The New Skype Experience Launches for iOS
June 27, 2017 by RSS Feed
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a major overhaul to its Skype service, including a “ground up” rebuild of Skype’s various apps and a number of new features designed to bolster the social networking and sharing aspects of the service.
“New Skype” was first introduced on Android but today is rolling out for iOS as a free update in the App Store. While the basic Skype functions are still there, longtime users of the app will notice a drastically different interface focused more on sharing, with Apple Messages-like animated chat sessions, color customizations, and the ability to capture photos and videos of “highlights” that your friends and contacts will see.
All of these changes are part of Microsoft’s desperate attempt to claw millennial users away from services like Snapchat, and we just hope that the company put as much effort into video call stability and performance as it did into chat “reactions.”
Still, you’ll see the new Skype update on your iPhone or iPad soon if you have automatic updates enabled, and you can expect these features and design elements to continue rolling out to other Skype-compatible platforms like macOS and Windows in the near future.
Source link: https://www.macobserver.com/news/new-skype-ios/credit : macobserver
Candy Shake Cup Offers 200 Levels of Sweetness, Challenges, and More
June 27, 2017 by RSS Feed
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
Candy Shake Cup is an exciting and fun arcade game for iPhone and iPad.
Featuring 200 levels and various challenges for you to complete, this is one game you won’t be able to put down for quite some time.
In addition to tons of levels, you can purchase powerups and skins for candies. You can even connect the game to Facebook and challenge your friends!
Overall, Candy Shake Cup, developed by BluSped, is a really fun iOS game that’s sure to keep you coming back for more.
The only issue I experienced with the game is the lack of a back button in the level select menu… other than that, the game is off to a great start!
Candy Shake Cup requires iOS 6.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
TheiPhoneAppReview’s Rating: 
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/06/candy-shake-cup-iphone-game-review/
credit : theiphoneappreview
Unfold and Reveal Your Path to Zen in Kami 2
June 26, 2017 by RSS Feed
Kami 2 (Free) by State of Play Games is the sequel to the cult classic puzzle game, Kami, which came out in 2013. If you enjoy relaxing puzzlers that put you in a zen-like state, then Kami 2 is definitely one to check out. It’s similar to other games on the App Store like Cosmic Express, Strata, and Open Bar.
These days, while a lot of my gaming time has been spent on my Nintendo Switch, I like to take a break from it every so often and relax. For these moments, I turn to my iPhone for some zen with puzzle games. I remember when Kami first came out, it was a title I spent some quality time with, because it was so relaxing yet stimulating at the same time. State of Play Games really knows how to make a good mobile game, as they demonstrated with their release of Lumino City and INKS. I wasn’t expecting a Kami 2 so soon, so I was honestly a bit surprised when it hit the App Store last week (plus the Switch has been keeping me busy). Needless to say, Kami 2 is a worthy download for anyone.
App Feels Like
Cosmic Express
Draknek Limited
KAMI
State of Play Games Ltd
Strata
Graveck Interactive LLC
Open Bar!
Gingear Studio Inc
Visually speaking, Kami 2 is downright gorgeous and stunning. The game revolves around an origami theme, so there are a ton of fine details that make the game beautiful to behold. Kami 2 showcases a fine paper texture throughout everything, from the levels to menus, and the patterns range from simple to intricate and complex. The color palettes used feature a myriad of tones, from earthy, muted hues to soft pastels to bold and vibrant shades. The smooth and fluid animations in the game are one of the biggest reasons to check it out, as it’s hypnotic to watch the colored paper fold and unfold on the screen, and then have the “Perfect” sticker slapped on when you complete a stage is just so satisfying. To top things off, there’s a soothing atmospheric soundtrack and the realistic sound effects of folding paper is delightful. It goes without saying that State of Play Games has another hit on their hands.
Like many other puzzle games, Kami 2 is level-based and features about 19 chapters with six stages in each, giving players over 100 puzzles to start off with for free. While you get access to six levels at a time, you must complete all of the puzzles in a section before the next chapter becomes accessible, so the game is still fairly linear in that aspect. In case the amount of regular stages is not enough, there is also a daily challenge puzzle to solve, and this time around, Kami has a level editor so players can create, share, and download their own unique stages with players all over the world. Regardless of how you choose to play, the goal of Kami 2 is the same: fill the screen with a single color in as few moves as possible. Things start out simple enough but get much more complicated as you progress in the game.
The controls in Kami 2 are straightforward and intuitive. At the bottom of the screen will be a color picker that features all of the colors that are in the current stage. Just tap on a color to select it. Since the goal is to fill the screen with one color, just tap on the other colored sections to fill them in with that chosen color, and watch the paper fold and flood the pattern with it. There is a limited number of moves that are allotted to you for every stage, which is shown in the bottom corner, along with the restart and hint buttons. You will start out with a limited number of hints, but once they’re used up, you have the option to get more through in-app purchases. However, each puzzle can be solved through trial-and-error, so if you’re stuck, just be persistent.
While you are able to browse player created levels from the get-go and save your favorites by tapping on the heart, you do have to clear the first 12 stages of the Journey (regular levels) to unlock the level builder. This gives players a reason to go through the main game, even if it’s just for the first 12 levels. If you aren’t the creative type and just want to check out what others have made, the gallery is well organized and easy to peruse through. You can see what’s popular (determined by number of favorites) or the latest submissions, and then check out your bookmarked favorites for easy access. The Daily Challenge showcases several puzzles at once, and you can see how many global attempts at each stage there are so far, as well as the number of people who perfected the puzzle solution.
KAMI 2 is definitely a game that lives up to its predecessor. The game packs in amazing, realistic graphics that make you feel like you are truly unfolding paper on the screen, and the music puts you in a state of zen. The puzzles are challenging enough for everyone, and never too frustrating. There are a lot of puzzles to go through in the game, so you do get your money's worth, and the new level editor lets players run wild with their own imaginative creations.
While some sequels end up being disappointments, KAMI 2 definitely does not fall into that category. If anything, the only negative about KAMI 2 is the fact that it is just more of the same, so if you don't care for relaxing puzzle games, then you won't enjoy this one either.
I’m still in the early stages of Kami 2 myself (some of the levels can be tricky), but so far I’m loving the experience. The game is a fantastic follow-up to the original, which I adored. The visuals make the game look and feel like genuine origami, the sound is amazing, the puzzles are challenging enough without being too overwhelming, and the wide variety of included levels as well as daily challenges and user-made stages keeps everything fresh and interesting, even if you beat the main game. This is another fantastic puzzle game from State of Play Games that I will be keeping on my device for some time.
I recommend checking out Kami 2 if you are a fan of the original, or just enjoy zen-like puzzles. You can find Kami 2 on the App Store as a free universal download for your iPhone and iPad with in-app purchases for hints and special color palettes.
9.2
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9
Sound/Music 9
Gameplay 9
KAMI 2
State of Play Games
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Take a Breather and Relax With the Puzzling Windin
June 26, 2017 by RSS Feed
Windin (Free) By no-pact is a casual match-three puzzle game that is a bit reminiscent of Tetris. If you liked games such as Match Land, Topsoil, and Hero Emblems, then Windin is right up your alley.
When times get tough, I like to escape reality for a little bit and chill out with some video games. Usually I am game for almost any genre, but some of my favorites for relaxing involve puzzle games and high score chasers, because I like to try to best myself. However, over the years, I’ve gone through a ton of puzzle games and while there’s plenty to choose from in the oversaturated market, there’s one problem: originality and uniqueness. Most puzzle games are just variants of each other, and there’s nothing truly special about it. That’s why when I saw Windin on the App Store, I was intrigued by the game’s distinctive game mechanic: wind. A lot of match-three puzzles are the same thing, where you swap adjacent pieces together or position tiles so that like-colored pieces can get grouped together, but they’re always static, with no dynamic changes happening. Windin sets out to be different, and it does so in a beautiful way.
App Feels Like
Match Land
Race Cat
Topsoil
Nico Prins
Hero Emblems
HeatPot Games Ltd.
Visually, Windin has some gorgeous minimalist graphics for a casual puzzle. While it looks like it’s 2-D at first, because of the depth that the two layers of game pieces provides, it’s more 3-D than what you may originally think. Plus, the shadowing on each piece makes everything pop out more, and the angled perspective for everything (including the backdrop) makes it easy to see it all in a single glance. The color palette in Windin features a nice mix of soft pastels and bolder hues, and it’s easy to tell everything apart from each other. The gem tiles are shiny and appealing to the eyes, kind of like mesmerizing pieces of (eye) candy. The game has an upbeat and quirky soundtrack in the background that is rather soothing, and helps you focus on making precise moves. The sound effects are fairly realistic as well, which is a nice touch. Overall, as the developer’s first release so far, they’ve done an excellent job with Windin’s cutesy visual style and sound design.
There’s only one game mode in Windin, but honestly it’s all you need since the game is more of a high score chaser, and it’s similar to Tetris. Plus, this game is perfect for bite-sized breaks throughout the day. At the moment, Windin’s game mode is basically just see how high of a score you can get before you run out of space on the game board. The objective is to match up like-colored gems, either horizontally or vertically, in groups of at least three or more. The larger the match, the more points you get for each piece. You can also match top pieces with adjacent pieces that are on the bottom level. You also rack up more points for multiple matches in one turn, such as cascades (when you match both the top and bottom layers in a single turn) and combos.
However, since each piece is a stack of two, you’ll need to plan ahead, especially since the direction of the wind changes each turn and will blow the top piece into an empty space after you place them on the board. It sounds easy enough at first, but the wind is rather unpredictable and is definitely a challenging obstacle, though it can also work to your advantage at times.
Controls in Windin are a simple affair. For each turn, you have two varying game pieces at the bottom. You must drag them onto the game board with your finger, and once you release your finger, the game piece will stay in the empty space that you place it on top of, if available. If you make a mistake, you can use the “Undo” button that appears where the second game piece was, but you are limited to three undos per round. Once you place both pieces onto the game board, the wind will blow and the top piece of the gems that you placed will blow over, as long as there’s an empty space. You can tell what direction the wind will blow by observing the arrow in the campfire on top of the board.
While the controls work out well enough, I did find it a little annoying that the game automatically moves the game piece to the bottom of the board the moment your finger touches it, and has a target crosshair that tells you where the piece is going to go. I can see why this is done, because then your finger is not going to cover up the piece and you can see where it’s going, but it has led me to accidentally place a piece in a wrong spot because I was thinking it would be going where my thumb is instead.
There are also power-ups that you can get in the game, but you’ll have to reach a certain point threshold to unlock them before they’re available to use. There are four available at the moment, and you will need to reach 2500, 5000, 10000, and 25000 points to get them, respectively. They do things like change the wind direction, turn a stack of gems upside down, break gems, and can turn selected gems into Rainbow Gems, which match with any color. If you are impatient and want to unlock these boosts now, then they will cost $0.99 a pop, except for the Rainbow one, which is $2.99.
Windin is definitely an enjoyable title for anyone who likes puzzle games that are designed to be played in quick sessions throughout the day. The game packs in some lovely visuals and sound effects, and the wind gameplay mechanic makes it more challenging than what you may originally think. It reminds me of Tetris in a way, since you can see the game pieces that you’re working with, but you can’t see the direction the wind will blow in on the next turn, which just adds to the surprise and challenge of the game, which I like.
Since Windin is a free game, it does have ads. Fortunately, the ads only show up between rounds, so you’ll never be interrupted during the game itself. I do feel that the point threshold for the power-ups is set a little high, though, and should be lowered just a tad, as I have yet to even reach the first unlock. In some ways, it feels like the developers are pushing for you to purchase the power-ups with the bar set so high, which I am not a fan of. At least the game can still be enjoyed without the boosts, though, so there’s that.
I’ve only discovered Windin over the weekend, but so far I’m having a hard time putting it down. I’m a total sucker for puzzle games, and this one is a match-three with a unique twist, which is the added wind element. It means more strategic planning of where you lay your game pieces down, and not knowing what direction the wind changes to keeps things exciting. The only thing I don’t particularly care for is the fact that the boost items are locked behind point thresholds that seem a bit high to reach, thus pushing you towards unlocking via in-app purchase.
Windin is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases.
8.2
OVERALL
Graphics 9
Gameplay 9
Replayability 8
Sound/Music 8
Game Controls 7
Windin
no-pact
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 06/26/2017
June 26, 2017 by RSS Feed
PhotoTangler - Best Collage Maker to Blend Photos , The Interactive Legend of Sleepy Hollow , Deep Town: The Twin Candles (Full) and more
iPhone:
Deep Town: The Twin Candles (Full) ( $4.99 → Free ) G5 Entertainment A brilliant young engineer has been invited to Deep Town, a massive structure located on the ocean floor. What was expected to be an amazing opportunity to learn turns into a terrifying adventure, as there’s a vampire hiding in the now-abandoned town. Turns out the engineer was only hired due to his delicious blood type. You must help the young man on his quest to be healed from vampirism while finding a way back to the surface. The game includes 37 scenes, 10 chapters, 11 mini-games, and two difficulty settings.
Flow - email app for Gmail, Hotmail & IMAP inbox ( $4.99 → Free ) Mera Inc. It happens to all of us. Over time our inboxes become a cluttered mess of terrifying text that, at some point, you know you’re going to need to handle. Flow will help you get the job done. Flow supports Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, 163 mail, QQ mail, and all other IMAP services. When adding multiple accounts, you’re able to determine which is your primary one. Then Flow will pipe in all of your emails as one big stream. As you scroll through them, you’ll be able to see snippets of text that can be expanded. Swipe right to left over an email to reveal additional options like forward, star, snooze, and delete.Universal:
PhotoTangler - Best Collage Maker to Blend Photos ( $2.99 → Free ) Solid Eight Studios LLC PhotoTangler doesn’t require any professional photo editing experience to achieve great results. Simply import related photos or take new ones from within the app. You’re able to crop photos down if necessary. PhotoTangler will automatically apply a fade, which can be adjusted in a variety of ways. Layer as many photos as you like before finishing off your work of art with a background color and text.
The Interactive Legend of Sleepy Hollow ( $0.99 → Free ) iClassics Productions, S.L. Like all of iClassics’ apps, The Interactive Legend of Sleepy Hollow provides an immersive reading experience. Each page is filled with eye-popping animations and illustrations. Tilt, touch, and shake your iDevice to discover what’ lurking in the shadows, and allow the 53 minute soundtrack to draw you in. The app includes a total of 86 sound effects, 52 illustrations, 67 animations, and 50 interactive scenes.Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free
credit : appadvice
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