"If there is an app for that"

Microsoft Launches ‘Sprinkles’ Camera App With Machine Learning Features

April 04, 2017 by RSS Feed

Microsoft is no stranger to camera apps for iOS devices, and the company is back with yet another one.

As originally reported by TechCrunch, Microsoft recently launched a camera app for iOS called “Sprinkles.” Microsoft says it can make the user’s photos fun in two seconds, and it does so with machine learning and other features based on artificial intelligence. The new camera app’s features allow it to detect the subject’s age and emotion, which means it can pull up a caption to use with the photo all on its own.

As an example, if someone in your picture is frowning, Sprinkles is aware of the emotion on display, and can pull up a caption that suggests the subject “turn that frown upside down.” The app can also figure out a subject’s celebrity look-a-like, and more. All of this is available for free from the iOS App Store now.

On top of all that, Sprinkles also includes emoji and stickers, and they can change based on the day of the week and time of day, just like other camera-focused apps out there.

“However, Sprinkles is the first to really aim young, with an app that’s a bit derivative in terms of its inspiration (decorate your photos!), but also cleverly aggregates a lot of the silly but fun technology Microsoft before showcased only in its standalone side projects. Sprinkles similarly feels like just another side project that’s meant to act as a demonstration of its technology.”

The app is available now (it launched on April 1).

Download

[via TechCrunch]

Source link: http://www.iphonehacks.com/2017/04/microsoft-sprinkles-ios-app.html

Hack and Blast Through the Tough-as-Nails Meganoid(2017)

April 04, 2017 by RSS Feed

Meganoid(2017) ($4.99) by Pascal Bestebroer of OrangePixel fame is a tough-as-nails roguelike platformer that is essentially a modernized remake of the original classic Meganoid that came out nearly six years ago. If you are a fan of games like Star Knight and Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire, then Meganoid will be a good addition to your collection.

While much of my gaming time is spent on my Nintendo Switch these days, I like to take a break every now and then and return to my iPhone for some quality gaming time. Though my preferred cup of tea for iOS games are puzzles, I need some action packed titles when I have to de-stress. I find platformers to be a good choice for this, because they’re stimulating and also pack in a good amount of action if there are enemies robot enemies or the like involved somehow. Back when Meganoid first came out in 2011, I fell in love with the awesomeness of the game because it was one of the first few memorable action platformer games around. It got drowned out by later platformers, but I’m glad that it is making a return now in Meganoid(2017), though it’s a bit different than the original version. If you’re a fan of roguelike games and love platforming action, then this will not disappoint.

If you grew up with the old-school 16-bit games of yesteryear, then you’ll feel right at home with the visual style of Meganoid. The game is packed with high-quality 16-bit graphics that don’t leave any detail out, as the game features insanely detailed environments, textures, and even lighting effects. The colors used range from dark and gloomy tones to more bright and vibrant shades, and everything is easy to spot from a distance. Animations are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7. In terms of music, the game has an atmospheric soundtrack in the background that just adds to the overall tone of the game, and the sound effects are fun and quirky. Like his other games, Meganoid(2017) follows in the retro pixel footsteps, and it works out well for this type of game.

Unlike the original Meganoid, this remade version is procedurally generated, so it will always be a different level layout each time you play. This means much more variety and unpredictability when starting a new run, but this does not appeal to everyone, so be warned. It is also a roguelike, so whatever progress you made previously in terms of progression and items is reset on each run. Personally, I like randomly generated roguelike games, so these don’t bother me, but I know it isn’t for everyone. There’s a basic plot in Meganoid(2017), and it involves a broken Meganoid space ship, and you’ve been called upon to fix it. The goal is to descend deep into the space ship to fix the problem (teleporter pads are your friends), but making sure you collect all of the loot along the way while eliminating foes like security drones that come after you if you are caught lingering around too long. It all sounds simple enough on the surface, but you will end up dying — a lot. You only get three lives to start with, but they go by rather quickly.

Controls in Meganoid(2017) are simple enough, but unfortunately feel rather clunky in practice. In the bottom left corner of the screen will be two directional buttons for moving your character left and right. On the other side, you have two buttons, X and A, for jumping and action, respectively. However, the size and placement of the buttons meant little forgiveness when it came to the touch zone for each button, so I ended up not going in the direction I wanted or I wouldn’t move at all, or I end up jumping instead of using an item. The game’s options let you change the size of the buttons between small and large, and you can change the positioning of the buttons. Despite this, I still felt that the controls were not as streamlined as they should be since the touch zones don’t change.

Fortunately, if you have a MFi controller like the SteelSeries or GameVice, then you are able to use it flawlessly with the game. The controls will take a bit of time to get used to depending on the MFi controller that you have, but it works infinitely better than the touch screen option. So if you have a MFi controller, it’s recommended to use it with Meganoid(2017).

Meganoid has always been a tough game, but it seems the ante has been upped in this version. I have been dying a lot while just trying to get used to controls, and I have managed to blow myself up a few times with detonators as well. There are a ton of different items that you can find in the game, including hackable items, which can help you out a lot if you survive long enough to get some use out of them. To make things even more exciting, there are hidden areas that you can explore, so there’s plenty of reason to check every nook and cranny in this game rather than rushing to the teleporter pad. And each enemy you encounter will be logged, so you can read up on them to better prepare yourself on the next run.

I’ve only just started Meganoid, so I’m not very far, but the game is incredibly difficult so it will take some time to master. I love the vintage aesthetic because it takes me back to my childhood, and the music is well done. The roguelike and randomly generated levels may not be for everyone, but I do like that it keeps things fresh and interesting every time you play. The touch screen controls do need a bit more work before they feel streamlined for a touch interface, though, so hopefully that is coming sooner rather than later.

I do recommend Meganoid(2017) if you enjoy tough roguelike platformer games. You can find Meganoid(2017) on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 04/04/2017

April 04, 2017 by RSS Feed

Guitar Tuner+ Tuning Simplified , ScanBee - Scanner & copier to digitize your papers , Escaping Blocks and more

iPhone:

Change - Currency Converter | Foreign Exchange Rates ( $0.99 → Free ) Sigalit Amsalem Change adds a bit of a style to a normally dull app category. You’re able to choose the currencies you’re converting from and to by swiping across the fields at the top of the screen. As you swipe, you’ll see the conversions instantly performed. You’re also able to reorder, activate, and deactivate currencies by tapping on the “+” button at the bottom of the screen. Change includes a total of 85 currencies.

Universal:

Guitar Tuner+ Tuning Simplified ( $2.99 → Free ) Dynamic App Design LLC Guitar Tuner+ is all about simplicity. It automatically hears the string you are tuning and expands the area for maximum visibility. After you’re done tuning a string, you’ll see its last tuned position represented as a line. Tap on a note to play a reference pitch to help tune by ear. The app includes adjustable fine tuning, 25 alternate tunings, light and dark themes, and iPad split screen support.

ScanBee - Scanner & copier to digitize your papers ( $2.99 → Free ) Claire Reynaud ScanBee’s interface is clutter-free, making it easy to get the job done quickly. Just tap the “New Scan” button at the bottom of the screen and snap a photo of your document. You’re then able to manually adjust the borders and crop it down. Multiple scans can be included in a single PDF file, and you’re able to share them via email or open them within other apps. Scans can also be stored within ScanBee for later use.

Escaping Blocks ( $0.99 → Free ) Casper Riboe In a world of blocks, there’s only one thing to do: Run! You play as a simple stickman capable of running across and jumping over an assortment of blocks. Blocks are made up of a variety of colors, most of which are safe to touch, except for the black ones. Simply tap to jump over and swipe to glide underneath them. Go as far as you can to achieve a high score. New characters can be unlocked by discovering special coins and traveling great distances.

Sea Of Giants: Explore A Secret Island ( $0.99 → Free ) Zoolax Inc. The story begins on a dark and stormy night in your mother’s house where you discover a letter that may lead you to her whereabouts. It’s up to you to travel across exotic and uncharted lands gathering items and searching for clues in order to reunite with your mother. The game includes two levels of difficulty, in-game hints, and five languages to choose from.

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

Downtime- April 4-6 and April 19-21

April 04, 2017 by macjeff

We may have some downtime (mostly at night EST) due to some web and DNS changes. Please accept our apologies and thank you for your understanding. The Team at Mid Atlantic Consulting and HotMacNews.

Unfold and Reveal Your Path to Zen in Kami 2

April 03, 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.

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.

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.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.