"If there is an app for that"

Infiltrate Mice Dungeons and Recover the Stars as Nekosan

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Nekosan (Free) by 1Button SARL is a twitchy reflex platformer that is both challenging and cute. If you enjoy a good ol’ game of cat and mouse, and like to test your reflexes, then Nekosan is a fun little time waster. It is from the same guys who brought you other great gems, such as Bicolor and Mr Jump, so expectations are a bit high, considering their previous work.

These days, I don’t have a lot of time for full console games in my downtime, but thankfully I still have my iPhone games to play and enjoy when I have a few spare moments. For these quick chunks of downtime, I like to have a game that I can pick-up-and-play in short bursts throughout the day, rather than having to invest hours into in order to feel like I’m making any progress. This is one of the biggest reasons why I like puzzles on my iPhone, and even some quick platformer games. So naturally, when I heard of Nekosan from 1Button, I had to check it out — plus, how can I resist a game with cute cats and mice?

Visually speaking, Nekosan carries a minimalistic aesthetic that is delightful to the eyes. The game features solid background colors for each stage, but the layout of the level is essentially a cutout in the center of the background, with nice contrast due to the patterned backdrops in the cutouts. The cat and mice are fairly simple looking but still adorable, and there are nice, small details such as snow and grass that are layered on top of the platforms, floors, and spikes. The colors range from soft pastels to richer and bolder hues, but everything meshes together nicely. Animations in Nekosan are buttery smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 7. The game soundtrack is rather upbeat and quirky, making it rather charming to listen to and fits the eccentric nature of the game well. To top things off, the sound effects are cute, and will bring a smile to your face, even if you’re failing at the levels.

Nekosan is a level-based platformer game, so players need to advance through it one stage at a time. At the moment, there are eight level packs to go through in Chapter A, and they consist of about 10 parts each. So while it may only seem like there are eight “levels,” you have to get through 10 challenging tests to complete it, so there is more than meets the eye here. You also only have a limited number of lives to start out with (nine lives to be exact), but you get refilled with some extra if you can get through all of the sections. The goal in each stage is to collect and recover all of the stars that the mice stole. Once all stars are in your possession, that means you can move on to the next stage. There are also secret fish that you can try to acquire as well, though it is not necessary in order to complete the stage. In fact, the fish are used to purchase other playable felines, but this is purely cosmetic. Your score on each level is determined by the amount of time that it took you to complete all of the stages in the level, so think of it like a speedrunner.

The controls are pretty simple and allow the game to be played with one hand, but it does take some time to get used to and master. With one tap, your cat will start moving forward in the direction it is facing. The cat stops once it hits a wall, and you can tap the screen again to have it go back the other way. If you tap on the screen while it is already in motion, you’ll have it jump. To reach high places, you will have to do continuous wall jumps, so once you’re on a wall, just tap again to jump in the opposite direction, and keep doing that until you get where you need to be. Eventually you will come across mice, and the trick to these critters are to avoid them, but if you need to, you can also jump on top of them and “squash” them for a few seconds, a la Mario-style. Again, the controls do take some time to get used to, and they are far from perfect, but I did find them to be rather responsive for the most part. It’s just the timing that has to be right on harder stages.

My only complaint about the controls is that the game does not include any guidance on how to play in the beginning, so players are left trying to figure things out on their own. I was confused at first, and only after tapping the screen did I manage to find out how to play. Usually I am not for handholding in video games and like to figure out stuff on my own, but this can’t be said for everyone. That’s why I think there should at least be some basic tutorial, even optional, that shows the ropes to all players, because otherwise, the controls are a bit confusing.

The game starts off pretty easy, but things get a bit more complicated as you get further along, since new obstacles and challenges are introduced at a gradual pace. For example, spikes are thrown at you early on, but like any good gamer knows, spikes are bad, so you have to avoid them or you will lose a life. Eventually, you’ll also stumble across floating switches to toggle walls, swarms of mice, moving platforms, crushing pillars, and much more. If you have had any experience with platformer games in general, then you know the drill. If not, well, it’s pretty straightforward.

Nekosan can be fairly difficult if you don’t take the time to practice, so be prepared to run out of lives a lot. If you run out of lives, you’ll have the opportunity to continue, but at a cost. Otherwise, if you opt to not continue, you’ll have to try the level again from the beginning, and hope you do better the next time.

One thing that bothered me about Nekosan is the abundance of ads. It seems like an ad pops up after every other stage you complete, and it interrupts your game flow, as they are rather abrupt. Fortunately, they aren’t video ads and you can dismiss them immediately, but they are still annoying. There is an in-app purchase to remove all ads for $2.99 though, so that is an option if you cannot stand them. Other in-app purchases include a pack of nine lives, keys to unlock levels you haven’t reached yet (if you’re stuck), and Maurice the pig, and these all cost you $0.99 a pop.

I’ve only had time to check out Nekosan this morning, but I’m enjoying it so far, aside from the overabundance of ads and unique control scheme. The minimalistic design is pleasing, the character are adorable, the music is fun to listen to, and the gameplay is rather challenging, as it combines reflexes, platformers, and a dash of puzzle (you still need to figure out how to clear a stage). I just hope to see ads to be less obnoxious in the future, and some kind of guide on the controls for new players. Otherwise, 1Button has done it again with a fun game to pass the time with.

I recommend giving Nekosan a try if you are into platformer puzzles with a dash of reflex testing. You can find Nekosan on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for free . There are in-app purchases, as well as an iMessage sticker pack included.

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

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 11/07/2016

November 07, 2016 by macjeff

Mooncast - The Phases of the Moon , Lost in Harmony , YoWindow Weather and more

Universal:

Mooncast - The Phases of the Moon ( $0.99 → 1 ) Mathieu Routhier Mooncast does only a few things, but it does them extremely all well. You can swipe through each screen to see the moon illumination for that day, or you can jump to a specific day by activating the calendar view and spinning the wheels. Mooncast can remind you when a full moon is approaching, and even display phases of the moon on the lock screen.

Lost in Harmony ( $3.99 → 1 ) Digixart Entertainment Lost in Harmony allows you to experience music in a whole new way. Guide Kaito and Aya on their adventure through 30 painted environments with taps and swipes. Stars will appear on the screen to the beat of the music, and you must tap at just the right moment to earn a perfect rating while dodging obstacles with swipes. The game also includes the ability to create and share your own levels, and all kinds of character customization options.

YoWindow Weather ( $2.99 → 1 ) Pavel Repkin YoWindow is all about watching the weather. You’re presented with a quick look at the current time, temperature, and conditions. Slide your finger from left to right across the screen to scroll time forward and watch as the scene changes to reflect what it’ll be like later on in the day. YoWindow also includes a seven-day forecast and six scenes to choose from.

Windy ~ Sleep Relax Meditate with natural white noise sounds to calm your mind and focus ( $2.99 → 1 ) Franz Bruckhoff Windy combines natural wind recordings with stunning artwork to help you sleep, relax, study, or meditate. It utilizes stereoscopic 3-D audio that’s optimized for headphones, so you can drift off into your own little world. The six natural wind recordings can be mixed with rain, river sounds, birds, and crickets. There’s also a whimsical story embedded within the app, allowing you to follow Windy on her journey to breathtaking locations.

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

Bear, Workfrom, 60dB and other apps to check out this weekend

November 05, 2016 by macjeff

It’s been a long week so let’s just get right to it with our latest round of Apps of the Week selections. We have the hot new note-taking/writing app Bear, a new app for finding cool places to work from, and an app for listening to personalized, short-form news and entertainment audio clips from ex-Netflix employees. And as usual, we have two cool new games for you to check out.

Bear

Bear is a beautiful, flexible writing app for crafting notes or really whatever you feel like writing. It’s essentially a complex, feature-packed writing app disguised as a pretty, minimal notes app. Features include rich previews, in-line image support, advanced Markup editor that supports 20+ programming languages, cross-note links and hashtags, interactive todo buttons and so much more. You’ll have to pay $1.50 per month (or $15 per year) to access some of the more advanced features, but the app itself is definitely worth checking out. Bear is available for free.

Workfrom

Tired of working in your cubicle? Or in your cold, dark home office? Switch it up with Workfrom. This new app/community allows you to discover places around you where you can work remotely. This includes cafes, coworking spots, coffee shops and other alternative spaces. Over 26K members have scouted more than 1,200 cities to find the best locations. Good Wi-Fi? Check. Dogs allowed? Check. I feel like we featured a similar app a few months ago but Workfrom has a wider scope and a seemingly more active community, thus making it worth checking out. This app is available for free.

60dB

60dB offers personalized, short-form audio covering a wide array of topics such as news, sports, business and entertainment, from a variety of publishers. The goal is to combine the best of what people like about listening to the radio with the personalization of digital content, with a focus on brevity. Tap the Quick Feeds link to get a playlist of short-form audio clips you’ll learn from and enjoy—side note, some of the 60dB team members are former Netflix engineers who helped build its personalization engine, so yea. If you’re looking for entertainment this weekend, this is a must-try. 60dB is available for free.

The Trail

Looking for a cool new game to pass the time this weekend? Check out The Trail. You’ll join pioneers on a vast journey across country unknown to explore, craft, collect, trade, discover and eventually settle and build. Yes this is a free-to-play title with some annoying IAPs, but it’s worth noting that it was built by the legendary God Game genre designer and creator Peter Molyneux. The graphics are gorgeous and the gameplay is expansive and addictive. Whether you’re a fan of the RPG/explorer genre or not, this game is worth checking out. The trail is available for free.

Nekosan

For those looking for the exact opposite of the above game, allow me to introduce Nekosan. Developed by the makers of the hit Mr. Jump, Nekosan is a simple platformer/runner in which you must help a cat and his friends get the stars back from the mice who stole them. To do this, you must run, slide, wall-jump and fly through dozens of levels of an evil dungeon. Are you up for the challenge? There’s only one way to find out. This game is available for free.

More apps to check out

• Review: PDF Viewer does not stand out from the pack, but delivers on its promise
• Surenix releases Power 2, an iPhone battery life companion app for Apple Watch
• Apple’s free app of the week: Lost in Harmony

Apps updated this week

• Password manager LastPass makes multi-device sync a free option for all users

Source link: http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/11/05/apps-of-the-week-november-5/

The Best iPhone Apps to Follow the U.S. Election’s Final Countdown

November 04, 2016 by macjeff

We have just days remaining until election season here in the United States is at long last over. Still, it seems like the controversies surrounding the Republican and Democratic candidates just won’t rest. Anything can happen in the days to come.

Whether you’re still undecided or passionately in favor of your preferred candidate, there is still time to get involved and stay in the know. Maybe we’re a little biased here at iPhoneHacks, but we think iPhone apps are a pretty good way to do that. Here are some of the best free ones in the App Store for keeping up with the election.

CNN Politics

CNN Politics has a fantastic app that combines the latest news on the election with in-depth poll averages and results from key battleground states. The design is clean and modern with tabs for insights, latest news from CNN and poll results. Plus, the CNN Poll of Polls gathers from four different national telephone polls, so it should be as unbiased as possible.

You can also sign up for notifications from CNN Politics. They’ll inform you of the latest poll results and news so you don’t have to check the app.

➤ CNN Politics in App Store (free)

We the People

We the People lets you get more social with your candidate of choice by joining its community of voters to ask questions and share ideas. You get to choose between Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Post your opinions in the discussions board or comment on others. Plus, see news from the media and Twitter and a heatmap of how users are voting.

The app design isn’t as nice as CNN Politics, but the social aspect here is interesting and informative. Being able to communicate and peacefully exchange with even people of opposing views is a valuable feature.

➤ We the People in App Store (free)

VotePlz

If you haven’t registered to vote or want to check your status and eligibility, VotePlz will give you the hook-up. You can register to vote right within the app by scanning your driver’s license (or manually entering information) plus get your polling place and hours to vote on November 8 or earlier. If you can’t make it to vote, VotePlz can also get you information on how to obtain an absentee ballot to vote by mail ahead of time. Note that absentee ballots are not available without excuse in every state.

Time is ticking to register to vote though. If you’re interested in participating in the 2016 election, you should act quickly downloading the app and registering to vote. Then head to your polling place November 8 to seal the deal.

➤ VotePlz in App Store (free)

Hillary 2016

Are you #WithHer? Well then you need to get the free Hillary 2016 app. The app grants you your very own virtual campaign headquarters. You can navigate around your office to check messages, pick up the phone to invite friends to volunteer, view campaign videos on the television and more. It becomes a bit of a game when you swipe up to see your daily stack of cards and tasks to complete whether that’s quizzes, social media challenges or small donations. The more time you spend in the app completing these tasks, the more stars you earn to upgrade your HQ or get real-life discounts.

The app reminds me a bit of Microsoft Bob where the entire interface was a cartoon. It’s probably unnecessary to have the whole virtual headquarters, but I understand the developers wanting to turn the app into a game. It’s actually overall very nicely designed and offers a lot of fun challenges and resources to Clinton supporters.

➤ Hillary 2016 in App Store (free)

America First

If Trump is your guy, America First is the official app in support of his campaign. The app lets you take action by messaging friends, inviting them to join the app and spread the word, sign up to volunteer or donate, and watch campaign videos. America First also has a news feed with official posts and posts from other users that you can comment and like. The Info & Events tab has links to Donald Trump’s stances on a number of issues and his website. Plus the calendar of upcoming events includes rallies from both Trump and running mate Mike Pence.

Politics aside, it’s a pretty bad app though. It’s a bit laggy and the design isn’t even optimized for the larger screens of the iPhone 6, 6s and 7 or iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus and 7 Plus. Still, passionate Trump supporters should be pleased with the amount of resources available here.

➤ America First in App Store (free)

Let us know which one is your favorite app to follow the elections.

Source link: http://www.iphonehacks.com/2016/11/best-iphone-apps-us-election-2016.html

Apple’s free app of the week: Lost in Harmony

November 03, 2016 by macjeff

Apple on Thursday updated its App of the Week promotion with the hit free runner Lost in Harmony. This means that for the next 7 days, you’ll be able to pickup the popular game for both iPhone and iPad for free—a solid savings of $4.

For those unfamiliar with the title, Lost in Harmony is a cross between a rhythm game and free-runner. It features beautiful visuals, a mesmerizing soundtrack, and easy, addictive gameplay that gets more challenging as you progress.

From the App Store Editors’ notes:

Unique and beautiful, Lost in Harmony is a hypnotizing experience that’s part rhythm game, part dreamlike runner. You’ll skateboard toward the screen, outrunning tsunamis, dodging robot cops, and tapping floating icons in time with the beat. Each level is totally distinct—and the mesmerizing soundtrack evolves as the stage changes. Between action sequences, you’ll explore a sentimental story about the characters, lending the dream worlds a deeper meaning.

And here is a clip of the game in action:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg0vvzvk03o?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Lost in Harmony is available in the App Store for free.

Source link: http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/11/03/lost-in-harmony-free-app/