Paste 2 is a Beautiful and Intelligent Clipboard Manager
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Paste 2 (Free) by Dmitry Obukhov is a smart clipboard and snippet manager for your iOS device. If you've been looking for a replacement for the defunct Pastebot, then you should consider Paste 2. It's similar to the also excellent Copied.
I'm constantly on my iPhone, Mac, or iPad mini 4 (to a much lesser extent). While I'm using my devices, I'm always copying various bits of text or images to send someone, paste into an article I'm working on, or just reference later. Back in the day, I remember Pastebot as being the clipboard app to have on iOS. Unfortunately, Tapbots didn't keep it around after a while, as they decided to focus solely on Tweetbot and Calcbot. Fortunately, this meant it was possible for other clipboard managers to rise in the ranks, and Copied was one of them. I've been using Copied to get data on my iPhone and Mac, while also using Alfred's built-in clipboard to keep track of stuff for work. While I was familiar with Paste on Mac, it didn't win me over since it was Mac only. That is, until now.
Copied
Kevin Chang
Paste's described as a "visual clipboard manager," and it definitely shows. I've been using Copied for a while now, and while it works as intended, it's not terribly impressive in terms of design. Paste, on the other hand, emphasizes visuals, especially on the Mac. The app itself looks and feels like something that Apple made themselves, and it features plenty of white (unfortunately no dark theme like Copied yet). Images appear as larger thumbnails to give you a better idea of what it was, in case you forgot. However, because of this, you do get to see less on the screen at once, compared to Copied.
But if you prefer a bit more visual oomph, then Paste is the way to go. It also provides extra bits of detail, such as image dimensions, what app you copied from, and how long ago. So while Paste focuses more on looking good, it still manages to pack in a lot of useful information that other apps don't include.
Paste is free on iOS, and works fine on its own. However, it works best as a companion to the Mac version, which is on the Mac App Store for $14.99. If you're not sure about committing to the Mac version, there's a free trial available from their website. If you want to use Paste on your iPad, though, you need to unlock that via a $4.99 in-app purchase.
I have both the Mac version of Paste 2, as well as the iOS version, and they are seamless when iCloud sync is enabled. Anything that I copy to my Mac's clipboard appears on the iOS version of Paste, and vice versa. At the moment, Paste supports text, images, links, files, and pretty much whatever else you can copy.
I'm a bit disappointed that the iOS version doesn't have the colorful visual headers to tell you what kind of snippet it is, such as a link from Droplr, Safari, or Tweetbot. Maybe this can be changed in the future, but it's not a big deal since there is text that indicates what the source is.
Paste, like Copied, also has support for lists, though they're called Pinboards. These pinboards serve as categories to help you organize your clippings, and you can create as many as needed. To add a new one, make sure you're out of the default "Clipboard History" view (just tap on the "X" or swipe down on the screen). Then tap on the "..." button in the top right to select "Manage Pinboards." Paste includes a "Useful Links" pinboard by default, but you can delete it (and any other ones) by tapping on the minus button next to it. Add new ones by tapping on the "+" button in the top left. Give it a name, choose a color to label it with, and then "Save."
To view a clipping, just tap to select it, and you'll be able to view it in all of its glory. For example, large images show up full size, so you may need to pan the image around to see every last detail. When you want to copy an item in the clipboard, you can tap on the "copy" button in the bottom left when viewing it, or just swipe to the right from the list. When you swipe left, there are actions for deleting, renaming, pinning to a board, or sharing via the iOS Share Sheet. You can also do actions on a batch of items by tapping on the button in the top right corner.
Looking for a particular clip but don't remember exactly what it was? Paste also has support for searching, and it's able to search through any text that's attached to a snippet. However, if you want this to work with images, you may need to rename them to be searchable first.
Paste is a beautiful and intelligent clipboard manager that helps you keep your snippets intact from Mac to iOS.
The Good
Paste is a gorgeous app that makes it easy to manage your iOS clipboard. The app is simple, powerful, and smart. The design is beautiful and it's incredibly fast and responsive. If you have the Mac version, then the iCloud sync works flawlessly, as any new changes to your clipboard are reflected immediately on the other device. Paste's emphasis on the visual elements also means it's easier to recognize your clips, and the detail about each is handy to have for reference.
The Bad
While Paste is a great clipboard manager, there are some flaws with the design that may irk some people. Due to the more visual interface, thumbnails for images are larger items, and decrease the amount of clippings you see at once on the screen. There should be a way to change the size of thumbnails if one desires it.
This one may not be a big deal for some, but I wish that the iOS version had colored headings and icons for items to show their original source. This would be more consistent with the Mac version, and look better for an app that focuses on visual elements.
The verdict
Honestly, I'm a bit torn between this and Copied. I love the visual aspect of Paste, but Copied does the job for me, and it's even more flexible for those who know how to use scripts to merge snippets together. However, Paste having an iOS version is a huge advancement, as it means those who prefer Paste can now have their snippets on all of their Apple devices.
Paste is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. To use it on the iPad, you must unlock it through the $4.99 in-app purchase. The Mac version is available for $14.99 on the Mac App Store.
8.8
OVERALL
Lasting appeal 9
iPhone Integration 9
User Interface 9
Is engaging 8.5
Does it well 8.5
Paste - Clipboard Manager
Dmitry Obukhov
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Gobble Up All the Delicious Candy in Num Yumms
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Num Yumms (Free) by The Paper Robot is a cute puzzle game about numbers and hungry little monsters. If you enjoyed other mathematical puzzle games like the classic Threes! and Mesh, and like seeing adorable critters, then Num Yumms could be your next time killer.
Life's been getting pretty hectic for me lately, with several life things that are stressing me out immensely. When I need a break from everything, I like to just cuddle up in a corner on the couch and fire up some game on my iPhone to pass the time and forget about things for a while. My genre of choice for these moments is usually puzzle games, since they tend to keep my mind stimulated and I have a good time. As I was perusing the App Store this week in search of something new, I stumbled on Num Yumms and I couldn't resist. When there are charming and endearing little monster critters, how do I say no?
Threes!
Sirvo LLC
Threes! Free
Sirvo LLC
The Mesh
Creatiu Lab, SCP
Visually, Num Yumms has a simple and clean design that is reminiscent of Threes, which seems to have inspired many games. While Num Yumms is supposed to be 2D, the Num Yumm pieces and numbered candy tiles have some depth to them, so it seems closer to pseudo-3D, if anything. The game uses a fantastic mix of bright and vibrant hues that contrast nicely with the soft blue glow of the grid background. There are many different types of Num Yumms, and each one has their own unique and distinctive appearance, but they're all equally lovable. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag or choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. Num Yumms also has an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that is rather delightful. To top off all of the cute going on here, the sound effects are fun and add more personality to the monsters.
There's only one game mode in Num Yumms, and it's perfect for those moments when you have time to spare. It's a high score chaser, and after every run, you'll know you can do better (or so you think) and therefore the replay value is pretty good. The goal in the game is to feed the Num Yumms candy, which is spread out all over the grid.
The number on the Num Yumm shows how much candy they can have, and the numbers on the candy pieces indicate the value of that piece. Each Num Yumm only gets five turns to reach their target goal, after which you get a new Num Yumm to feed. If you're under or over after five moves, then you lose a turn, which is shown at the top. If you're out of turns or there are no more moves to be made, then it's game over. Your score is a combination of the number of candies eaten and eggs hatched.
Controls in Num Yumms are a simple affair. Just swipe up, down, left or right to have your Num Yumm move one space. You can only move on the squares with candy tiles on them, and make sure you reach the target number on the Num Yumm, otherwise you lose a turn. Some spaces will have walls blocking them, and other candies may make you lose a turn or shuffle the board, so options may be limited. The game requires you to plan out your moves carefully, and make sure that your math adds up.
Since Num Yumms is a free game, there are video ads that play every now and then between rounds. You can get rid of ads through an in-app purchase of $1.99. As you play and discover new Num Yumms, you can view your collection by tapping on the egg in the top right corner.
Num Yumms is a cute and endearing mathematical puzzle game that's friendly enough for the entire family.
The Good
Num Yumms is an entertaining way to pass the time. It's full of cute critters with delightful sounds, and the gameplay makes you think. While it seems like a simple concept at first, it's surprisingly in-depth with the math and requires some planning ahead. You also need to keep an eye out for special candies, since they can affect the turn pretty drastically if you're not too careful.
The Bad
While it's a simple high score chaser that's bound to provide some fun, I do wish that there were more game modes. Perhaps a puzzle mode, or even time attack would be fun additions. It's a solid game, but more modes would add some more variety. I mean, it does get a bit repetitive at the moment.
The verdict
I'm a big fan of puzzle games, even if there's numbers involved, and I think Num Yumms is a great addition. The visuals, especially the monsters, are cute and charming. The sound design is well done as well. Controls are simple and easy to learn, making this a family-friendly game for everyone to enjoy. The ads are not too intrusive since they don't interrupt current games, but the option to get rid of them is available if they bother you. I just hope to see more modes added in the future, as it would keep the game fresh.
Num Yumms is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases.
8.5
OVERALL
Game Controls 9
Graphics 9
Sound/Music 9
Gameplay 8
Replayability 7.5
Num Yumms
The Paper Robot LLC
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Restore Life and Color to the Puzzling World of Umiro
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Umiro ($2.99) by Dice Roll and published by Devolver Digital is a gorgeous and soothing puzzle experience filled with mystery and awe. If you enjoyed other games like Ruya and Lynk, then you'll get a kick out of Umiro.
Spring has officially begun, and things are going into high gear in my life. With wedding plans that still need to be done, taxes to pay, and health thins I get paranoid about, there's hardly a moment when I'm not stressing out lately. So when I have some time to relax, I'm definitely relishing in those precious moments, especially when my fiancé is around. One of my tried-and-true solutions to de-stressing is games, especially calming puzzles that take my mind off of reality for a bit. When I saw previews of Umiro a few months ago, I knew that this game would be a fine addition to my repertoire. And now that it's finally available, I was right.
Ruya
MIRACLE TEA STUDIOS LTD
Lynk.
Michael Le
Umiro has an aesthetic that appears to be inspired by games like Monument Valley, but it's still distinctive enough to stand on its own. So you get the angled, top-down perspective, but the game doesn't feature optical illusions as you'd expect. However, due to the point-of-view, the stages appear unique and are highly detailed. Umiro makes use of a nice range of colors, from bold and vibrant hues to soft pastels that contrast nicely with each other. The character design in gameplay is a bit more on the minimalist side, but you can still tell them apart easily due to their exclusive looks. Animations in Umiro are smooth and fluid, and I experienced no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The atmospheric soundtrack is pretty tranquil and relaxing, and the sound effects are a nice touch.
On top of it all, there are some cutscenes between some stages that reveal more about the story. These are beautifully handcrafted drawings that evoke emotion and set the overall tone for the game itself. It's clear that Umiro was made with love and care.
In Umiro, you'll discover the two schoolmates, Huey and Satura, who are in Umiro with no memory of their past or how they got there. Their memories are somehow locked away in crystals, so their only hope of understanding their situation is to reach the crystals that correspond to them, as they're color coded. Huey needs the blue crystals, and Satura's are pink. The yellow crystals are optional, but they reveal more secrets behind the mysterious world of Umiro, so they are worth the effort to collect if you can. The crystals not only help Huey and Satura recover their forgotten memories, but they restore life back into Umiro itself.
There are four chapters in Umiro at the moment, and each one has a handful of puzzles to get through. To get access to chapters two through four, you need to complete all of the stages in the previous chapter first, and there's no way around that. The goal in each stage is to guide Huey and Satura to their respective crystals while avoiding dangerous obstacles and hazards along the way. Again, the yellow crystals are optional, but they do reveal more about the game's world to you. However, they are more dangerous to reach, so you'll need to devise alternative ways to reach it, as well as have impeccable timing.
The controls in Umiro are simple and intuitive. To get Huey and Satura to move, you'll just need to draw a path from them to their corresponding crystals. Once the paths are drawn, just tap on the "Play" button and they will move along the drawn path. Sometimes there will be more than one crystal for a character, so you will need to repeat the process. The Play button does not become active until all characters have a path drawn out for them.
If one of them touches a hazard, such as the black balls that roam around, then you've failed and have to try it again. Fortunately, there are no time limits, move restrictions, or stars to worry about, so you can play the game at your own pace.
Work together to bring color back.
The Good
Umiro is a beautiful and relaxing puzzle experience for everyone. The visuals are simply stunning and exquisite, with clear inspirations from other popular games, but a distinctive enough aesthetic to stand on its own two feet. The sound design is incredible as well, with the zen-like soundtrack that's designed to help you tune everything out and focus.
Path-drawing puzzle games are always challenging, but Umiro is even more so due to the fact that you must have two characters go at the same time. The game starts off easy enough, but the difficulty increases gradually, and is never overwhelming. It's a great puzzle game for everyone.
The Bad
There's a lot of good going for Umiro, but it's not perfect. I can see the game being frustrating at times because your path may be off by just a tiny bit, and you end up dying multiple times because of it. There's also no hints in the game either, which makes it even more challenging if you're just trying to rush through it (don't do that).
The verdict
Umiro is a gorgeous game with an amazing soundtrack, and it was all crafted with care by the developers. The puzzles are challenging, but once you solve one you've been stuck on, then it just becomes even more satisfying. The base goal is easy enough, but adding in the optional yellow crystals mean completionists have something more to strive for, and it reveals even more about the colorless world. It's a nice bonus to look forward to. I'm enjoying the game a lot so far, and it's definitely going to keep me busy when I need it.
Umiro is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.
9.2
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Sound/Music 10
Gameplay 9
Replayability 8.5
Game Controls 8.5
Umiro
Devolver
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Hack Your Way Through Mysterious Cyberspace in Hyperforma
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Hyperforma ($4.99) by Fedor Danilov is a unique and modern spin on the old-school arcade game of Brick Breaker. If you enjoyed the timeless classic, or other creative spins like Breakforcist, then you'll get a kick out of Hyperforma, especially if you like cybernetic and futuristic themes.
With all of the crazy going on in life right now, I'm thoroughly enjoying the moments I have with pretty much any game these days. I grew up on the classics like Tetris and Brick Breaker when I was younger, so I'm always curious about fresh new approaches to these timeless genres. When Breakforcist came out, I was addicted and couldn't stop playing it, since I love cute things and breakfast foods. But at the end of the day, it was still just your traditional brick breaking game, for the most part. However, when Hyperforma appeared on the App Store, I was curious and had to give it a shot for myself. It looked like nothing I tried before.
#Breakforcist
Kevin John
Visually, Hyperforma is beautiful and stunning. Everything is rendered in 3D with an angled, top-down perspective like what you'd find in Monument Valley. However, since the theme is cyberspace and hacking, there are a ton of fine, futuristic details about the environment that immerses you into the game's world. I love the various rune-style hieroglyphics and nodes on the surfaces of the architecture, and the light effects are gorgeous. The color palette in Hyperforma is a fantastic mix of dark shades with contrasting vibrant hues, which totally gives off the futuristic vibe. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid, and I experienced no lag or choppiness issues on my iPhone 8 Plus. The soundtrack is atmospheric, immersive, and rather amazing to listen to, so headphones are recommended to get the best experience.
Hyperforma is level-based and also has a storyline, so players must go through each stage in chronological order. There's no skipping around either, so while it starts out easy, it gets progressively more difficult and relies on your skills to complete.
In Hyperforma, players enter a world that takes place 256 years later, after the demise of mankind. Only the Ancient Network is left behind, which is nothing more than empty, endless cyberspace. However, you take on the role of an anonymous explorer, who dives into the cold remains of cyberspace and wants to uncover the secrets of the past civilization. You'll have to hack your way through Titanic Interfaces and their secured Forms before you can uncover the past, though.
The controls in Hyperforma are simple and intuitive, though it takes time to master. Essentially, when you "hack" an interface, it's essentially a game of Brick Breaker, except it's in 3D and a lot more intricate. You swipe up to "launch" the hacking beam, and your goal is to destroy the black blocks that surround the core, which has a unique symbol on it. To hack some cores, you'll have to get around their security, which is indestructible white blocks. Some of the black blocks also have symbols on them, and these can do things like detonate and destroy adjacent blocks once they're hit.
As the hacking beam bounces around the screen, you'll want to rotate the interface in the center by dragging your fingers around the screen. So instead of moving a paddle, you're moving the 3D structure to ensure that the beam hits the blocks you want. When there's an opening to the core, you'll want to tap on the "Attack" button near the middle of the screen to hit it, as that's the only way to get inside the core and get the key.
You'll have to watch out for the red lasers that move along the edges of the screen as you rotate the core. If you hit these, then you've failed and have to try again. It starts out with one laser, but then more can show up as you make progress, so keep an eye out for those.
When you successfully hack a core and complete a stage, you'll earn some experience points. As you level up, you'll get stronger and gain access to new hacking skills, like dishing out more damage and getting rid of multiple blocks at a time. To access your skills, just tap the button at the bottom to bring up what's available and then select the one you want to use. There's a cooldown for each one before you can use it again.
Hyperforma is a challenging brick breaker arcade game that's unlike anything you've played before.
The Good
Hyperforma is a bold new take on a classic arcade game. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and I believe they represent "cyberspace" quite well. The sound design is excellent as well, with a quirky EDM soundtrack to go along with the futuristic theme. The gameplay is great, as it takes a classic and completely turns it into something special and unique. I'm also liking the fact that it starts out easy, but becomes much more challenging as you go on. This is definitely one of those games that will take some time to complete, but you'll enjoy every minute of it as you get better.
The Bad
There's a lot of good going on in Hyperforma, but I can see how this could be a little too hardcore for more casual gamers. The difficulty curve after a few levels is pretty big, so one may end up more frustrated than anything else.
I also wish that there was a way to adjust the sensitivity for the controls, because at the moment, it can feel chaotic at times. Even the slightest little slip of your finger can change the format of the core drastically, and this can lead to some unfortunate deaths. But the game is about players finding the balance on their own, so I'm not sure if having sensitivity adjustment would conflict with this.
The verdict
Despite being a bit unforgiving at times, I'm enjoying Hyperforma a lot. The game's exquisite graphics are a sight to behold, and the music and sound is excellently done too. Gameplay is familiar yet completely new at the same time, and it's challenging. I enjoy the designs for each stage, and how new mechanics are introduced. The difficulty level is pretty gradual, but things can feel a bit unforgiving. However, I only see that as more reason to keep coming back and do better.
Hyperforma is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.
9.1
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Replayability 9
Sound/Music 9
Gameplay 9
Game Controls 8.5
Hyperforma
Fedor Danilov
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Restore Peace and Order to the Board in Fliplomacy
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Fliplomacy ($1.99) by Shobhit Samaria is a unique puzzle game where you must restore peace to the board by convincing certain tiles to change sides. If you enjoyed recent titles like Dissembler or Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle, then you'll get a kick out of Fliplomacy.
Puzzles are my saving grace lately, with all of the different things in my life that are stressing me out. After a long day, I just want to sit down with my fiancé and just relax with some games on my iPhone. While it feels like I've gone through most of the puzzle games on the App Store, I just can't help myself: I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for new ones. And when I saw Fliplomacy on the App Store, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Needless to say, this one doesn't disappoint.
Dissembler
Ian MacLarty
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
Blue Wizard Digital LP
The visual style in Fliplomacy is distinctive and carries a minimalistic aesthetic to it. While the game looks like it could have just been done in flat, 2D drawings, it's more of an isometric 3D appearance due to the angled top-down perspective that's fairly popular these days. The tiles on the board also have a bit of depth to them, so they pop out against the soothing color gradient backgrounds. The default Diplomat character in the starting theme is a voxel-style humanoid, and the flags are simple and basic, like what you'd expect on a golf course. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The atmospheric and ambient soundtrack is soothing, which is perfect for unwinding with after a long day.
When you start Fliplomacy, there's only the main theme, which is a pink-to-lavender backdrop, and your Diplomat is in pink, who must change purple flags to pink. As you complete a certain number of puzzles, more themes become available for you to use. These themes change your Diplomat's appearance, as well as the flags, and the symbols on the squares to represent special tiles. I love the other themes, and seeing how awesome the red blue theme with playing cards looks definitely keeps me motivated to keep going until I unlock it.
Like many other puzzle games, Fliplomacy is level-based. There are 150 puzzles that are split up over five chapters, so there are 30 stages in each. Unlike most puzzle games though, everything is unlocked from the start, so you can play the game in any order you want. So if you get stuck, don't worry! Just go try a different puzzle and go back to the other one later. The freedom of playing however you want is definitely fantastic, and alleviates any frustrations you may have.
So what's the goal in Fliplomacy? It's pretty simple: as ace Diplomat, you must convince the squares on the board that have changed sides, with flags that are the opposite color as you. To do this, you must jump over these squares to make them change color. Just swipe your finger in the direction you want to move in, and the Diplomat moves one space at at time, unless it's a flag, which you jump over.
There's a bit of variety in the puzzles and their objectives. Some of them just require you to get all of the flags the same color, and the fewer moves you do it in, the more stars you earn (up to three). Others have a limited amount of moves, so you have to think carefully about how to solve the puzzle. Eventually, later puzzles also need you to reach the "done deal" square to finalize everything, or you need to collect all of the briefcases before it's complete. The various goals spice up the game, and are much appreciated.
The game starts out simple enough, but as you progress, new mechanics are introduced as well. The game likes to handhold you through these new elements though, as there's always a tutorial pop-up that appears whenever there's something new. Unfortunately, if you make a mistake and restart when there's a new mechanic, then you have to go through the tutorial boxes again, which is rather annoying.
If you're wondering what mechanics are added as you go, there will be squares that can change the color of all flags in a row, column, or the entire board, disappearing squares (so you can't go back), warping points, and more. As these get shown to you, you'll have to think carefully about your plan to reach all the flags and change their sides. Using your head here is part of the fun, as the game is inspired by classics like Othello and Checkers.
Fliplomacy is a fantastic puzzle game that is sure to delight fans of the genre.
The Good
Fliplomacy is a fantastic puzzle game that is sure to delight fans of the genre. The graphics are nice, clean, and minimalistic but with enough oomph to appeal to everyone. The sound is calming and tranquil, so it is great for helping you forget about reality for a bit and focusing on the challenging puzzles at hand.
For a game that is only two bucks and has 150 puzzles that you can solve in any order, there's a lot of value for your money. Controls are responsive and intuitive, so it's a great choice for anyone in the family.
The Bad
While Fliplomacy is great, there is one issue I can see and that's the fact that there are no hints. Even though you can just move on to another puzzle and come back to the one you're stuck on at a different time, sometimes you'll just want to solve it right away. I think that Fliplomacy could benefit from having a hint system, and since there are no in-app purchases, more could be earned by completing puzzles. It's not a huge deal, but just something I hope the developer considers adding in the future.
The verdict
If you're a fan of challenging puzzle games that make you use your head, then Fliplomacy is an excellent addition. I love the kitschy visuals, and the various themes that you can unlock keep you motivated to play. I enjoy ambient music, so the soundtrack is delightful. On top of it all, the ability to play the game as you please in any order you want is great, and honestly, I wish more games allowed you to do that. It's just not much fun being stuck and frustrated on a level with no other options.
Fliplomacy is a must for any puzzle lovers. It's available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99.
9.1
OVERALL
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9
Graphics 9
Sound/Music 9.3
Gameplay 9
Fliplomacy
Shobhit Samaria
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
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