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TUAW's Daily App: Hipstamatic
Hipstamatic isn't a new app, but it is worth a look if you've never seen it before. It replicates the look and feel (and functionality) of those old point-and-click and even toy cameras that you might have carried around as a kid (depending on your current age of course). Nowadays, we can capture the world in digital, and soon HD, clarity, but Hipstamatic creates images the old fashioned way: with plenty of misbalanced levels, weird film coloring, and lots of dust and grit. You probably won't see the picture better, but especially if you've got a nostalgic bent, it'll probably make you feel it a lot more. The app is currently US$1.99, and developers Synthetic Corp have added a few different "hipstapaks" for in-app purchase, which will update the various options available for cameras, flashes, and lenses. Give it a shot if you do lots of photography with your iPhone, and appreciate the retro.
TUAW's Daily App: Invaders World Tour
Just one look at the screenshot tells you what you're dealing with in Invaders World Tour: invaders, of the space kind. The game is a really well-done Space Invaders clone, with colorful graphics, an interesting tilt-to-move mechanic, and power-ups to help you take out the invading menace. The game just got overhauled, too; it now boasts OpenFeint integration, new graphics and mini games, new enemies, and lots more. At just 99 cents, it's a steal for retro arcade fans. If you want to try a free title, you can give Invaders World Tour USA a shot; it won't have all of the shiny new features of the main game, but it's essentially the main gameplay in a free trial version. Either way, there's fun to be had here, so go grab the free app, or pay the buck for more.
TUAW's Daily App: Tomena Sanner
This one comes on the recommendation of a friend here at E3 -- Tomena Sanner was released for the iPhone last year by Konami, and it's a fun, crazy little game that's probably lots more entertainment than it deserves to be. Like Canabalt, it's a one-button title, but unlike Canabalt, it doesn't take itself seriously at all. Instead, as a busy businessman, you have to run to work, and you simply tap on the screen to get whatever's in your way out of it. The game is just plain silly, but it works quite well, and as your score and speed climb, so will your excitement. At US$1.99, you might have to get yourself in the right mood to enjoy it, but once you do, it's a heck of an App Store experience.
TUAW's Daily App: Battle for Wesnoth
Just the other day I mentioned Battle for Wesnoth in this very space, and then right after that, the game releases its 5th major update. If you like turn-based strategy games, this one is a must-have. It was originally an open source title, and fans have added so much to the game that there are now tons of various units, six factions to play as, and campaign after fan-made campaign to play through -- over 300 hours of playtime in total. The latest update adds yet another campaign, a bonus tower defense game, OpenFeint integration and a whole slew of other features. The iPhone version isn't bad, but I'd say the iPad version is better, as the bigger screen makes controlling the game a little easier. The game is US$5 on both platforms, and there's no free version, but the original title is still open source (which is why there are so many fan-made features), and available for a free download on the Mac. So go try out the game there, and if it's something you're interested in, consider supporting the iPhone developers. Personally, I love Battle for Wesnoth -- while the graphics aren't exactly cutting edge, the strategy is fine-tuned by a whole legion of coders, and the fantasy setting and storytelling are great for a game of this kind. If you haven't given it a look yet, now's your chance.
TUAW's Daily App: Shifters
Shifters is a fun little match-3 game with a "twist" -- instead of switching colored blocks to match three of a kind, you rotate them in sets of four. That changes up the strategy a bit, as the patterns look a little different from the standard Bejeweled-type game (the shifting mechanic is obviously more similar to Bejeweled Twist) but the gameplay is still simple and fun. Shifters is presented in levels, too, with each level providing a separate goal to meet, from matching a certain number of shifters to meeting a score within a certain time. Is it simple? Yes -- if you want anything more than some empty tapping and silly faces, you won't find it in Shifters. But the mechanic is entertaining enough to while away a few minutes of waiting in line or for the bus, and the 99 cent price is worth it as long as your expectations are low.
TUAW's Daily App: Taxi Magic
We've been touring the mean streets of San Francisco this week, and when we ended up at a party a little too far away from the hotel the other night, TUAW's own Victor Agreda pulled out Taxi Magic, an app he'd recently downloaded on his iPhone. It's a free application on the App Store, and it uses your location to automatically show you a list of taxi services at your disposal. If you're too far away for one of Taxi Magic's partner services, the app works like a yellow pages -- you can browse the various companies and call one for a taxi whenever you want. But if you're in one of the 25 US cities that offer booking within the app, you can do what Victor did: hit a button, page a taxi to your location, and then have your phone notify you when the taxi has arrived. Like magic, we spent a few extra minutes chatting up developers at the party, and then when his phone went off again, we stepped outside and immediately into a cab. If you want to go a step further, you can even create an account with the app, inputting your credit card number, and automatically charging the taxi ride through the service (so you don't have to fumble over change to pay the cabbie). That service is extra -- $1.50, which is basically what you'd pay to get the cash you need out of an ATM anyway. But if you just want to page a taxi without stepping out onto the street and holding your hand up, Taxi Magic works wonders. And version 2.0, released just about a week ago, offers up a new redesign and the ability to set a default taxi provider (if you happen to make a lot of trips in cabs). If you do a lot of business traveling, or ilve in an area where taxis are an occasional must, Taxi Magic is definitely a spell worth casting.
TUAW's Daily App: BeSpeak
Our friends at luxury blog Luxist have discovered an app that's perfect for my lack of fashion sense. Given some basic information about how you look (eye/hair color, height, and body shape), it will give tips for men's fashion. It doesn't just tell you what colors to wear, though; it tells you what patterns in your wardrobe match and what shades complement each other. I have an extreme blind spot when it comes to looking good, so outsourcing this kind of decision-making is perfect for me. The next time I go suit shopping, BeSpeak will be on my iPhone for sure. Unfortunately, it's only for more formal clothing (suits, dress shirts, and ties), so if you want to try matching T-shirts with your favorite khakis or figure out which button-down you should wear with your jeans, you're still on your own. However, casual tips are on the way. The app is basically free advice for men, so if you're at all confused about whether that tie goes with that suit, it's probably worth a download.
TUAW's Daily App: Bebot
I'm really happy that I've found an excuse to mention Bebot here in this space -- it might be my favorite app in the entire App Store. We've covered it before here on TUAW -- it's a musical instrument, basically, with the added bonus of having a super cute singing robot as a mascot. And I've never seen an app that makes such beautiful and simple use of the multitouch screen, allowing up to four voices to be played at a time by touching four different fingers to the screen in different places. The reason I get to mention it here today is because the creator just added iPad support to the mix -- while it's pretty barebones, unfortunately (the graphic isn't quite as high resolution as you'd expect), the bigger screen will give you more room to spread out and find the synth notes you're looking for. And as always, even if you're not musical, it's just plain fun to play around on the tones by swiping your finger across the screen. Bebot is now a universal app for just US$1.99. If you haven't had the pleasure of playing with this robot on your iDevice yet, definitely check it out.
TUAW's Daily App: Highborn
Highborn is an interesting little App Store title. It won't be for everyone -- it's a turn-based strategy game that has a pretty steep learning curve, and while the actual game itself is pretty casual as games like this go, players unfamiliar with of moving troops around could find it confusing. But those interested in the genre (the gameplay actually reminded me a lot of Nintendo's Advance Wars series) will find it a fun distraction. You control troops and heroes on a tesselated board, and can pit various units against each other in battle. The story is silly and fun, and the emphasis is on simple advantages and odds rather than hardcore troop placement and balance. It's not the only game of its kind on the App Store (Battle for Wesnoth is another example for a bit more money), but Highborn is a fun and original title that combines the basics of turn-based tactical strategy with a fun fantasy story and a portable package. It's on an introductory sale right now for US$2.99.
TUAW's Daily App: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
I got to play Freeverse's iPhone video game adaptation of the popular book Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies at GDC. I'm glad to say that it's now out on the App Store for your downloading pleasure. The game offers 12 levels of Jane Austen-inspired zombie-killing mayhem, gesture-based controls, and the mix of old school romance and new school slaughterhouse that made the book so popular. I will warn again that the app is not for the faint of heart, but then again the icon isn't either. Still, for US$2.99, there are worse beat-em-up games to be had, and you won't find any others with legitimate Jane Austen dialogue in them. A full review of the game is coming up on TUAW later this week, but many of you probably already know you want to jump in and kill the "dreadfuls." Have at it.
TUAW's Daily App: Pirate's Treasure
Chillingo has made a name for itself on the App Store with the popular Minigore series, and now they're returning (after a sidestep to Guerrilla Bob) to the dual-stick shooter with Pirate's Treasure, a swashbuckler-themed arcade shooter. The game's a lot of fun. Chillingo's polish shows, and aside from some long loading times on the 1G iPhone (it should work great on the later models), controls are responsive and quick. The game is basically a series of stages, each with their own goals, where you can collect treasure (duh) that you can then spend on upgrades and abilities; you go in and do some shooting, come out and upgrade your pirate, and then go back in and shoot some more. As it's a Chillingo game, there's full integration with their Crystal service, so they have leaderboards and achievements set up across 50 levels. The game is currently on sale for its launch, so at just US $1.99, it's a good time, especially if you're into the dual-stick shooter setup. The only thing missing is an HD version for the iPad, so if you're still working on Minigore HD, you might want to finish that one first and see if they release this one the same way.
TUAW's Daily App: Barnes & Noble eReader
"But Mike," I can hear you say,"I've already got iBooks on my iPad -- why would I want to download another eReader?" Try free books for an answer. Barnes and Noble is holding a promotion this month: every week, you can show up in their retail stores, and if you show someone on staff that you've got their B&N eReader app on your mobile device, they'll give you a code for a free eBook. This week, they're giving away Lee Child's One Shot, and next week it's Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg. Sure, neither of those are probably your favorite novel, but if you're just looking for something to read, they definitely seem like something you can bring to the beach this summer. If you've already paid for a few reads in iBooks, that's fine -- read away. But if, like me, you're still not quite sure how to jump into the eBook thing (I kind of still like turning paper pages), a few free eBooks to read might help you get a handle on the experience. Since the Barnes & Noble app is free, the only cost is a quick stop by a bookstore. Read on!
TUAW's Daily App: Weber's On the Grill
It's Memorial Day, and hopefully that means you're celebrating the onset of summer by putting some meat on a hot grill until it tastes amazing. If you need a little help, though, Weber's official iPhone app (or the iPad version) can be there -- it's got references, recipes, tips, grilling timers, and even a shopping list feature (although if you're planning to grill today, hopefully you've been marinating since last night!). The app is excellent, with big, colorful pictures, a host of options for serious grillers, and more recipes than you can cook in one summer. You might think that it's a bit pricey at $4.99, but don't forget that a comparable recipe book (there are over 250 recipes in the app) would be much more expensive. And if you're grilling so much that you need an app to help you cook, why not shell out for the best? If you're really that cheap, there are a few other griller's helpers apps out there (and Grill-It! isn't bad for just 99 cents), but in this case, the five bucks is worth it. Good luck at the BBQ today!
TUAW's Daily App: 2360: Battle for Cydonia
We've been doing apps and puzzle games a lot on this feature lately, so let's not forget what makes a game really fun: a big robot blowing up lots of stuff. Fortunately, Battle for Cydonia is full of that, as you control a mech armed with dual machine guns through a series of missions on the future planet of Cydonia. It's a pretty simple affair, but the multitouch controls really make it shine -- you draw a path for your mech to take, and then just tap on enemies as they appear to shoot them down. You can upgrade the mech and its weapons over time, but the core gameplay here is just opening up a can of hot lead on anything that crosses your path. And plus, it's a free download right now -- if you like the game, you can pick up a "Signal from Titan" mission pack with new weapons, levels, and enemies to face off with for just 99 cents. Battle for Cydonia is an excellent little sci-fi shooter that's definitely worth the price.
TUAW's Daily App: RunMonster
There are quite a few "run tracker" apps in the App Store (I know our own Erica Sadun is a big fan of RunKeeper). However, RunMonster is also worth a look, if only because it's just plain gorgeous. It lets you do all of the usual things: track your runs and bike rides, keep stats on your workouts, or see maps of where you've been according to the iPhone's GPS. It goes further than that, though, with a very elegant and charming interface, and surprising ease-of-use. It will automatically name your runs according to streets, and it'll even group your runs and figure out whether you walked, biked, or ran, according to your speed. Even if you've already picked a running helper, give RunMonster a consideration. There's a free version to try out, and a US $9.99 version fills out the feature list nicely (with sugar like music controls and gestures) if you like the app. Like most of the great running apps out there, it won't necessarily make you a better runner, but it probably will make you enjoy the journey more.
TUAW's Daily App: Space Storm
Space Storm is about as conventional as space shooters get; enemies come into the screen from the right, and your ship flies from the left, blowing things out of the sky with a few different weapons and picking up health or power-ups along the way. In this case, though, conventional is good. The game feels right, and the dual-stick setup will have you navigating your ship around enemies and bullets and even slowing time down with occasional power-ups, in no time. Boss levels add a little variety to the mix, but basically, it's fly and shoot. It's very simple and pretty darn fun. OpenFeint adds some replayability to the somewhat short game, but a shooter is a shooter. As of this writing, the game is free on a promotion, but if you enjoy a good space shooter, it's definitely worth a couple of bucks.
TUAW's Daily App: Theseus
Theseus isn't for everyone -- it's a little slower-paced and more thoughtful than a lot of apps in the store, and the puzzles included get hard fast. But if you're looking for a challenge and a little bit of brain-teasing on your iPhone, Theseus will provide just that. It's a puzzle game based on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. You control Theseus, represented by blue dot on a series of mazes. Your job is to try and get away from the Minotaur, the red dot, and make it to the exit on each screen. The catch? You only get to move one square each turn, while the Minotaur gets to move two. But he will always try to move toward you, so with a little clever planning, there's always a way to evade him and escape the Labyrinth. That can be fiendishly tough, but the game is solidly built, with a whole slew of ways to undo and reset the game if you run into problems. Trial and error can get you far, and if you get too frustrated, there's a hint button that will help you get through the game's over 80 levels. There's a free version to try out, and if you enjoy figuring out ways to get around the Minotaur, Theseus is on the App Store for US$1.99.
TUAW's Daily App: Call of Atlantis
I am really looking forward to Puzzle Quest 2, since I was such a fan of the first game on XBLA. But until that comes out, Call of Atlantis is a polished gem-matcher that combines match-3 gameplay with a little bit of story and adventure. I believe it started out as a PC game, but you wouldn't be able to tell -- the graphics look like they were designed for the iPhone, and the gameplay fits perfectly on a mobile device. If you've played any match-3 games, you already know the score here -- switch icons on a board to match up three of the same kind, and those will disappear, bringing more into play. But Call of Atlantis mixes things up a bit by providing items to grab -- the idea on each stage is to get certain parts of a larger item (or special powerup items) to the bottom of the screen, and off the board. Complete all the pieces of the main item and the level is over. Matching four or five of a kind will power up a meter that will help clear the board out, and collecting powerup items like Bombs will clear out part of a board for you as well. It's simple gameplay, but a strategy quickly unfolds -- do you clear that enticing five of a kind, or go for the quick three right below the item you need to collect? And while there is an overarching story of Gods and Atlantis, complete with art and voiceover, it's just icing on the cake of sweet, sweet gameplay. Call of Atlantis is a steal at 99 cents -- it's a budget title that feels and plays like a much more expensive game.
TUAW's Daily App: Mint.com Personal Finance
Not all of the apps we spotlight here are new or games (though I admit that most of them have been lately). Mint.com's app has been around for a while, and it's just as useful as the site that gives it the name and functionality. If you have a bank account, you should at least give Mint.com a look -- just by plugging in your bank information (which is as secure as it can get on the site), you can start seeing patterns and trends in your spending even without doing anything at all. And after a few months of use, the site will even do things like create a budget automatically for you, tell you when you're spending more than you usually do, and even recommend ways to save your money. The iPhone app does all of that on the go, giving you instant access to your financial information wherever you are. You can check your accounts, edit your transaction records, and see your monthly budget (so even while out shopping, you can know exactly how much money you've got to spend) as long as your iPhone has a connection. You can get alerts when something goes wrong. And security even on the mobile device is excellent -- there's a password built-in to the app, so anyone using your phone can't get immediate access to your information, and if you lose your phone, you can even disable iPhone access directly from the web app, ensuring that no one who uses your lost phone gets any sensitive information from the app. Oh yeah -- and it's all free. Mint.com is definitely worth a look if you haven't installed it yet.
TUAW's Daily App: Captain Ludwig
I've already exclaimed my love for Dizzypad, and Captain Ludwig is a game in the same vein. You're tasked with navigating a character (in this case, a little man) around a series of rotating platforms. However, while Dizzypad is more of an open-ended arcade game, Captain Ludwig adds some strategy and goal chasing to the mix by emphasizing collection and exploration. The game is a series of stages, and each stage has stars to collect; the overall goal is to explore the entire "system" of spinning planets. There are a few other elements (mines and rockets both hinder and help on the journey), but the biggest innovation is just that sense of exploration. Unlike Dizzypad, where it was all about timing, Ludwig actually gives you someplace to go. You can try it for free with the lite version or pick up the full game for just US$1.99.
