level selection screen is a puzzle in itself, as you have to control the sentient blue pyramid and guide it to a blue space, which then warps you to a unique stage, and they all have a certain theme to them, which is implied in the stage name. YANKAI’S PEAK also has seven chapters to it, so each chapter introduces another gameplay element to the multifaceted mechanic of the game. Still, no matter which chapter or level you’re on, the main objective of the game is to guide the blue pyramid to its proper spot on the level, while pushing the other colored pyramids into their correct spots as well. Once everything is in their proper place, then you go back to the level selection view and can choose another stage to play.
The controls in YANKAI’S PEAK are simple and intuitive. To move your blue pyramid, just swipe your finger on the screen in the direction that you want to move in. As you come across other colored pyramids, you’ll have to “pin” the blue one and the other one together in order to move them both (or even more) at the same time. To place a pin, just tap the screen in the corner that you want to pin, and then when you swipe, both pyramids move together. Since multiple pyramids move while pinned together, you do have to be cautious, as one pyramid may fall off the path if pushed off, because you know, gravity. Because of this, getting the pyramids into their proper positions on the stage can be a lot trickier than you think. Also, if you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, then the game also has taptic feedback, which is a nice touch.
Overall, as a fan of puzzle games, I think YANKAI’S PEAK is a good addition to any puzzle fan’s collection. The game has a delightful aesthetic, atmospheric and captivating music, and an intuitive control system. It’s definitely an abstract-style game, but there’s something charming about it, especially if you are one who appreciates good geometric design. And while it’s a bit unorthodox, the level selection being a puzzle in itself is a nice change, because why should the puzzles stop after you complete a level? It keeps things fresh and interesting.
While YANKAI’S PEAK is an enjoyable puzzle game about pyramids and geometry, I am not sure that it’s for everyone. If you are not a big fan of abstract games, then YANKAI’S PEAK is not the best fit for you. Some of the later puzzles can get tricky, so it’s not the kind of game that I would recommend to someone who gets easily frustrated.
I’ve only started playing YANKAI’S PEAK this morning, but I’m finding it to be a nice addition to my growing puzzle game collection on iOS. I’m in love with the remarkable geometric visuals and the music is perfect for me. I’ve gone through a lot of puzzle games during my time here at AppAdvice, and YANKAI’S PEAK is one that stands out from the crowd, which just seems to get harder and harder these days. If you are looking for a fantastic puzzle experience to get you through the weekend, and you already finished Monument Valley 2, then YANKAI’S PEAK is worth a download.
You can find YANKAI’S PEAK on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.
8.8
OVERALL
Sound/Music 10
Graphics 9
Gameplay 9
Replayability 8
Game Controls 8
YANKAI'S PEAK.
Kenny Sun
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
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